The verdict in three sentences
For an 18-person land surveying firm, such as a chartered surveyors' practice in Montpellier, a custom project management application costs between 20,000 and 40,000 EUR excl. VAT in 2026 (about 22,000 to 44,000 USD). It brings together projects and phases, timesheets, progress-based invoicing and a project map, currently spread across 3 tools. Delivered in 3 months, it makes margin per project visible, often the figure partners miss most.
Budget by feature
The figures below are 2026 estimates for a firm of 10 to 30 people (land surveyors, engineering consultancies, architecture practices).
| Feature | Scope | Indicative budget (EUR excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projects and phases | Boundary surveys, subdivisions, topography, condominium, phases and milestones | 4,000 to 8,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Timesheets | Web and mobile entry, field and office | 3,000 to 6,000 | 2 weeks |
| Fees and progress invoicing | Fixed fee, time and materials, progress claims, reminders | 4,000 to 9,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Project map | Geolocated projects, parcels, filters | 3,000 to 6,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Margin dashboard | Budgeted vs actual hours, margin per project and type | 3,000 to 6,000 | 2 weeks |
| Integrations | Accounting export, calendar, link to drawing files | 3,000 to 5,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Total | Full application | 20,000 to 40,000 | 3 months |
The low end covers a single-office firm with one fee model. The high end adds several offices, a field mobile app and an accounting software link.
Three stacked tools or a single application
The typical setup combines a spreadsheet for projects, invoicing software and a separate timesheet. Each tool works, but nobody sees a project's margin before it closes.
| Criterion | Three separate tools | Off-the-shelf practice management software | Custom application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR setup | 20,000 to 40,000 EUR |
| Annual cost for 18 users | 1,500 to 3,000 EUR | 6,500 to 13,000 EUR (30 to 60 EUR per user per month) | 3,000 to 5,000 EUR maintenance |
| Surveying-specific phases | Manual | Generic | Native |
| Project map | No | Rarely | Yes |
| Margin on ongoing projects | No, only at closing | Partial | Real time |
| Double entry | 3 to 5 hours per week per person | Reduced | Eliminated |
Custom software makes sense when the firm's phases and fee models do not fit a generic tool, which is common for surveyors handling boundary disputes, subdivisions and condominium work, and for architects with staged design fees.
What to prepare before the project
Two workstreams keep the project fast. First, a catalogue of project types with a reference time budget for each: this is what allows planned vs actual comparison. Second, a clear timesheet rule, by half hour or quarter hour, with an automatic end-of-week reminder. With these two in place, 3 months is enough to go live.
Mini case study
Pierre, partner at an 18-person surveying firm in Montpellier, estimates that each employee loses 3 hours a week to double entry across 3 tools. Across 18 people and 45 weeks, that is 2,430 hours a year. At a loaded hourly cost of 45 EUR, the loss reaches about 109,000 EUR a year.
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With an application at 32,000 EUR excl. VAT and 4,000 EUR of annual maintenance, most double entry disappears. Conservatively assuming 2 hours saved per week per person, savings reach 1,620 hours, or about 72,900 EUR a year. Add margin per project visible while work is ongoing: if it helps re-price 5% of underquoted jobs on 1,800,000 EUR of revenue, the gain exceeds 30,000 EUR. Estimated payback: under 6 months, a 2026 order of magnitude.
FAQ
How much does project management software for a surveying firm cost in 2026?
Between 20,000 and 40,000 EUR excl. VAT for a full application serving 10 to 30 people. A first release limited to projects and timesheets starts around 10,000 EUR.
Is progress-based invoicing supported?
Yes, the software computes progress claims per completed phase and generates invoices. Automatic reminders often cut payment delays by 10 to 15 days.
Can the application connect to our surveying and CAD software?
Yes, at minimum through a link to each project's file folders. Deeper integration adds 2,000 to 5,000 EUR depending on the software used.
Can surveyors log time from the field?
Yes, through a mobile version that runs on a smartphone. Logging takes less than a minute per site visit.
How do we bring over ongoing projects?
Active projects are imported from your spreadsheets during the project. Allow 1 week for a few hundred projects.
Let's scope your project. Share your headcount, project types and current tools and we will price a scope between 20,000 and 40,000 EUR excl. VAT delivered in 3 months. 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.
