Some people may wonder after receiving a quote:

"Why is the design fee so much higher than the price of similar products I see online?"

This is a very common and reasonable question. The key lies in understanding the difference between custom design and finished, mass-produced products. Although they may look similar on the surface, they involve completely different processes, goals, and costs.

1. What Is Design/Development?

Designing a custom electronic product involves much more than just putting components together. It includes:

1. Requirement analysis

2. Circuit and schematic design

3. PCB layout

4. Component selection and sourcing

5. Firmware or software development (if needed)

6. Prototyping and debugging

7. Testing and validation

This process requires time, expertise, specialized tools, and engineering labor. These are one-time costs associated with turning an idea into a working, manufacturable design.

2. What Is a Finished Product?

A finished product refers to a mass-produced unit, based on the finalized design. Its cost mainly includes:

1. PCB fabrication

2. Assembly 

3. Components 

These are repeatable per-unit costs, which usually drop significantly with higher quantities due to economies of scale.

In Summary:

Design and production are two separate phases, each with distinct goals and cost structures. Therefore, the development costs and effort involved are different. You can choose to develop a new project or purchase a finished product based on your budget.

If you have any questions about your design, feel free to reach out to PCBWay.