Fields in the records can be named and their types specified. Custom data entry screens can be created, printed reports can be set up, pick lists for frequently entered data can be provided, and searches can be performed. The user can keep tinkering, changing, and improving the creation as needed for years. Hiring It Done Anything more complicated than a simple database requires the services of a professional programmer. The work will be done largely by a programmer with a few years of experience who is supervised by a technical manager with many years in the field.
Generalizations are dangerous, but here are some guidelines for the time required.
A simple Windows program to make the computer act like a cash register took 20 hours to create. It only accepted item descriptions and prices, totaled sales, calculated sales tax, and printed sales slips. It did not post an inventory, and it did not print summary reports. An antiques dealer or art gallery program that does the cash register job, posts an inventory, links sales to a customer database, allows database queries, and prints financial reports, mailing labels, and price labels could require 100 or more hours of programming. Adding features such as calendars, expense records, word processing, Internet access, or ability to work in a local area network would increase the hours.