The verdict in three sentences
For an accounting firm, a vertical SaaS (ACD, Cegid Loop equivalents) is cheap to start but grows heavier with every added staff member. Custom software demands 55,000-90,000 EUR of build, but wipes out the recurring license and fits your exact workflows. The financial tipping point falls near 28 months: below it, vertical wins; beyond it, custom becomes cheaper and strategically superior.
Vertical or custom: the real 3-year cost
The classic trap is comparing entry price instead of total cost of ownership (TCO). A vertical billed 35-60 EUR/staff/month feels painless, until you multiply it by 25 seats over 36 months.
| Item | Vertical SaaS | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| License / staff / month | 35-60 EUR | 0 EUR |
| Annual cost (25 staff) | ~18,000 EUR | 0 EUR |
| Initial build | 0 EUR | 55,000-90,000 EUR |
| Annual maintenance | included | 12-18% of build |
| Hosting / year | included | 1,800-3,600 EUR |
| Workflow customization | limited | total |
| 36-month TCO | ~54,000 EUR | ~85,000-125,000 EUR |
Over 3 years custom stays pricier in cash. It's in year 4 and 5, with no climbing license, that the gap flips.
The cost parameters to know
Before approving a budget, demand your vendor's effort assumptions. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Parameter | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| Developer day rate | 500-650 EUR |
| Delivery timeline | 14-20 weeks |
| Build effort (person-days) | 90-140 d |
| Monthly maintenance | 550-1,350 EUR |
| Break-even vs vertical | ~28 months |
| Time saved on data entry | 6-9 h/week/staff |
| Data migration | 5,000-12,000 EUR |
The data-entry gain is decisive: automating bank imports, document management and reconciliation frees several hours per staffer, directly re-billable or reallocated to advisory.
Mini case study
Marc, partner at a 25-person firm, pays 18,000 EUR/year in vertical licenses today. He invests 72,000 EUR in custom software, plus 14% maintenance (10,080 EUR/year). Custom removes 18,000 EUR/year of license and frees 7 h/week per staffer. Counting only 3 senior staff at 45 EUR/h re-billable, that's 3 x 7 x 45 x 45 weeks = 42,525 EUR/year of regained capacity. Against a net extra of 10,080 EUR maintenance minus 18,000 EUR saved license, the firm is positive in the first full year after amortizing the build over 28 months.
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FAQ
Isn't a vertical safer for tax compliance?
Yes for automatic regulatory updates (filings, VAT), included in the subscription. In custom, budget 4-8 days/year of regulatory maintenance, roughly 2,000-5,000 EUR, to stay current.
How long before the return on investment?
Cash break-even lands near 28 months for a 25-person firm. The operational return (time saved) is immediate at go-live, often 6-9 h/week/staffer.
Can we migrate data from Cegid or ACD?
Yes, via standard export then migration. Budget 5,000-12,000 EUR depending on volume and data quality, and plan a one-fiscal-year parallel run to secure the switch.
Is custom worth it below 15 staff?
Rarely. Below 15 seats, the vertical license stays cheaper over 3 years. Custom becomes attractive from 20-25 staff or with highly specific workflows.
Who owns the source code?
In custom, you do. Demand a rights-assignment clause and a code escrow or Git deposit. It's a capitalized asset the vertical will never give you.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, current tools and workflows to automate, and we price build, maintenance and data migration. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
