The verdict in three sentences
A private B2B store reserved for a cosmetics brand's resellers costs MAD 120,000 to 260,000 excl. VAT (about USD 12,000 to 26,000) in 2026, with launch in 3 months; a Dubai-based brand commissioning the same scope will land in a similar USD range. It replaces the PDF catalogue and WhatsApp orders with a space where each reseller, approved before access, sees their prices, minimum order and tiered discounts, then pays by card through a local gateway (CMI in Morocco, Network International or Telr in the UAE) or by bank transfer. With 350 resellers and a MAD 9,000 (about USD 900) average basket, a few extra orders per reseller per year are enough to pay for the project.
Why the PDF catalogue costs more than it seems
A sales director sending a PDF catalogue to 350 resellers is really handling three problems: prices change faster than the PDF, orders arrive as photos or voice notes, and nobody knows in real time which reseller has not ordered for two months. The B2B store fixes all three at once, with commercial rules applied automatically.
| Feature | PDF catalogue + WhatsApp | Private B2B store |
|---|---|---|
| Access to reseller prices | Sent to everyone, copied, forwarded | After account approval (trade licence, company ID) |
| Price and new product updates | 1 PDF per quarter | Instant, across 300 to 800 SKUs |
| Minimum order | Checked by hand | Enforced at cart (for example MAD 3,000 / USD 300) |
| Tiered discounts | Calculated by an assistant | Automatic: 5% from MAD 10,000, 8% from MAD 20,000 |
| Payment | Transfer, cheque, cash | Card via local gateway, transfer, 30-day terms for approved accounts |
| Inactive reseller tracking | None | Alert after 45 days without an order |
| Order processing time | 20 to 30 minutes | 3 to 5 minutes (check and picking) |
2026 price of a B2B reseller store
The budget depends mainly on three factors: the number of pricing rules, the link with the management software (Sage, Odoo or in-house ERP) and how far reminders are automated.
| Item | Essential version | Advanced version | Indicative 2026 cost excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reseller accounts and approval | Manual approval | Approval + tiers (Silver, Gold) | MAD 15,000 to 35,000 (USD 1,500 to 3,500) |
| Catalogue and product pages | 300 SKUs | 800 SKUs, kits, new launches | MAD 20,000 to 40,000 (USD 2,000 to 4,000) |
| Commercial rules | Minimum + 2 tiers | Tiers per level, launch offers | MAD 20,000 to 45,000 (USD 2,000 to 4,500) |
| Card gateway and transfer | Card + transfer | + credit terms with limits | MAD 15,000 to 30,000 (USD 1,500 to 3,000) |
| ERP link (stock, invoices) | CSV export | Automatic sync | MAD 15,000 to 50,000 (USD 1,500 to 5,000) |
| Reseller reminders and marketing | Confirmation email | WhatsApp reminders, inactive, restock | MAD 10,000 to 30,000 (USD 1,000 to 3,000) |
| Design, testing, training | Adapted theme | Full brand design | MAD 25,000 to 30,000 (USD 2,500 to 3,000) |
Then allow about MAD 2,000 to 5,000 (USD 200 to 500) per month for hosting and maintenance, plus card gateway fees of roughly 1.5 to 2.5% per card transaction depending on the contract negotiated with your bank (estimate). The 3-month timeline includes a pilot with 20 resellers.
The profitability calculation
Assumptions: 350 resellers, MAD 9,000 average basket, 1 order per month on average before the project, so MAD 3.15M (about USD 315,000) monthly revenue. The store acts on three levers: frequency (easier restocking), basket (visible tiers) and processing time.
| Lever | Cautious assumption | Estimated annual effect |
|---|---|---|
| Average basket | +8% thanks to visible tiers (MAD 9,720) | +MAD 3.0M revenue (USD 300,000) |
| Frequency | +0.1 order per reseller per month | +MAD 3.8M revenue (USD 380,000) |
| Reactivated resellers | 15 inactive accounts, 4 orders a year | +MAD 0.5M revenue (USD 50,000) |
| Admin time | 4,200 orders x 20 min saved | 1,400 h, about 1 FTE reassigned |
| Price or discount errors | 3% of orders previously corrected | About 120 credit notes avoided |
At a 35% gross margin, MAD 7.3M of additional revenue means about MAD 2.5M (USD 250,000) of margin, more than ten times the cost of an advanced version. Even dividing these assumptions by three, the project stays profitable in year one.
Mini case study
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Salma, sales director of an argan-based cosmetics brand in Casablanca, works with 350 resellers (parapharmacies, beauty salons, concept stores, including a growing distributor network in Dubai). She chooses a MAD 185,000 (USD 18,500) version: account approval by company ID, MAD 3,000 minimum, 5% and 8% discounts, card and transfer payments, Sage sync. After 4 months, 240 resellers order online, and the average basket rises from MAD 9,000 to 9,650. Across those 240 resellers, the basket gain is MAD 650 x 240 = MAD 156,000 of extra monthly revenue, about MAD 55,000 (USD 5,500) of margin. The project pays back in just over 3 months, before counting her sales assistant's time savings.
FAQ
How much does a B2B reseller store cost in 2026?
MAD 120,000 to 260,000 excl. VAT (USD 12,000 to 26,000), depending on pricing rules, ERP integration and reminder automation. Maintenance then costs MAD 2,000 to 5,000 (USD 200 to 500) per month.
How do we restrict access to resellers only?
The reseller creates an account with their company ID or trade licence, then the sales team approves it in one click. Before approval, prices stay hidden, which protects your pricing policy from the general public.
Is online card payment mandatory?
No, but it speeds up collection: a reseller paying by card is shipped without waiting for a transfer. Fees of around 1.5 to 2.5% are often offset by fewer unpaid invoices.
Can different resellers get different terms?
Yes, with tiers (for example Silver and Gold) that change the minimum order, discount levels and access to 30-day terms. This module adds MAD 20,000 to 45,000 (USD 2,000 to 4,500) to the budget.
How long does launch take?
Three months on average: 6 weeks of development, 3 weeks of catalogue and ERP integration, then a 3-week pilot with 20 resellers.
Let's scope your project. Send us your reseller count, commercial terms and management software: we will price a B2B store between MAD 120,000 and 260,000 (USD 12,000 to 26,000) with a 3-month plan. 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.
