[cj]

They’re saying that they would rather pay a consultant because they would have control over fixing things that don’t work the way they want. Compared to the alternative of buying a SaaS product that is “rough around the edges” where you’re not able to directly control whether and how the product is improved over time.

[fsndz]

that's a false choice because the SaaS startup will often be willing to modify the product to improve it for customers

[giva]

It can but it's up to its good will.

To be clear: It usually makes no sense to develop an internal solution when there is an estabilished offering on the market. If there isn't, embracing an rough and incomplete Saas solution from a startup may work, but:

- You have no control on how the solution will evolve

- You don't own the solution (an internal solution can became a product on itself)

- You don't have any competitive advange (the money you pay are used to develop a product that benefit your competitors as well as you).