FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Costs, timelines, code ownership, technology choices, inheriting somebody else’s system. If your question is not here, ask it directly - you will get an answer, not a brochure.
Working with UnknownDev
What does UnknownDev do?
UnknownDev is a South African software company. We build custom software and web applications, set up cloud hosting and deployment pipelines, automate manual business processes, integrate systems that do not talk to each other, and provide independent technical consulting. We also develop our own SaaS products, including the UBooks accounting and ERP platform.
Where are you based, and do you work remotely?
We are based in South Africa and work remotely with clients across the country and internationally. Where data residency, latency or cost matters, we can host on South African infrastructure rather than a distant cloud region.
What size of business do you work with?
Mostly small and medium South African businesses, and teams inside larger organisations who need a specific system built properly. If a project is genuinely better served by an off-the-shelf product, we will tell you that instead of quoting for it.
What industries do you work in?
Construction and trades, accounting and finance, energy and IoT monitoring, professional services, retail and wholesale, and logistics and field operations. We are deliberately domain-agnostic - the method transfers, so we learn the business properly before modelling it.
Who owns the code you write?
You do. Ownership of the software we build for you transfers to you and lives in a repository you control, with documentation and an automated deployment pipeline. There is no licence that expires if you stop working with us.
How much does a project cost?
It depends on scope, but we do not quote blind. A short discovery phase produces a written scope and an estimate before any build commitment, and you keep that document regardless of whether you proceed.
How long until we see something working?
A focused first release is typically six to twelve weeks. We deliberately scope a narrow but genuinely useful first version, put it in front of real users, and build outward from how they actually use it.
Can you take over a system somebody else built?
Yes, and it is a regular part of our work. We start with an audit - what runs where, what the single points of failure are, what is safe to change - and give you that in writing before touching anything.
Do you offer ongoing support and maintenance?
Yes, on a retainer that covers features, maintenance, monitoring and an agreed response commitment. You can also take the documented codebase to an in-house team; we do not make that difficult.
What technology do you use?
Primarily React and TypeScript on the front end, ASP.NET Core and C# on the back end, with SQL Server or PostgreSQL for data, and Linux, Nginx, Docker and GitHub Actions for hosting and delivery. We choose well-supported, widely-understood technology so systems stay maintainable.
Do you build mobile apps?
We build mobile-first web applications that work as installable progressive web apps, which covers most business use cases without two native codebases. Where a genuinely native capability is required, we will say so up front.
How do we start?
Send a short description of the problem through the contact form, including any deadline or budget constraint. You will get a reply with either a suggested next step or an honest statement that we are not the right fit.
About UBooks
Our accounting and ERP platform for South African businesses. There is more detail on the UBooks product page.
Is UBooks built for South African tax and payroll?
Yes - that is the point of it. PAYE is calculated on current SARS tax tables with age-based rebates, UIF applies the statutory 1% employee and 1% employer split up to the monthly earnings ceiling, and SDL is calculated at 1% of payroll for businesses over the annual exemption threshold. Invoices carry the detail a South African VAT vendor needs on a valid tax invoice.
Does UBooks handle EMP201, EMP501 and IRP5?
Yes. The tax module covers the EMP201 monthly PAYE, UIF and SDL declaration, EMP501 reconciliations with IRP5 / IT3(a) certificates, provisional tax including the IRP6 estimates, and a year-end pack. They sit in the same system as the payroll runs the figures come from, so nothing has to be re-keyed between the two.
Will it tell me when a SARS return is due?
Yes. The tax calendar is built from your own registrations - a company that is not a VAT vendor never sees a VAT201 on it - and it lists what is coming up alongside anything overdue, with how many days late each return is. That matters because SARS charges interest and penalties on a late return.
Is payroll an extra subscription?
No. Payroll is part of every plan rather than a separate product, with the employee count set by your plan and extra employees available as an add-on.
How much does UBooks cost?
Plans run from R249 per month for Starter up to R999 per month for Ultimate, with annual billing at ten months’ price. Users, companies, employees, invoices and storage can each be topped up as add-ons instead of forcing a jump to the next tier.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. There is a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, and you can cancel any time.
How long does it take to get going?
Most businesses are up and running in an afternoon: create the company, import your customers and items from a spreadsheet, and send the first invoice the same day.
Can UBooks handle more than one company?
Yes. Starter covers a single company and the higher plans cover two, five and fifteen, with extra companies available as an add-on.
Still have a question?
Send it over. A short, specific question usually gets a short, specific answer within a business day.
A reply from a developer. Not a sales pipeline. The person who reads your message is the person who would do the work.
An honest answer on fit. If an off-the-shelf product solves your problem better than a custom build, we will tell you which one.
No obligation. A first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Discovery output is yours either way.