Software Architecture and Data Model Design for SaaS and Web Apps
I design the architecture and data model for a new product or a major rebuild: components, database schema, background jobs, access rules and deployment shape, written down so any competent developer can build from it. It is for startups and small teams. Prices start from $1,280 ($960 founding), and a design takes 2–4 weeks.
See a sample report, proposal and weekly update- Price
- from $1,280
- Founding
- from $960
- Timeline
- 2–3 weeks
- Format
- Fixed scope, fixed price
- Hours
- US Eastern Time, async
Who this is for.
A good fit if
- Teams about to build a product that has money, permissions or integrations in it.
- Founders whose first version grew without a design and now needs one before v2.
- Agencies that need an architect for one client project.
Common triggers
- Multi-tenant or role-based access is coming.
- Payments, licensing, bookings or inventory, where mistakes cost money.
- A developer is about to start and nobody has written the design down.
Not a fit if
- The app is a simple brochure site or a CRUD admin with no tricky rules.
- You need Kubernetes, multi-region or high-availability cluster design.
- You want it designed and built this week.
What I do, and what you get.
What I do
- Model the domain: entities, relationships, states and invariants (“this can never happen twice”).
- Design the database schema, with constraints that enforce the rules, not just the code.
- Define the components: web app, API, workers, scheduled jobs, external services.
- Design access control: roles, permissions and per-row scope.
- Choose the deployment shape: single node or app/database split.
- Record each key decision with the options I rejected and why.
What you get
- An architecture document with a component diagram and request flows.
- A data model: an ER diagram plus a schema draft (SQL or migrations outline) with constraints and indexes.
- A decision log (short decision records).
- A risk list and a build order.
- Full plan: a hosting cost estimate, a security and access model, and integration contracts.
- Handover notes and one walkthrough.
Your part
- A decision maker for product rules (what may happen, and what must never happen).
- Existing code or schema, if any.
- Answers to written questions within 2 business days.
Included
- Component and data design
- Schema with constraints and indexes
- Access-control model
- Decision log and build order
- Hosting cost estimate (Full)
Not included
- Writing the application
- Kubernetes, HA or multi-region design
- Compliance certification
- Savings guarantees on hosting
- Detailed cloud billing review (see Cloud Cost Review)
Fixed prices, agreed before work starts.
Components, data model, access rules, decision log, build order
Core plus hosting cost estimate, security and access model, integration contracts. Billed in 2 monthly milestones of $1,120 ($840 founding).
Build your scope
- Timeline
- 2–3 weeks
- Payment
- 50% to start ($640), 50% before handover
- Earliest start
- Oct 5
Founding price: 3 of 7 spots left, until Mar 31, 2027 — one-off work, in return for a testimonial. How it works
Prices are in USD, paid by bank transfer against an invoice. Work under $1,000 is paid upfront; larger work is 50% to start and 50% before handover, or monthly milestones. How working together works
Variations
- Laravel + Vue/Nuxt
- The schema is delivered as a migrations outline, with policies and queues mapped.
- Go or Python services
- Package boundaries and worker/retry rules are included.
- Existing app redesign
- Starts with a short read of the current schema and ends with a migration path.
How it runs.
- 01
Email the template
Email the template below, and I reply within 1 US business day.
- 02
Q&A and proposal
A short written Q&A and a fixed proposal, with 50% upfront and 50% before handover.
- 03
Domain and data draft
I send the domain and data model draft for your review.
- 04
Components and decisions
I add components, flows and decisions, then we do a second review.
- 05
Final walkthrough
You get the final document and a walkthrough.
Where I have done this before.
Licensing & Entitlement Platform
I led the architecture of a production Go service, with replay safety enforced by database constraints and structural tests that fail the build when a design rule is broken.
Read the case study →Infrastructure · Go · Remote executionCentralized Fleet Control
I designed a system with zero inbound ports on any machine, with signed tasks and per-machine ordering.
Read the case study →Healthcare · Patient booking · Bilingual webHospital Website & Serial Booking System
A booking data model in which online and counter bookings can never issue the same serial (built, not yet live).
Read the case study →SaaS · Cloud marketplace · Server automationWordPress Hosting Control Panel
A multi-cloud SaaS that I designed as sole engineer.
Read the case study →Questions buyers ask.
Do you also build it?
I can, as a separate project. The design stands on its own either way.
Which database?
Usually PostgreSQL or MySQL/MariaDB. I recommend based on your stack and team.
Will it scale?
It’s designed for your stated load with a clear next step (the app/database split). I don’t certify scale without a load test.
How detailed is the schema?
Tables, columns, types, keys, constraints and main indexes.
Can my developer ask questions?
Yes. One Q&A round is included, and more are available through a prepaid hours block.
Ask about System Architecture & Data Model.
Tell me what you have and where it hurts. I reply within one US business day with either a fixed quote or the entry step that makes a fixed quote possible.
Helpful to include
- Product and users
- Main rules that must never break
- Stack preference
- Existing code or schema
- Expected users and data in year 1
- Deadline
- Budget range