At first
One clever workbook keeps everything moving.
Orders, customers and reporting all live in one familiar place.
Form & Figure by Mike Melling · Greater Manchester
Turn spreadsheet-led work into a dependable business app.
I map the people, handoffs, decisions and reporting around it, then build a clear, dependable web app around how the work really happens.
12+ years improving operational data and reportingExcel, VBA, databases and business applications, including experience with the NHS and Capita.Born, based and still in Greater Manchester. Working with businesses locally and across the UK.Meet Mike and view his experience
Process mapping
Multiple data sources
Automation and checks
Live reporting
Then
The process grows faster than the spreadsheet.
Copies appear, formulas become fragile and nobody is quite sure which version is current.
Eventually
The business waits for the person who understands the file.
Updates need checking. Reports need rebuilding. Small mistakes become expensive interruptions.
A better fit
Keep what works. Fix what gets in the way.
Your team gets one joined-up system for guided input, clear handoffs, automation and reporting. It is built around the process, not as a copy of the spreadsheet.
Does this sound familiar?
The spreadsheet still works. The process around it does not.
Could somebody else run the process if its usual owner were off tomorrow?
Are reports rebuilt by hand from information the business already holds?
Do people check spreadsheets, emails and messages just to find the current status?
Is everyone nervous about changing the workbook because nobody fully understands it?
Interactive examples
See one awkward process become simple
Each example shows a complete operational workflow rather than a spreadsheet copied into a browser. Make a change and watch the records and reporting update together.
OrderFlow
Orders, stock pressure and dispatchTry adding an urgent order and see it appear in the live workload view.
Try OrderFlow Starter Web App exampleMediRota
Rotas, cover gaps and staff hoursFill a missing shift and see the coverage warnings recalculate.
Try MediRota Starter Web App examplePropertyTrack
Repairs, contractors and owner updatesLog an emergency issue and see it surface in the priority queue.
Try PropertyTrack Bespoke Business App exampleForm & Figurines
Storefront, orders, stock and three user rolesStart a private shop, place an order, fulfil it as staff and control the operation as admin.
Try the bespoke demoBuilt on real experience
More than a decade making data work better.
View Mike’s career history on LinkedInForm & Figure is run by Mike Melling, with more than 12 years of experience improving operational data, workflows and reporting for organisations including the NHS and Capita. For years, that work has included turning complex Excel processes into structured databases and untangling the formulas, VBA and macros that quietly hold important workflows together.
Better data captureLess manual rework
Useful reportingClearer decisions
Excel and VBAExisting logic understood before it is replaced
What you can buy
Start small. Prove the value.
Start with one workflow, prove the value, then extend it only where the business needs it.
Workflow and spreadsheet review
Launch price £150Map the people, handoffs, decisions, data and reports around the workbook. You receive the risks, priorities and a practical recommendation for what to improve, automate or build.
Starter Web App
Launch price from £1,500One core workflow shaped as a working prototype, then built with forms, status tracking, reporting, export-ready data and a handover. Typical delivery: 2-4 weeks.
Compare application buildsHosting and maintenance
From £49 per monthManaged hosting, routine backups, small fixes, and light report changes after the app is live. Larger changes are quoted first.
Compare deployment productsHow it works
From messy process to working system.
We start with the real process.
You show me the spreadsheets, people, handoffs, decisions and reports involved. I map where information is duplicated, delayed or dependent on one person before recommending a build.
You receive: a prioritised workflow review and practical next-step recommendation.You test the shape of the answer early.
I turn the agreed process into fields, statuses, permissions and a focused working prototype. We confirm what the first useful version must do before the build is locked in.
You receive: a testable prototype and agreed scope with no mystery features or vague assumptions.The working version arrives in small, reviewable pieces.
You test the important screens with realistic examples while I refine the workflow, checks and reporting.
You receive: a tested web app built around one core workflow.Switch when the team is confident, not before.
Where useful, the new app runs alongside your existing spreadsheet or system for an agreed test period. Your team can compare real outputs, confirm edge cases and make sure the new workflow does everything it needs to before fully switching over.
You receive: a proven live system, agreed data migration, export options and a straightforward handover.The system can keep improving with the business.
Managed hosting, backups, fixes and small refinements are available without locking you into unnecessary change.
You receive: a dependable route for support after launch.Security and ownership
Built around sensible business safeguards.
Production arrangements are agreed for each project so the controls match the data and the people using it.
Drag the handle
From fragile workbook to self-running app.
This is the core sales story: the client keeps the useful business logic from their spreadsheet, but gets safer data capture, clear workflows, and reporting built into the tool.
Before: shared workbook
After: web app
Orders_Master_FINAL_v7.xlsx
Autosave off
Orders
Stock
Pivot copy
Archive 2025
Duplicate row
Mixed statuses
Manual formula
Open orders
42
Data checks
Passed
Weekly output
186 units
Validated order form
Customer Harbour Retail Status Ready for dispatch Due date 19 Jul 2026Live reporting
Attention list, exports, and weekly summary ready.
Common questions
Before you send a spreadsheet
Do I need to replace everything at once?
No. Most projects should begin with one high-friction workflow, prove the value, and expand only when there is a clear business reason.
What if the process uses several spreadsheets or systems?
That is often where the biggest gains are. The review identifies duplicated data, manual reconciliation and useful connection points, then recommends whether to join, automate or replace each part.
Can users still export to Excel?
Yes. Practical CSV or Excel-compatible exports can be included for finance, payroll, archiving, or analysis.
Who owns the finished system and its data?
Your data remains yours. Ownership, source-code access, hosting, and handover arrangements are set out clearly in the project proposal.
What happens after launch?
You can take over the app after handover or use an optional monthly care plan for hosting, backups, fixes, and light changes.
Should I email a sensitive workbook immediately?
No. Start with a description of the workflow. If the project looks suitable, a safer transfer method and any necessary data redaction can be agreed first.
Contact Form & Figure
Contact Mike about the process
Send a short note about how the work happens, who is involved, which spreadsheets or systems support it, and where it becomes difficult. I will reply personally with a practical next step and no obligation.
Private and project-scoped
Excel export available
Optional hosting and maintenance
Hosting and deployment
Choose where your finished app will run.
Application design and development is priced first. Deployment to suitable hardware you already own is included; supplied hardware and managed cloud services are optional additions.
Choose the build
From a structured database at £750 to a branded multi-process web application.
Choose deployment
Use suitable hardware you already own at no extra cost, or add supplied hardware or managed cloud.
Add care if useful
Local support plans are optional. Managed cloud includes ongoing hosting and maintenance.
Application products
Choose how far to take the process.
Each level starts by understanding the existing work, data and reporting. The difference is how much workflow, automation and user experience is built around it.
01Clean data foundation
Spreadsheet to Database
From £750
Turn one important workbook into a properly structured database that is easier to maintain, validate and build on later.
Data sourcesOne workbook
Best forReliable foundations
- Workbook and data structure review
- Clean relational database design
- Initial data cleanse and import
- Validation rules and data dictionary
- Practical export and handover
02Most common starting point
Starter Web App
From £1,500
Replace one core spreadsheet process with a simple web app for controlled data entry, status tracking and dependable reporting.
ProcessesOne core workflow
Best forSmall operational teams
- Structured forms and validation
- Workflow statuses and record search
- Standard dashboard and agreed reports
- Excel-compatible exports
- Initial import, documentation and handover
03Defined first phase
Bespoke Business App
From £3,000
A defined first phase connecting several inputs, roles or workflows in one branded operational system. Larger or business-critical systems are scoped individually.
ProcessesMultiple workflows
Best forCross-team operations
- Company branding and configured navigation
- Multiple forms, inputs and linked processes
- Role-based access where required
- Dashboards for different users
- Automations, integrations and migration scoped to fit
All one-off prices shown include the introductory discount. A written scope confirms the workflows, screens, reports, migration and delivery stages before work begins.
Deployment products
Deployment after your app is built.
These prices apply on top of application development, except Customer Server deployment, which is included in the build price.
01Use existing hardware
Customer Server
Includedno additional deployment charge
Your application is installed on a suitable server, NAS or virtual machine already owned by the business. Standard installation is priced into the application build.
- Application and MySQL installation
- HTTPS and local network setup
- Initial backup configuration
- Documentation and handover
Optional managed care£49/month
02Popular local option
Small Linux Server
+ £995hardware and deployment
A quiet, compact server supplied and configured for the customer’s premises, with the application and data kept locally.
- Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB memory
- 256GB NVMe SSD and cooled case
- MySQL and automated local backups
- Remote maintenance capability
Optional managed care£59/month
03Higher local capacity
Local Managed Server
+ £1,495hardware and deployment
A dedicated mini PC for larger datasets, more users or several Form & Figure applications at one location.
- Business-class mini PC and SSD
- Application and MySQL installation
- Automated backups and monitoring
- 12-month hardware warranty
Managed care£69/month
04Work from anywhere
Cloud Managed
+ £295setup + £129/month
A private cloud server managed by Form & Figure, suitable for teams working across different locations.
- Private application and MySQL server
- Infrastructure allowance up to £25/month
- Daily backups, monitoring and updates
- 30 minutes of minor support each month
Minimum contract term12 months
05Managed database
Cloud Managed Plus
+ £495setup + £199/month
Separate application and managed MySQL services for more important workflows and stronger recovery options.
- Managed MySQL service
- Infrastructure allowance up to £50/month
- Enhanced backup and recovery
- 60 minutes of priority support each month
Minimum contract term12 months
06Local with resilience
Hybrid Local & Cloud
+ £1,295hardware setup + £59/month
The application runs at the customer’s premises while encrypted backups are retained away from the site.
- Local application and MySQL database
- Encrypted off-site backups
- Secure authorised remote access
- Monitoring and maintenance
Minor support included30 mins/month
Indicative cost calculator
Build a working estimate.
Select a starting build, where it will run, and any useful additions. The estimate updates immediately and gives you a practical figure to discuss.
At a glance
Compare the options.
| Product | Data location | Hardware | Remote access | Ongoing care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Server | Customer premises | Customer supplied | Optional | Optional |
| Small Linux Server | Customer premises | Included | Optional | Optional |
| Local Managed Server | Customer premises | Included | Optional | Included |
| Cloud Managed | UK/EU cloud | Not required | Included | Included |
| Cloud Managed Plus | UK/EU cloud | Not required | Included | Included |
| Hybrid Local & Cloud | Local + cloud backup | Package dependent | Included | Included |
Every deployment
The essentials are included.
Separate app environmentMySQL databaseHTTPS configurationInitial data importBackup setupExport capabilityAdmin documentationClear handover terms
Not sure which one fits?Most small single-site teams should compare the Small Linux Server with Cloud Managed. The right answer depends on where people work, internet reliability and how important recovery time is.
Talk it through with Mike
All deployment prices are additional to application development unless explicitly marked as included. Prices are starting points and exclude VAT where applicable.
Demo 1
OrderFlow
For a functional products business managing customer orders, stock pressure, and dispatch status.
Your three-step missionAdd an urgent order, move it forward, then see the live report react.
Live demo
1Add an order2Move it forward3Open reporting
Make it your own. The sample values are only a starting point. Change any field and experiment as much as you like. Reset restores the original demo.
Orders.xlsxOne file, several manual updates
Order entry, stock checks, status colours and the weekly report all need maintaining separately.
Fulfilment pipeline
Live from order statusWeekly output
Units due by dayFulfilment0%Stock pressure0 orders
Attention list
High priority, due soon, or not dispatched| Customer | Product | Units | Stock | Due | Status |
|---|
What would this cost?
OrderFlow is a typical Starter Web App.
The demo shows one controlled order workflow with data entry, status tracking, stock checks, exports and live reporting.
Launch pricing: one-off prices already include the 25% introductory discount. A £150 workflow review is credited in full against a later build, leaving £1,350 on a £1,500 Starter Web App. Hosting and ongoing support are chosen separately.
Your process, made simpler
Could this work for your business?
Tell me about the spreadsheet or process you rely on. I’ll reply personally with a practical next step.
View services and pricingDemo 2
MediRota
Forward rota planning for a medical practice, with weekly and monthly coverage checks across every role.
Your three-step missionFill Tuesday's doctor gap, watch the coverage score improve, then open the report.
Draft rota
1Fill the gap2Check coverage3Open reporting
Make it your own. The sample values are only a starting point. Change any field and experiment as much as you like. Reset restores the original demo.
Rota-August.xlsxCover looks complete until somebody checks it
Shift cells, role totals and gap warnings sit in different parts of the workbook.
Coverage by day
Clinical and front desk cover0%Core-role coverage
Hours by role
Planned rota balanceRota checks
Gaps and operational notesWhat would this cost?
MediRota is a typical Starter Web App.
The demo shows one rota workflow with shift entry, coverage checks, warnings, staff hours and live reporting.
Launch pricing: one-off prices already include the 25% introductory discount. A £150 workflow review is credited in full against a later build, leaving £1,350 on a £1,500 Starter Web App. Hosting and ongoing support are chosen separately.
Your process, made simpler
Could this work for your team?
Tell me about the rota or spreadsheet you rely on. I’ll reply personally with a practical next step.
View services and pricingDemo 3
PropertyTrack
For property managers replacing a maintenance spreadsheet with tracked issues and owner-ready reports.
Your five-step missionLog an emergency, complete the repair, archive it, then confirm it appears in the historical reporting.
5 tracked issues
1Log emergency2Progress repair3Resolve it4Archive it5Open archive
Make it your own. The sample values are only a starting point. Change any field and experiment as much as you like. Reset restores the original demo.
Repairs tracker.xlsxThe issue is logged, but the next action is hidden
Emails, contractor updates, SLA checks and owner reports have to be reconciled by hand.
SLA pressure
Open issues by urgencyContractor load
Assigned open workOwner-ready summary
What changed since the last updateRepair history
Archived issues
Completed work remains searchable and continues to feed portfolio reporting.
Completed by month
Repairs retained in the archiveResolution performance
Based on the selected periodWhat would this cost?
PropertyTrack is a typical Starter Web App.
The demo shows one repairs workflow with issue logging, contractor ownership, active reporting and an auditable archive.
Launch pricing: one-off prices already include the 25% introductory discount. A £150 workflow review is credited in full against a later build, leaving £1,350 on a £1,500 Starter Web App. Hosting and ongoing support are chosen separately.
Your process, made simpler
Could this work for your portfolio?
Tell me about the property spreadsheet or process you rely on. I’ll reply personally with a practical next step.
View services and pricing