SaaS · Bookings & payments
LivePatch
Booking and payment software for tradespeople.
A booking app built for trades: branded booking pages, deposits and card payments, reminders and recurring jobs, all run from a phone.
View case studySoftware consultancyBespoke software · Internal systems · AI automationSheffield · United Kingdom
Software built around how your business actually works.
Thackr builds bespoke business software for companies that have outgrown spreadsheets, disconnected tools and manual processes. You work directly with Josh, from the first conversation through to delivery.
One consultant. Start to finish.
01The problem
Most growing businesses run on the same few things: a stack of spreadsheets, a handful of apps that don't talk to each other, and people holding it together by hand. It holds for a while, then it starts to cost you time and money.
- Spreadsheets doing too muchCritical data in files only one person understands, with no history and no safety net.
- Tools that don't connectThe same information re-typed into three systems, because none of them share what they know.
- Manual work that scales badlyProcesses that were fine at ten jobs a week and painful at a hundred, and getting worse.
02What I build
One person who builds the whole thing,
and stays with it after launch.
All services in detailBusiness software
Product development
- 01Bespoke business softwareCustom business software shaped around the way your company already works, instead of forcing your team to fit a generic product.
- 02Internal systemsInternal business systems that give your team one reliable place for job tracking, scheduling, stock and reporting.
- 03AI automationPractical AI automation that takes repetitive work off your team, used only where it earns its place.
- 04Customer & staff portalsSecure customer and staff portals that give people a clear, self-service view of what they need.
- 05Custom CRM systemsA custom CRM built around how you win and keep work, rather than a subscription product you have to bend to fit.
- 06Workflow automationWorkflow automation that moves work along on its own, from approvals and reminders to hand-offs and follow-ups.
- 07SaaS product developmentSaaS product development that takes your idea from concept to a working, sellable first version.
- 08Legacy system replacementCareful legacy system replacement for ageing software that has become slow, risky or costly to keep running.
- 09Systems integrationSystems integration that gets the tools you already pay for talking to each other, so data flows automatically.
- 10Ongoing software supportOngoing software support from one person who keeps what you have built running well and growing with the business.
03Selected work
Real products, designed and shipped.
SaaS · Knowledge & policy management
LiveDirective
A team's source of truth for policies and procedures.
AI-assisted SOP and policy management for SMEs, with acknowledgements, tamper-proof audit trails and full version history.
View case studySaaS · Consumer wellbeing app
LiveMabli
A calm, private space for you and your relationship.
A supportive AI companion for relationships and wellbeing. Talk solo or with a partner, get gentle check-ins, and feel heard, grounded in proven therapeutic approaches.
View case study
04Working with Thackr
Thackr is me, Josh Thackeray. Not a call centre, and not a team of juniors learning on your budget. When we talk about your project, you're speaking with the person who will design it and build it.
01
Direct from day one
One point of contact who knows your project inside out.
02
Commercially minded
Decisions weighed against what they're worth to you.
03
Honest scoping
If a cheaper or simpler fix exists, I'll tell you.
04
There after launch
Most of my work is helping clients long after launch.
- 01
Understand the problem
We start with a proper conversation about how your business works, where the friction is and what a fix is worth. There's no cost and no jargon. If I'm not the right person for the job, I'll say so.
- 02
Scope and plan
I set out what to build, in what order and what it will cost. You get a clear proposal with a fixed scope for the first phase, so you know what you're committing to before any code is written.
- 03
Build in the open
I build in short, visible steps and show you working software early and often. You're never left waiting months to see progress, and you can steer the direction as it takes shape.
- 04
Launch and support
We roll it out carefully, get your team comfortable with it and I stay available afterwards. Most of my work comes from carrying on with clients long after launch.
06Is this for you?
Bespoke software is an investment, so it's worth being straight about when it pays off.
A good fit
- An operational problem that's costing you time or money
- A clear commercial need behind it
- A budget to match, starting from around £1,000
- You want one accountable person rather than a faceless agency
Probably not yet
- You're mainly chasing the lowest possible price
- The need is still vague and hasn't really been felt yet
- An off-the-shelf tool would do the job
- There's no budget set aside for it
07Common questions
How much does a project cost?
Projects start from around £1,000, and most fall between £5,000 and £50,000, depending on scope and complexity. I scope and price each one properly rather than selling fixed packages, because bespoke software isn't something you buy off a shelf. You'll always have a clear figure before you commit, and smaller jobs are worth a conversation too.
Who is Thackr a good fit for?
Businesses with a genuine operational problem, a clear commercial need and the budget to solve it properly. If you're losing time to spreadsheets, disconnected tools or manual work and you can see what fixing it's worth, that's the kind of work I do.
Do I work with you or a team?
You work directly with me, Josh, from the first conversation through to delivery. There's no account manager in between and no handing your project to someone junior. For larger builds I bring in trusted specialists where it helps, and I stay accountable throughout.
How long does a project take?
It depends on scope, but I work in short, visible steps so you see working software early rather than waiting months. A focused first phase is often live within a few weeks. We agree timings as part of the proposal.
What if I already have software that isn't working?
That's common. Whether it needs fixing, extending, connecting to other tools or replacing, I start by understanding what you have and what it's costing you before I recommend anything.
08Latest insights
Practical thinking on the systems businesses run on.
The AI Agent That Assumes: Why Automation Needs to Ask, Not Guess
AI agents are good at filling in gaps quietly, which is exactly the problem. Here's why business automation needs to be built to ask rather than assume, with real examples.
You Inherited a System Nobody Can Explain. Now What?
When you inherit software with no documentation and no developer to ask, the temptation is to rewrite it fast. Here's a safer way to work out what it actually does first.
Your AI Coding Assistant Doesn't Remember Last Week's Decisions
AI coding agents don't carry memory of past decisions between sessions the way a human developer does. That gap shows up as inconsistency in your codebase, and it matters more than most people realise.
Got a problem worth solving properly?
Tell me what's slowing your business down. The first conversation is free and straightforward, and it's with me, not a salesperson.
Or email me at josh@thackr.co.uk