OchAI DevTap to unlock
Deliberate Pricing, Expert Build.
Huntsville, North Alabama & remote
Custom apps for Huntsville and North Alabama businesses
OchAI is a one-developer full-stack practice in Huntsville, Alabama. Front end, back end, database, hosting and analytics all come from the same person, so your app has one owner from the first sketch to production. Serving North Alabama and remote clients.
What I build
Client portals and dashboards
Logins, role-based access and dashboards for businesses that have outgrown a template site.
Workflow and internal tools
Software that follows how your team actually works, instead of forcing your process into an off-the-shelf tool's shape.
E-commerce and payments
Storefronts and checkout with Stripe or Square, built and run in production.
Real Live Bonsai case studyAI-powered apps
Claude API integration and workflow automation wired into the system it automates, not a chatbot bolted onto a homepage.
AI integration for small businessBuilt and in use: BykeBytes
Ride tracking that works with the screen off
BykeBytes is a cycling trip tracker for Android. It starts recording by itself when you get moving and keeps going with the phone locked, in your pocket or stowed away. Each ride logs date, start and finish, average and top speed, elevation change and distance. History with CSV export and bulk delete functions. All data stays on the phone: no account, no cloud.
Built by OchAI with AI-assisted development, using Expo and React Native. Android only for now, shared as a direct build rather than through Google Play.
Your phone may ask you to allow installs from your browser. That is normal for apps outside Google Play.
The three tiers
The Soloist
$4,500
One builder, one clear scope.
Fastest path from idea to something real. Full-stack build, startup branding included.
- Single-purpose app build
- Startup branding included
- Direct line to the builder
The Accompaniment
$14,500
Built together, not handed off.
Real workflows, more surface area, still one person answering the phone.
- Multi-feature app build
- Workflow / API integrations
- AI where it earns its keep
The Collective
$38,500+ $500/mo
The full arrangement, maintained.
Architecture, integration, retainer. Keeps working after launch instead of quietly rotting.
- Full-scope custom app
- Ongoing $500/mo retainer
- Priority response window
Prices are starting points, plus or minus final scope. The written proposal fixes the number before any work begins.
What every build includes
- Source code you own, with documentation for the next developer.
- Database design, authentication and the integrations your process needs: payments, messaging, maps, calendars.
- Deployment, hosting and security headers configured for production.
- Analytics that show what users actually do.
How it works
01
Free discovery call
A no-obligation conversation, 20 to 30 minutes. You talk, I listen.
02
Written proposal
Deliverables, timeline and a fixed price, agreed before any work starts.
03
Milestone builds
Working software you can use and judge early. You approve before we move on.
04
Launch and support
You own the code and hosting. I can keep maintaining it, or hand it off with documentation.
Proof you can check yourself
Four production properties, built and operated by me, all scoring 100 on Lighthouse: ochai.dev, reallivebonsai.us, hsvdrone.com and themeaningsoflife.com. For a full e-commerce build with payments and analytics, read the Real Live Bonsai case study. For the plain-English version of the stack, see full-stack development for small business.
Best fit, and not a fit
Best fit
- You need software shaped to your process, not the other way around.
- You want a single point of contact through build, launch and changes.
- You prefer staged milestones and clear scope.
Not a fit
- You need a large in-house team embedded for many months.
- You require a platform that must serve millions of users on day one.
- You want a finished product off the shelf. A subscription tool will be cheaper.
Common questions
How much does a custom app cost?
App builds start at $4,500 (The Soloist). Larger scopes run $14,500 (The Accompaniment) and $38,500 plus $500/mo (The Collective). The final price is fixed in a written proposal after a free discovery call.
Why choose a solo developer over an agency?
You get direct communication and no hand-offs. The trade-off is limited capacity, so I am upfront about timelines and take on a small number of projects at a time.
Who owns the code?
You do. You own the code and hosting, with documentation for the next developer. I can keep maintaining and extending the app, or hand it to another developer.
Can you connect the app to software we already use?
Often yes. Integrations with payments, messaging, calendars, maps and existing databases are a normal part of the work.
Do you build AI features into apps?
Yes. That includes custom Claude API integration and workflow automation, built into the system it automates rather than bolted on as a chatbot.
Tell me what you want to build.
The discovery call costs nothing. You talk, I listen, and you leave knowing whether it is a fit.
Book a free discovery callOchAI is run by Jeremy Och in Huntsville, Alabama. Reach me at jeremy@ochai.dev.