Everything people usually ask us before we start working together, answered honestly. If your question isn't here, just ask — we don't bite, and we don't do sales pressure.
Getting started
What are the first steps to working with Flare Software?
Get in touch — the contact form or a phone call, whichever you prefer — and we'll have a chat about what you need. There's no commitment at this stage, and in fact we only ever charge for development work we've completed. The first conversation is free.
What do we need to give you to start?
A clear picture of how your business operates and what you need the software to do. That can be a written description, existing reports, or a spreadsheet with realistic data in it. The clearer the picture, the better our estimate — but don't worry about making it perfect. Asking the right questions is our job.
What happens once we've agreed to go ahead?
We build in stages. We complete a discrete chunk of the project, then give you access to it — so you can test it, poke it, and tell us what you think while we build the next part. You see progress throughout, not just a big reveal at the end.
How long does it take, and how much does it cost?
Honestly: it depends on the project. Most run from a few weeks to a few months. The more detail you can give us up front, the more accurate our estimate will be — and we'll always give you that estimate before any chargeable work begins.
Can you transfer our current Excel spreadsheets into a database?
Usually, yes. We can build import routines that capture your Excel data and merge it into the new database, so you don't start from an empty system. Years of accumulated spreadsheet data is normally an asset, not a problem.
You're based in the South West — can you work with businesses elsewhere?
Absolutely. We're in Weston-super-Mare, near Bristol, and we love working with local businesses — but we've built software for clients all over the UK and outside it. With modern remote tools, where you are matters far less than how well we communicate.
Working with us
FileMaker's great — but why use Flare Software?
Between us we have over fifty years of experience across a genuinely odd range of sectors: healthcare, construction workforce, stock control, security, marketing, media, photographic archives and more. We're a Claris Partner, we've been building FileMaker systems since 1998, and you deal directly with the two people writing your software. See our case studies for the evidence.
How small will you go?
We're happy to work with sole traders, and we're happy to make very minor tweaks to an existing system. No job too small — some of our favourite clients started with a one-hour fix.
How large will you go?
We've built systems for multi-million-pound businesses with over a hundred staff. Beyond a certain scale a business needs a full in-house IT department rather than a consultancy, and we'll tell you honestly if we think you're there.
I'm worried about the project overrunning — does that happen much?
It's avoidable, and clarity is how you avoid it. The more specific the requirements, the more accurate the estimate. We build in stages and keep you informed throughout, so there are no nasty surprises lurking at the end.
Do we get training? Is there a manual?
We'll show you how everything works, and because the software is built around how you already work, the learning curve is usually pleasantly shallow. If you'd like a written manual, we can produce one on request.
Can you take over a FileMaker system someone else built?
Yes — we do it regularly. Whether the original developer has retired, moved on or simply vanished, we can review what you have, document it, fix what's broken and develop it further. We'll give you an honest assessment of its condition first.
Money
How do you charge?
We invoice monthly, and only for development work we've actually completed, with 30-day payment terms. No deposits, no long-term contracts, no lock-in. If you want to stop, you stop.
What's the difference between a quote and an estimate?
A fixed quote has to be heavily padded to cover every assumption and risk — which means you pay for problems that usually never happen. We give estimate ranges instead: an honest view of the likely cost, kept up to date as the project takes shape. It's fairer, and it's cheaper.
Do we own the software?
Yes — the software you've paid for is yours to use. Like most developers, we retain the rights to our library code (the reusable building blocks we bring to every project), but the system we build for you is yours. Unlike some developers, we're upfront about this.
Technical
Why use Claris FileMaker?
Because it works, and has for decades. Over a million people across more than 50,000 companies rely on FileMaker every day for business-critical processes. It's owned by Claris, an Apple subsidiary, and it lets us build genuinely bespoke systems in a fraction of the time traditional development takes — which means a fraction of the cost, too.
You talk about databases — is that really software?
Yes. A modern database system doesn't just store information; it displays, analyses and reports it in ways tailored precisely to your business. Screens, workflows, automation, documents, integrations — it's every bit as much "software" as anything you'd buy in a box. There just isn't a box.
Why not use an off-the-shelf package?
Because your business isn't off-the-shelf. Every company operates differently, and generic software forces you to bend your processes to fit it. That's usually a temporary answer, and often a poor one. Bespoke software fits the business — not the other way round.
How flexible is the software? Can we change it later?
Very, and yes. Change is rather the point of bespoke software. Your system runs cross-platform, supports AES 256-bit encryption and barcode/QR features, and is designed from the start to be altered and upgraded as your business evolves.
Can FileMaker talk to Xero, Mailchimp, or our website?
Yes — this is one of our specialities. We've connected FileMaker to Xero accounting, WooCommerce online shops, Mailchimp, payroll platforms and plenty of bespoke APIs, both REST and SOAP. If a system has an API, FileMaker can almost certainly talk to it. See API integrations for more.
What hardware do we need? Do we have to have a server?
Not necessarily. Options range from cloud-hosted servers (nothing to buy or maintain) to running the whole thing from a single desktop or laptop. We'll recommend what fits your size and budget.
We need to access our data from anywhere — is that possible?
Absolutely — anywhere you can get some form of network or internet access. And for genuinely off-grid situations, syncing arrangements can keep remote devices up to date whenever they reconnect.
Is there a difference between mobile and desktop software?
The same system runs across desktop, iPad and iPhone. Where it helps, we design device-specific layouts — a warehouse barcode screen wants big buttons; a reporting dashboard wants a big monitor — but it's all one system with one set of data.
Can we give people different levels of access?
Yes. Access privilege groups give you granular control over who can view, edit or delete what, right down to individual fields. The warehouse doesn't need to see the payroll, and with proper privileges, it can't.
Support
Do you offer remote support?
Yes, we certainly do. We use TeamViewer, Zoom and other remote access tools, so most issues are looked at within hours rather than "when someone can drive over".
What about ongoing support after the project is finished?
We don't disappear when the invoice clears. Most of our clients have been with us for years, and their systems have grown with their businesses. There's no compulsory support contract — most clients call on us when they need us and pay for the work we do, though some prefer a fixed monthly fee that keeps us on call.
Still curious? Get in touch or call 0330 113 0958 — the first chat is free.