Software Setup & Configuration
Installed, configured, and working correctly — the first time.
From $250 · Fixed-scope quote before work begins · Digital delivery
The setup that should have taken an afternoon.
Software setup is a hidden cost that almost nobody talks about honestly. The vendor says "easy to install." The documentation is 40 pages written by an engineer for engineers. You spend a day following instructions that don't match your environment. You get something half-working and don't know if the problem is the instructions, your server, or the software itself. Meanwhile, the thing you bought the software to do — the actual business problem — is still not solved.
We install, configure, and verify the software in your environment. We handle the parts that require command-line access, server configuration, and debugging that the documentation glosses over. We document every step we take so you understand your own setup. You receive a working system and a document that tells you what was done and how to manage it.
Who this service is for
This service is a good fit if any of the following describes your situation.
You bought or acquired a self-hosted software tool and the installation process has stalled somewhere between "step 4" and "it still doesn't work."
You need a new server environment set up — web server, database, application stack — before a project can start.
You need a CMS, e-commerce platform, or application deployed and configured to your specification.
You're setting up a monitoring tool, analytics platform, or infrastructure component and the configuration is blocking you.
You've been quoted for a full development project when you just need an existing tool properly installed and configured.
You need a development or staging environment that mirrors your production setup.
What you get
Everything included in the scope, delivered by the agreed date.
- Installation and configuration of the agreed software in your environment
- Server and environment verification before and after installation
- Security hardening appropriate to the software type (permissions, access controls, removing default credentials)
- A plain-English documentation file: what was installed, what was configured, how to access it, how to maintain it
- Testing to confirm the software is working correctly before handover
- A 30-day support window for questions and minor adjustments
- Credentials and access details delivered securely — you hold the keys, not us
How it works
Step by step, from your first message to receiving the deliverable.
You describe what needs to be set up
Tell us the software, your hosting environment (shared hosting, VPS, cloud provider, local machine), and any specific configuration requirements. If you don't know the environment details, we'll tell you what to find.
We scope and price it
We review the requirements and send a fixed-price scope. Most software setup projects are straightforward to price. If there is environmental complexity (unusual hosting, legacy configurations), we note it in the scope.
We get access and set it up
You provide server access (SSH credentials, hosting panel login, or similar). We install, configure, test, and document. You don't need to watch over the process — we'll update you when it's done.
You receive a working setup and full documentation
We walk you through what was set up and where everything is. The documentation file is yours to keep. We remove our access on handover unless you retain us for ongoing support.
Self-hosted project management tool set up in one day
A small agency had purchased a self-hosted project management platform and spent three days trying to get it running on their VPS. The documentation was written for Linux sysadmins and didn't account for their hosting configuration. We took the access details, completed the setup, configured SSL, set up the database, and delivered a documentation file — all within one business day.
Sample project — illustrative
"I had given up on getting this running myself after two days. CodeCraft had it working the next morning and sent me a document that explained exactly what they'd done and why. Now I actually understand my own server setup."
Common questions
For most server-level setups, yes — temporary SSH or sudo access is required. We handle credentials securely and remove our access on handover. If you're not comfortable granting access, we can also provide a step-by-step guided installation with you in control.
If we encounter unexpected complexity, we tell you immediately — before making changes that are difficult to reverse. The scope document defines the starting environment. If your environment differs significantly from what was described, we discuss the scope change with you before proceeding.
If you want ongoing technical cover for the setup we delivered, our Technical Support & Maintenance retainer is the natural next step.
Yes. State the operating system and environment when you request the quote and we'll confirm in the scope.
No. We'll tell you what information we need and where to find it. Most hosting panels and server dashboards surface the relevant details in one place.
You might also need
Stop fighting the config file.
Tell us what needs to be set up and where. We'll quote it, set it up correctly, and document everything.