Time zones that cost you a day
A question asked at 3 p.m. and answered the next morning slows every decision on the project. We keep Eastern time and work your hours.
Nearshore software development company
A nearshore software development company in your time zone, with code you own
Ojastra is a nearshore software development company based in Toronto, working with US businesses that want a senior engineering team in a nearby time zone, with fixed prices and full ownership of the code. We build custom software, web and mobile apps, integrations and AI automation for clients across the United States.
You get working software to click every week, the code in your own GitHub account from day one, and a free written plan within 48 hours of describing what you need. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Fixed price. You own the code. A working demo every week.
What US buyers worry about when they outsource software
Requirements lost in translation
A misread spec surfaces in week eight. We work in native English and write the scope down in plain language before building anything.
Staff augmentation with nobody accountable
Renting developers by the hour leaves you managing them and paying for time, not results. We take projects at a fixed price, so we're accountable for delivery.
Code and IP you can't be sure of
Vague contract terms and repositories you can't enter. Ours are plain: you own the code and the IP, and it lives in your account from the first day.
What our nearshore software development team builds
Custom business software
Internal tools, operations dashboards, customer portals and integrations for US operating businesses.
Web and mobile apps
Customer-facing apps for iPhone, Android and the web, built from one codebase where that saves money.
MVPs for funded startups
The first version of a software product, built to grow, with tests, staging and documentation.
AI automation
Calls answered and booked, quotes from your price sheet and orders keyed into your ERP, with a person approving what matters.
Integrations with your existing stack
Accounting, CRM, e-commerce and ERP systems connected so your team stops retyping data.
Rescue and modernization
An audit, fix, security review and deployment for code a previous vendor or a prototype tool left behind.
Why Canada works as a nearshore option
Time zone. We keep Eastern time, so our day lines up with New York, Atlanta, Miami and Boston, runs an hour ahead of Chicago, Dallas and Houston, and still shares several working hours with California. Weekly demos and quick questions happen in real time, not by email overnight.
Language, culture and law. English is our working language, and US and Canadian business practice are close: similar expectations about contracts, invoices, documentation and deadlines. Ontario's legal system is rooted in English common law, as in most US states, so terms such as confidentiality and IP ownership read the way your counsel expects. Have your lawyer review the agreement, as you would with any vendor. The code lives in your GitHub account, cloud accounts are in your company's name and you choose the region.
Price and fit. We quote in Canadian dollars, and when the US dollar buys more than the Canadian dollar, as it usually has in recent years, a US client pays less in US dollars than the figure suggests. We don't put a percentage on that, because exchange rates move and we won't promise a saving. We are also a small senior team, not a bench of hundreds of developers; if you need ten engineers added to your payroll next month, we're not the right choice.
What it costs
Fixed prices in Canadian dollars. The blueprint fee is credited in full when you go ahead with the build.
| What you get | Price (CAD) | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| BlueprintWorkflow map, key screens, fixed quote and build schedule. 100% credited to the build. | $1,500 | About 1 week |
| Customer-facing web or mobile appBooking, ordering, client portal or marketplace. | $20K–$60K | 6–12 weeks |
| MVP for a funded founderThe first version of your product, built to grow. | $25K–$75K | 8–14 weeks |
| Care planHosting, monitoring, fixes and small changes. | From $500/month | Monthly |
Prices are in Canadian dollars, so the US-dollar cost depends on the exchange rate when you pay. After the blueprint the price is fixed, and a change in scope is agreed in writing before we build it. See all prices.
How we work
1. Plan
A free written plan within 48 hours, then a one-week blueprint ($1,500, credited to the build) that ends in one fixed price and a schedule.
2. Build
A working link to click every week. Milestone payments, no hourly surprises. Scope changes are priced in writing before we build them.
3. Care
You own the code and accounts from day one. Optional care plan from $500 a month for hosting, fixes and small changes.
Software we built and run
pickup.kitchen
Our own live ordering and meal-plan platform for food businesses.
- Each kitchen gets its own storefront on a subdomain or custom domain
- Stripe payments and a Shopify POS integration
- Live order tracking, delivery routes and a driver app
Naina
An AI coaching app we took from idea to paid MVP.
- Upload screenshots, get a score and the top fixes
- Email one-time-code sign-in and a paid pass
- AI output checked by its own test suite
Questions owners ask us
What is nearshore software development?
It means working with a software team in a nearby country and time zone rather than one far away. For US companies, Canada is a nearshore option with Eastern-time hours, native English and familiar business practice. We work with clients across the United States.
How much does it cost to work with a nearshore development company in Canada?
Our prices are in Canadian dollars: a customer-facing app is typically $20K–$60K CAD, an MVP for a funded founder $25K–$75K CAD, and a $1,500 CAD blueprint, credited to the build, fixes the price first. What that is in US dollars depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay, and we don't claim to be cheaper than any other country.
Do you offer staff augmentation or dedicated developers?
No. We build projects at a fixed price rather than renting developers by the hour or the month. If you need to add several engineers to your own team quickly, a staff augmentation firm is the better fit; if you want a result delivered for a set price, that's us.
How does software development outsourcing work with your team?
You describe the problem and get a free written plan within 48 hours. A one-week blueprint then fixes the scope, price and schedule, and we build in weekly slices with a demo link every week. Your own engineers can review the code in your repository at any time.
Who owns the code and the intellectual property?
You do. The code is in your GitHub account from day one and hosting runs on accounts in your company's name. Your counsel should review the contract, as with any vendor.
Can you meet in person, or is it all remote?
Weekly demos and calls happen by video, which is how we work with every client outside the Toronto area. We can meet in person if you're nearby.
How long does a nearshore software project take?
Six to twelve weeks for a customer-facing app, eight to fourteen for an MVP and two to four for a single automation or integration. You see a working link in the first week or two.
Related
Tell us the problem. Get a written plan in 48 hours.
No call needed. You get the approach, a price range and a timeline in writing, free.