Website CMS — WordPress, Drupal, or custom software? Which is easier to manage?

Correct.

Here's how it went for us. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

You're right, I've been down that road too. Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

Let me share my experience. The system lives on after delivery; maintenance is a separate line item.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

There is something to watch out for. Access credentials should be opened in the company's name, not personal accounts.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

the discussion got scattered, let me summarize... btw if you don't write this down from the start, it leads to arguments later.

of course, it varies if your situation is different.

Let me clarify the technical side. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

Thanks for writing this, that's the right way. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval. This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

you're right. the harder it is to reverse a decision the slower you should make it.

if scope grows, either time or budget must grow but i mean there is no third option... good luck with that.

I disagree with you on this point. Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

Generally correct but one part is missing. Hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

When we decide without measuring we always end up in the same place. Good luck with that.

Thanks a lot, I'll try it today.

good call starting this thread. the answer varies greatly by industry; thhere is no one-size-fits-all rule.

if scope grows either time or budgt must grow. there is no third option.

Three different views emerged, they all complement each other. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

There are three things to check when doing this. If code ownership isn't in the contract, you have no bargaining power when leaving.

Hope this helps.

Let me summarize the topic since several different answers were given. Everyone rushing into cms selection gets stuck at the same point.

Proven by experience.

Generally correct, but one part is missing. Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval.

I've been dealing with this for a long time. If you don't write this down from the start, it leads to arguments later.

Hope this helps.