MCP SERVER DEVELOPMENT COST
A fixed-scope MCP server build is $1,500. A ChatGPT App build is $2,500. A combined MCP server and ChatGPT App build is $3,500. Each production build begins with a 50% deposit. When the workflow is not ready to quote, the $500 feasibility sprint turns it into a technical plan and fixed production price.
CURRENT KNWN STUDIO PRICES
Four fixed ways to begin
| Offer | Entry scope | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility Sprint | Two-business-day technical scope, risk, evaluation, and deployment plan. No production code. | $500 paid in full |
| MCP Server Build | One workflow, up to three tools, one existing source system, tests, deployment, and handover. | $1,500 total · $750 deposit |
| ChatGPT App Build | One workflow, up to three actions, supported-surface packaging, submission materials, and handover. | $2,500 total · $1,250 deposit |
| MCP + ChatGPT App | One combined workflow with the MCP implementation, app packaging, tests, deployment, and handover. | $3,500 total · $1,750 deposit |
These are the current fixed entry prices in USD. Additional workflows, tools, actions, source systems, or exceptional security and compliance requirements are quoted before development. Hosting, model, platform, and third-party usage fees are separate.
THE DIRECT ANSWER
These are fixed-scope entry builds, not teaser prices. Each production offer covers one defined workflow, up to three tools or actions, one existing source system, authentication and permissions, logging, tests, client-controlled deployment, documentation, and source-code handover.
The MCP Server Build starts with a $750 deposit. The ChatGPT App Build starts with $1,250. The combined build starts with $1,750. The balance is tied to the agreed project payment schedule.
When the scope is not ready:
Use the $500 Production Feasibility Sprint when the workflow, permission model, source systems, or safety boundaries need to be designed before a build can be quoted responsibly.
CURRENT KNWN STUDIO PRICES
The price below is fixed for the entry scope stated on each offer. Work outside that boundary is discussed and priced before it enters development.
$500 paid in full
You receive:
No production code is included. This is for projects that need decisions before development starts.
$1,500 total · $750 deposit
A product needs live data or approved actions available through MCP-compatible clients.
$2,500 total · $1,250 deposit
The main goal is a usable product experience distributed inside ChatGPT.
$3,500 total · $1,750 deposit
The product needs both a reusable MCP tool layer and a finished ChatGPT App surface.
WHAT CHANGES THE QUOTE
The question is not simply how many endpoints exist. It is how much product behavior, identity, risk, interface work, and operational responsibility the build must carry.
One source system and up to three focused read tools can fit the $1,500 MCP entry build. More datasets, searches, reports, or result formats expand the scope.
Authentication and permissions are included at entry scope. Multiple identity providers, delegated access, complex roles, tenant switching, or object-level rules require more implementation and testing.
Controlled actions are included when they fit the defined workflow. Payments, bookings, publishing, duplicate prevention, idempotency, reconciliation, and deeper audit requirements can raise the quote.
Supported-surface packaging and submission materials are included in the App offers. Multiple widgets, forms, review states, interfaces, or additional host surfaces add design and testing work.
The entry offers cover one workflow and up to three tools or actions. Each additional user job needs its own schemas, behavior, tests, and acceptance criteria.
One stable source system is included. Several APIs, databases, queues, document stores, or legacy services add integration and failure-handling work.
More permission combinations, clients, edge cases, asynchronous jobs, and consequential actions require a larger evaluation set and more review time.
VPC, on-premise, regulated environments, custom observability, formal release controls, or several deployment environments are scoped separately.
WHAT KNWN DELIVERS
The exact deliverables follow the approved scope. A normal production delivery includes the implementation and the operational material required to own it.
The MCP server, tool definitions, schemas, configuration examples, and agreed ChatGPT App interface code.
Deployment to the agreed client-controlled environment, with environment and secret configuration documented.
Automated contract, integration, authorization, failure-path, and workflow acceptance tests appropriate to the scope.
Structured logs and agreed MCP usage signals without storing credentials, full conversations, or hidden model reasoning.
Setup, architecture, tool behavior, deployment, operations, revocation, and a handover session with the receiving team.
WHAT SITS OUTSIDE THE ENTRY PRICE
The following work is separate unless it is explicitly included in the fixed scope.
Not included by default:
Small dependencies can be included during scoping. Material additions are written down and priced before they enter the build.
THREE REALISTIC ENTRY PROJECTS
These examples stay inside the entry boundary. A larger workflow receives a larger fixed quote before development begins.
$1,500 total · $750 deposit
2 to 4 weeks
A signed-in customer asks for current account usage, campaign performance, inventory availability, or saved reports from an MCP-compatible client.
$2,500 total · $1,250 deposit
3 to 5 weeks
A customer checks their own records, compares options, and prepares an approved next step without leaving ChatGPT.
$3,500 total · $1,750 deposit
4 to 6 weeks
A customer finds an option, reviews the details, and submits or updates a record through a ChatGPT App backed by the same MCP tools.
NORMAL DELIVERY TIME
The final delivery date is confirmed in the fixed scope. Fast access to the source system and one decisive product owner keep the calendar moving.
Production Feasibility Sprint:
Workflow and tool map, authentication design, safeguards, risks, evaluation plan, deployment recommendation, and fixed production quote.
MCP Server Build:
One workflow, up to three tools, one existing source system, tests, deployment, documentation, and handover.
ChatGPT App Build:
One workflow, up to three actions, account connection, supported-surface packaging, submission materials, and handover.
One MCP workflow plus the ChatGPT App surface, with the shared authentication, tests, deployment, and handover.
What slows delivery:
Missing endpoints, unclear permissions, unavailable test accounts, late workflow changes, or additional review requirements extend the schedule.
WHAT KNWN NEEDS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT
You do not need a finished technical specification. You do need enough product context to identify what belongs in the entry scope and what should be quoted separately.
Bring these to the scoping conversation:
KNWN can identify missing details during scoping. The quote stays reliable when the first workflow, source system, and permission model are clear before development begins.
MCP DEVELOPMENT COST FAQ
The KNWN MCP Server Build is $1,500, with a $750 deposit to begin. The ChatGPT App Build is $2,500, with a $1,250 deposit. The combined MCP Server and ChatGPT App Build is $3,500, with a $1,750 deposit. The Production Feasibility Sprint is $500 paid in full.
The entry scope covers one workflow, up to three tools, one existing source system, authentication and permissions, controlled actions where required, logging, tests, client-controlled deployment, documentation, and source-code handover.
A demo can skip production authentication, permissions, controlled writes, failure handling, tests, deployment, observability, documentation, and handover. The fixed KNWN build price covers a production scope rather than a disposable protocol example.
The entry offers include up to three tools or actions for one workflow. More tools matter because each needs schemas, behavior, tests, and acceptance criteria, but write risk, identity rules, source systems, and interface work can matter more than the raw count.
Yes. The published entry offers are fixed for the scope stated on this page. When the project exceeds that boundary, KNWN provides a larger fixed scope, price, delivery plan, acceptance criteria, and exclusions before the additional work begins.
Authentication and permissions are included within the entry workflow. Multiple identity providers, delegated access, complex tenant switching, unusual object-level rules, or a large permission matrix may require an expanded quote.
Deployment to the agreed client-controlled environment is included in the entry builds. Ongoing hosting, cloud usage, AI model charges, API fees, and platform fees are separate unless the fixed scope explicitly says otherwise. KNWN hosting is not required.
The Production Feasibility Sprint takes two business days. A fixed-scope MCP Server Build normally takes two to four weeks, a ChatGPT App Build three to five weeks, and the combined build four to six weeks. The agreed scope confirms the actual delivery date.
GET A FIXED SCOPE
Bring the user request, the source system, and the rules the result must respect. KNWN will confirm whether the project fits an entry offer or return a larger fixed scope with the price, timeline, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and exclusions stated before development begins.
You do not need to share production credentials for the first conversation.
