The short answer
A simple Telegram bot with a menu, answers and a request form starts at $200. A bot that takes orders or bookings and stores them in a database is around $350. A bot with payments and a web admin panel starts at about $600. The final price is fixed in writing before any work starts.
What drives the price
- Number of scenarios. Every branch of the dialogue — order, cancel, change, ask a question — is designed and tested separately.
- Data. A bot that only forwards messages needs no database; orders, bookings and user accounts do.
- Integrations. Google Sheets, a CRM, a payment provider or your website each add work.
- Admin tools. Editing products, prices or texts without a developer needs an admin panel.
- Languages. Each language means translated texts and testing.
Price by type of bot
| Type | What it does | Price with me | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple bot | Menu, FAQ, request form | from $200 | 3–5 days |
| Business bot | Orders or bookings, database, notifications, Sheets export | from $350 | 5–8 days |
| Bot + admin panel | Payments, web admin, Telegram and WhatsApp | from $600 | 8–14 days |
| Mini app | Full web interface inside Telegram | from $1,500 | 4–8 weeks |
Running costs after launch
Telegram itself charges nothing for bots. You pay for the server the bot runs on — usually $5–10 a month for a small business bot — and for any paid services it uses, such as an AI model or SMS. Changes after launch are $15 an hour, with no monthly retainer.
How to spend less
- Start with the one scenario that saves the most time, and add the rest later.
- Use Google Sheets as the first “admin panel” — it's free and your team already knows it.
- Write down the dialogue you have with customers today: it becomes the bot's script and shortens the work.
Questions
Is a ready-made bot builder cheaper?
For a menu and FAQ, a builder can be enough. Once you need your own logic, a database or integrations, a custom bot is usually cheaper over a year than a builder subscription — and you own the code.
Can I pay in stages?
Yes: 50% before the work and 50% after delivery; larger projects are split into stages.