The verdict in three sentences
For a B2B SME in Berlin in 2026, Shopify Plus B2B is the right choice when your commercial rules stay standard and you want to launch fast (3-5 months). Custom wins as soon as your pricing, quotas and workflows are specific, because it removes the recurring license of 2,300+ EUR/month and fits your process. The real decision criterion is 5-year TCO, not the first-year sticker price.
Both options in figures
A high-end SaaS bills a monthly license and imposes its framework; custom needs a heavier upfront investment but no software rent.
| Item | Shopify Plus B2B | BigCommerce B2B | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly license | 2,300+ EUR | 1,800 - 2,500 EUR | 0 EUR |
| Setup cost | 15,000 - 35,000 EUR | 12,000 - 30,000 EUR | 40,000 - 120,000 EUR |
| ERP connectors | Paid (apps) | Paid (apps) | Included, custom |
| Time to launch | 3 - 5 months | 3 - 5 months | 5 - 10 months |
| Transaction fees | Vary by plan | Vary by plan | 0 (excl. PSP) |
5-year TCO and tipping point
| Criterion | SaaS (Shopify Plus) | Custom | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-year TCO (indicative) | 165,000 - 320,000 EUR | 90,000 - 200,000 EUR | Custom if high volume |
| Per-customer pricing | Standard, workarounds | Native, unlimited | Custom if complex pricing |
| Time-to-market | 3 - 5 months | 5 - 10 months | SaaS if urgent |
| Vendor dependency | High (lock-in) | None | Custom for independence |
| Process flexibility | Limited to framework | Total | Custom if unique workflows |
| Technical team needed | Light | Dev partner needed | SaaS if no partner |
The tipping point usually sits around year 3: beyond that, the 27,600 EUR/year of Shopify Plus license often exceeds the maintenance cost of a custom solution.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Sophie, owner of a B2B food distribution SME in Berlin, is hesitating. Shopify Plus costs her 28,000 EUR setup + 27,600 EUR/year license, i.e. 166,000 EUR over 5 years. Custom is quoted at 85,000 EUR + 12,000 EUR/year maintenance, i.e. 145,000 EUR over 5 years.
With her volume- and region-based price grids that Shopify handles poorly, she picks custom: 21,000 EUR saved over 5 years, plus the end of the workarounds slowing her reps. She accepts 3 extra months for a solution that fits her process exactly.
FAQ
Is Shopify Plus B2B really 2,300 EUR/month? The Plus plan starts around 2,300 EUR/month on an annual commitment, excluding apps, ERP connectors and transaction fees. Real cost often exceeds 30,000 EUR/year all-in.
When does custom become cheaper? Usually from year 3, when cumulative SaaS license exceeds custom maintenance cost. The higher your volume, the faster the switch.
Can I migrate from Shopify Plus to custom later? Yes, but budget 50,000 to 150,000 EUR for migration. Better to decide early if your specifics are already known.
Does SaaS handle negotiated per-customer pricing? Partially: Shopify Plus B2B handles price lists and catalogs per company, but complex rules (cross tiers, conditional discounts) require costly workarounds.
How long to decide? An audit of your commercial rules and ERP takes just 1 to 2 weeks to confidently choose between the two options.
Let's scope your project. Share your pricing rules, order volume and ERP: we compare SaaS and custom on your case and quote both. 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.
