[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":527},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-schema":3,"article-en-lab-type-development-guide":93,"article-related-en-lab-type-development-guide":513},{"@context":4,"@graph":5},"https://schema.org",[6,72,84],{"@type":7,"@id":8,"name":9,"alternateName":10,"legalName":15,"foundingDate":16,"numberOfEmployees":17,"taxID":18,"url":19,"logo":20,"founder":21,"contactPoint":23,"address":37,"location":43,"sameAs":63},"Organization","https://joinx.co/#organization","JoinX哲煜科技",[11,12,13,14],"JoinX","TWJOIN","哲煜科技","哲煜科技股份有限公司","JoinX Co., Ltd.","2016-04-28",80,"43774383","https://joinx.co","https://joinx.co/images/logo-with-name.png",{"@id":22},"https://joinx.co/#person-jack-lee",[24],{"@type":25,"contactType":26,"url":27,"telephone":28,"email":29,"areaServed":30,"availableLanguage":33},"ContactPoint","customer service","https://joinx.co/contact-us","+886-2-8771-9095","service@joinx.co",[31,32],"TW","JP",[34,35,36],"zh-Hant","en","ja",{"@type":38,"streetAddress":39,"postalCode":40,"addressLocality":41,"addressRegion":42,"addressCountry":31},"PostalAddress","民生東路二段170號8樓","104","台北市中山區","台灣",[44,51,57],{"@type":45,"name":46,"address":47},"Place","JoinX 台中辦公室",{"@type":38,"streetAddress":48,"postalCode":49,"addressLocality":50,"addressRegion":42,"addressCountry":31},"台灣大道二段360號21樓C室","40453","台中市北區",{"@type":45,"name":52,"address":53},"JoinX 高雄辦公室",{"@type":38,"streetAddress":54,"postalCode":55,"addressLocality":56,"addressRegion":42,"addressCountry":31},"民族一路80號2樓之一(B4)","807","高雄市三民區",{"@type":45,"name":58,"address":59},"JoinX 東京辦公室",{"@type":38,"streetAddress":60,"postalCode":61,"addressLocality":62,"addressCountry":32},"東五反田5-22-37 Office Circle N 五反田 9樓","141-0022","東京都品川區",[64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71],"https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/twjoin","https://www.facebook.com/JoinX.TW","https://tw.linkedin.com/company/%E5%93%B2%E7%85%9C%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80","https://www.youtube.com/c/joinstuido%E5%93%B2%E7%85%9C%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80","https://medium.com/twjoin","https://www.104.com.tw/company/1a2x6bjomb","https://clutch.co/profile/twjoin","https://www.goodfirms.co/company/twjoin",{"@type":73,"@id":22,"name":74,"alternateName":75,"jobTitle":76,"worksFor":77,"url":78,"sameAs":79},"Person","李秉哲","Jack Lee","創辦人暨執行長",{"@id":8},"https://jack.joinx.co",[80,81,82,83],"https://www.instagram.com/jack88.podcast/","https://www.threads.net/@jack88.podcast","https://joinx.co/jack88/","https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacklee-taiwan/",{"@type":85,"@id":86,"url":19,"name":9,"alternateName":87,"publisher":88,"inLanguage":89},"WebSite","https://joinx.co/#website",[11,13,9],{"@id":8},[90,91,92],"zh-Hant-TW","en-US","ja-JP",{"id":94,"title":95,"body":96,"category":477,"cover":478,"dateModified":479,"description":480,"extension":481,"faq":482,"hasCoverTitle":504,"locale":35,"meta":505,"navigation":506,"need":507,"path":508,"seo":509,"sources":477,"stem":510,"takeaways":477,"time":479,"type":511,"__hash__":512},"content/en/article/lab-type-development-guide.md","Lab-Type Development vs. Fixed-Price Contracts: Costs, Fit",{"type":97,"value":98,"toc":466},"minimal",[99,106,109,114,214,220,224,278,285,288,292,297,313,318,332,338,342,348,354,360,366,370,403,406,410,416,422,428,434,440,446,452,456,463],[100,101,102],"p",{},[103,104,105],"strong",{},"Lab-type development is a setup in which you secure a dedicated team for a monthly fee and keep responding to changing specifications.",[100,107,108],{},"\"We want to work in an agile way, but under a fixed-price contract every specification change triggers a new quote, and it just doesn't work.\" Lab-type development solves this problem. It is not right for every project, however. In this article, we draw on both contract models that JoinX actually uses with Japanese companies to lay out how to choose between them.",[110,111,113],"h2",{"id":112},"lab-type-development-vs-fixed-price-contracts","Lab-type development vs. fixed-price contracts",[115,116,117,133],"table",{},[118,119,120],"thead",{},[121,122,123,127,130],"tr",{},[124,125,126],"th",{},"Item",[124,128,129],{},"Lab-type (quasi-mandate)",[124,131,132],{},"Fixed-price",[134,135,136,148,159,170,181,192,203],"tbody",{},[121,137,138,142,145],{},[139,140,141],"td",{},"What the contract covers",[139,143,144],{},"Team × period",[139,146,147],{},"Deliverables",[121,149,150,153,156],{},[139,151,152],{},"Cost",[139,154,155],{},"Fixed monthly fee",[139,157,158],{},"Lump sum per project",[121,160,161,164,167],{},[139,162,163],{},"Specification changes",[139,165,166],{},"Can be adjusted flexibly",[139,168,169],{},"Quoted and re-contracted each time",[121,171,172,175,178],{},[139,173,174],{},"Responsibility for completion",[139,176,177],{},"Not borne by the vendor",[139,179,180],{},"Borne by the vendor",[121,182,183,186,189],{},[139,184,185],{},"Minimum period",[139,187,188],{},"Typically six months or more",[139,190,191],{},"Depends on the project",[121,193,194,197,200],{},[139,195,196],{},"Know-how",[139,198,199],{},"Accumulates in the team",[139,201,202],{},"Resets with each project",[121,204,205,208,211],{},[139,206,207],{},"Best suited for",[139,209,210],{},"Ongoing development, agile, shifting specifications",[139,212,213],{},"Finalized specifications, one-off projects, strict deadlines",[100,215,216,219],{},[103,217,218],{},"The biggest difference is where responsibility for completion lies."," Under a fixed-price contract, the vendor bears responsibility for completion, but every specification change requires a new quote. Under the lab-type model, the client controls the priorities, but some of the responsibility for managing progress also shifts to the client.",[110,221,223],{"id":222},"typical-costs-of-lab-type-development","Typical costs of lab-type development",[115,225,226,236],{},[118,227,228],{},[121,229,230,233],{},[124,231,232],{},"Role",[124,234,235],{},"Typical monthly rate (offshore development in Taiwan)",[134,237,238,246,254,262,270],{},[121,239,240,243],{},[139,241,242],{},"Senior engineer",[139,244,245],{},"JPY 600,000–800,000",[121,247,248,251],{},[139,249,250],{},"Mid-level engineer",[139,252,253],{},"JPY 450,000–650,000",[121,255,256,259],{},[139,257,258],{},"UI/UX designer",[139,260,261],{},"JPY 400,000–600,000",[121,263,264,267],{},[139,265,266],{},"Bridge engineer (a Japanese-speaking engineer who bridges the client and the dev team)",[139,268,269],{},"JPY 500,000–700,000",[121,271,272,275],{},[139,273,274],{},"QA engineer",[139,276,277],{},"JPY 350,000–500,000",[100,279,280,281,284],{},"For a standard team of three to five people, ",[103,282,283],{},"about JPY 1.5–3 million per month"," is a reasonable guideline. That is roughly 40–60% of the cost of assembling a team of the same size in Japan.",[100,286,287],{},"Note that the first one to two months are a period in which the team learns the domain, so productivity stabilizes from the third month onward. JoinX factors in this ramp-up period and recommends contracts of six months or longer, because the benefits of the lab-type model are hard to realize with short contracts.",[110,289,291],{"id":290},"projects-that-suit-the-lab-type-model-and-projects-that-dont","Projects that suit the lab-type model, and projects that don't",[100,293,294],{},[103,295,296],{},"Projects that suit it",[298,299,300,304,307,310],"ul",{},[301,302,303],"li",{},"Ongoing feature additions and improvements to your own product",[301,305,306],{},"New businesses that want to decide specifications while watching market response",[301,308,309],{},"Ongoing maintenance and modification of existing systems",[301,311,312],{},"Securing development resources to supplement in-house engineers",[100,314,315],{},[103,316,317],{},"Projects that don't",[298,319,320,323,326,329],{},[301,321,322],{},"One-off projects with fully finalized specifications and a fixed deadline",[301,324,325],{},"Small developments that will be completed within three months",[301,327,328],{},"Cases where the client has no one who can manage progress",[301,330,331],{},"One-time projects with no plans for further development",[100,333,334,337],{},[103,335,336],{},"Rule of thumb",": if you will have ongoing development needs for a year or more, choose the lab-type model. If the work ends after one project, choose a fixed-price contract.",[110,339,341],{"id":340},"four-conditions-for-making-lab-type-development-succeed","Four conditions for making lab-type development succeed",[100,343,344,347],{},[103,345,346],{},"1. Assign a product owner on the client side.","\nIn the lab-type model, the authority to set priorities lies with the client. If there is no one who can decide what to build in the current sprint, the team sits idle. This is the most common cause of failure in the lab-type model.",[100,349,350,353],{},[103,351,352],{},"2. Build in the ramp-up period.","\nThe first one to two months are an investment period. During this time, you share domain knowledge, set up the development environment, and establish a communication rhythm. Rushing this phase affects everything that follows.",[100,355,356,359],{},[103,357,358],{},"3. Never skip regular syncs.","\nSet up short syncs at least weekly, and daily if possible. Taiwan is only one hour behind Japan, so sharing a morning meeting is realistic.",[100,361,362,365],{},[103,363,364],{},"4. Agree on rules for making progress visible.","\nPrecisely because the fee is fixed monthly, not being able to see what has progressed creates anxiety. Agree in advance on how often sprint reviews, progress reports, and demos will happen. At JoinX, sprint reports in Japanese are standard practice.",[110,367,369],{"id":368},"the-ramp-up-process","The ramp-up process",[371,372,373,379,385,391,397],"ol",{},[301,374,375,378],{},[103,376,377],{},"Discovery"," (one to two weeks): confirming what will be developed, the skills required, and the scale",[301,380,381,384],{},[103,382,383],{},"Team proposal"," (one week): presenting the role composition and the monthly fee",[301,386,387,390],{},[103,388,389],{},"Contract"," (one to two weeks): agreeing on the period, team structure, deliverables, and confidentiality",[301,392,393,396],{},[103,394,395],{},"Kickoff and ramp-up"," (one to two months): setting up the environment, sharing domain knowledge, initial development",[301,398,399,402],{},[103,400,401],{},"Steady-state operation"," (from the third month): ongoing development in sprints",[100,404,405],{},"If it is your first time, we recommend a two-step approach: confirm quality and communication with a small fixed-price project first, then move to the lab-type model.",[110,407,409],{"id":408},"frequently-asked-questions","Frequently Asked Questions",[100,411,412,415],{},[103,413,414],{},"Q1. What is the minimum contract period for lab-type development?","\nA. Six months or more is typical. Ramp-up takes one to two months, so anything shorter makes it hard to see the benefits.",[100,417,418,421],{},[103,419,420],{},"Q2. Can the team size be changed partway through?","\nA. It depends on the contract terms, but generally the team can be scaled up or down with advance notice (one to two months). Check the rules for changes when you sign the contract.",[100,423,424,427],{},[103,425,426],{},"Q3. Is the lab-type model cheaper than a fixed-price contract?","\nA. They cannot be compared directly. In projects with frequent specification changes, the cost of re-quoting under a fixed-price contract keeps piling up, so the lab-type model comes out ahead. In projects with finalized specifications, a fixed-price contract keeps the total lower.",[100,429,430,433],{},[103,431,432],{},"Q4. How is the quality of the deliverables assured?","\nA. In the lab-type model, the vendor does not bear responsibility for completion, so quality is assured through how the work is run. It is important to agree in advance on the code review process, the testing policy, and the Definition of Done.",[100,435,436,439],{},[103,437,438],{},"Q5. Will the source code belong to our company?","\nA. Under JoinX contracts, the source code belongs 100% to the client, whether the contract is lab-type or fixed-price.",[100,441,442,445],{},[103,443,444],{},"Q6. Can we communicate in Japanese?","\nA. Yes. JoinX has a Japanese entity and a Japanese-speaking point of contact in Tokyo, and technical discussions can also be held in Japanese.",[100,447,448,451],{},[103,449,450],{},"Q7. Can we switch to in-house development partway through?","\nA. Yes. As long as the source code and documentation are delivered continuously, the handover will not be a problem.",[110,453,455],{"id":454},"conclusion","Conclusion",[100,457,458,459,462],{},"The lab-type model and fixed-price contracts are not better or worse than each other; you use them according to the nature of the project. ",[103,460,461],{},"Lab-type for ongoing development, fixed-price for one-off projects with finalized specifications."," Choose by this standard and you won't go far wrong.",[100,464,465],{},"JoinX supports both contract models and makes recommendations based on the nature of each project.",{"title":467,"searchDepth":468,"depth":468,"links":469},"",2,[470,471,472,473,474,475,476],{"id":112,"depth":468,"text":113},{"id":222,"depth":468,"text":223},{"id":290,"depth":468,"text":291},{"id":340,"depth":468,"text":341},{"id":368,"depth":468,"text":369},{"id":408,"depth":468,"text":409},{"id":454,"depth":468,"text":455},null,"/images/blog/lab-type-development-guide.webp","2026/09/01","Lab-type development is a development contract that secures a dedicated team of engineers for a set period. JoinX, with a development setup spanning Taiwan and Japan, explains how it differs from fixed-price contracts, typical costs, which companies it suits, and how to choose without failing.","md",[483,486,489,492,495,498,501],{"question":484,"answer":485},"What is the minimum contract period for lab-type development?","Six months or more is typical. Ramp-up takes one to two months, so anything shorter makes it hard to see the benefits.",{"question":487,"answer":488},"Can the team size be changed partway through?","It depends on the contract terms, but generally the team can be scaled up or down with advance notice (one to two months). Check the rules for changes when you sign the contract.",{"question":490,"answer":491},"Is the lab-type model cheaper than a fixed-price contract?","They cannot be compared directly. In projects with frequent specification changes, the cost of re-quoting under a fixed-price contract keeps piling up, so the lab-type model comes out ahead. In projects with finalized specifications, a fixed-price contract keeps the total lower.",{"question":493,"answer":494},"How is the quality of the deliverables assured?","In the lab-type model, the vendor does not bear responsibility for completion, so quality is assured through how the work is run. It is important to agree in advance on the code review process, the testing policy, and the Definition of Done.",{"question":496,"answer":497},"Will the source code belong to our company?","Under JoinX contracts, the source code belongs 100% to the client, whether the contract is lab-type or fixed-price.",{"question":499,"answer":500},"Can we communicate in Japanese?","Yes. JoinX has a Japanese entity and a Japanese-speaking point of contact in Tokyo, and technical discussions can also be held in Japanese.",{"question":502,"answer":503},"Can we switch to in-house development partway through?","Yes. As long as the source code and documentation are delivered continuously, the handover will not be a problem.",false,{},true,"custom software","/en/article/lab-type-development-guide",{"title":95,"description":480},"en/article/lab-type-development-guide","blog","F3MGe_eTkf9uzxfLfh06hO56ApVf09ZBUDzV54d3rNM",[514,518,522],{"slug":515,"title":516,"time":479,"cover":517,"need":507},"ai-assisted-development-cost-reduction","What Is AI-Assisted Development? Lower Cost, Higher Quality","/images/blog/ai-assisted-development-cost-reduction.webp",{"slug":519,"title":520,"time":479,"cover":521,"need":507},"offshore-development-failure-patterns","5 Offshore Development Failure Patterns and Countermeasures","/images/blog/offshore-development-failure-patterns.webp",{"slug":523,"title":524,"time":525,"cover":526,"need":507},"system-development-cost-2026","System Development Cost in 2026: Web and System Price Guide","2026/07/27","/images/blog/system-development-cost-2026.webp",1792411073199]