The verdict in three sentences
For a company that sells through agencies, concierge services and DMCs, a custom B2B booking platform costs 40,000 to 120,000 USD in Miami in 2026 (25,000 to 70,000 EUR excluding VAT on the French Riviera) and ships in 12 to 18 weeks. Booking SaaS tools usually take 2 to 5% of processed volume, which stays competitive below roughly 500,000 USD of annual online bookings. Above that, or as soon as you need reseller-specific rates, differentiated commissions and seasonal deposits, custom development becomes cheaper and makes you the owner of your partner relationships.
Why B2B rentals break standard tools
A yacht charter company in Miami, an event venue operator in Brickell or a chauffeured fleet for Art Basel do not serve the same end customer as a hotel. They sell to intermediaries who expect their own prices, their own cancellation terms and a commission paid automatically. In peak season (December to April, Art Basel, Miami Open, Formula 1 weekend), request volume can quadruple, and a double booking costs a whole service plus the partner relationship.
The modules that drive the budget:
| Module | Function | Indicative 2026 cost (USD, Miami) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue and resources | Venues, boats, vehicles, add-ons, capacity | 5,000 to 12,000 |
| Real-time availability | Calendar, blocks, iCal or API sync | 6,500 to 17,000 |
| Reseller rates | Rate grids by agency, season, duration, negotiated discounts | 6,500 to 20,000 |
| Deposits and payments | 30 to 50% deposit, balance at D-15, security hold, Stripe | 5,000 to 13,500 |
| Partner commissions | Calculation, monthly statement, self-billing | 5,000 to 15,000 |
| Agency portal | Quotes, time-limited holds, history | 6,500 to 20,000 |
| Back office and reporting | Occupancy, revenue by channel, accounting exports | 5,000 to 13,500 |
| Integrations | Channel manager, CRM, accounting | 3,500 to 16,000 |
A first release with catalogue, availability, reseller rates and deposits sits around 40,000 to 58,000 USD over 12 weeks. A full platform with agency portal, automated commissions and channel manager reaches 85,000 to 120,000 USD over 16 to 18 weeks.
Booking SaaS or proprietary platform: the 3-year math
| Criterion | Booking SaaS | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 to 3,500 USD | 40,000 to 120,000 USD |
| Variable cost | 2 to 5% of booked volume | 0% (Stripe fees 2.9% + 0.30 USD) |
| Subscription or maintenance | 100 to 700 USD per month | 500 to 1,500 USD per month |
| Reseller rates | Basic or missing | Unlimited grids per partner |
| Agency commissions | Manual or export | Automatic calculation and statements |
| Brand and data | Vendor interface | Your brand, your data |
| 3-year cost for 1.3 M USD annual volume (estimate) | 78,000 to 195,000 USD in fees | 58,000 to 174,000 USD |
The tipping point is usually between 550,000 and 900,000 USD of annual online volume. Below that, a well-configured SaaS remains the sensible choice.
Timelines and project pitfalls
Timing matters as much as price: launching in December, at the start of the Miami high season, is a bad idea because peak weeks do not forgive bugs. Aim for delivery in September or October, with a month of real testing with 3 to 5 pilot agencies. The two classic pitfalls are time zones for international clients and partner-specific cancellation rules, which must be written during scoping.
Mini case study
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Mark, owner of a yacht charter company in Miami, generates 1.8 M USD of revenue, 70% through 40 concierge services and agencies. His SaaS takes 3% on 1.2 M USD booked online, 36,000 USD a year, and his assistant spends 2 days a month calculating commissions. He invests 78,000 USD in a platform with per-agency rates, a 40% deposit and automatic statements, plus 900 USD a month of maintenance. Annual saving: 36,000 USD in fees minus 10,800 USD of maintenance, plus about 6,000 USD of admin time, or 31,200 USD. Payback in roughly 30 months, faster as volume grows.
FAQ
Can the platform connect to an existing channel manager?
Yes, via API or iCal depending on the tool, for 3,500 to 10,000 USD. Two-way sync prevents double bookings within 60 seconds.
How are deposits and security holds handled?
Stripe supports an immediate deposit (30 to 50%), a scheduled balance and a card hold for the security deposit. Fees are about 2.9% plus 0.30 USD per US card transaction.
Can agencies place holds?
Yes, with a limited duration (24 to 72 h) and automatic release. This module cuts email follow-ups by 20 to 30%.
Do we need a mobile app?
Rarely in B2B: a responsive web interface covers 90% of agency use. A PWA adds 5,000 to 10,000 USD if field teams need it.
What maintenance budget should we plan?
Allow 15 to 20% of the initial cost per year, 500 to 1,500 USD per month depending on scope, hosting included.
Let's scope your project. Describe your resources, partners and annual volume: we will price a B2B booking platform between 40,000 and 120,000 USD, delivered before your next high season. 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.
