The verdict in three sentences
A packaged B2B suite (Shopify Plus B2B) starts around 2,300 EUR/month and covers 80 % of standard needs: per-account catalogs, volume discounts, simple net-terms payment. Once your pricing rules get specific (tiered grids crossing customer × product family, structured quotes, ERP-driven credit limits), a custom build of 35,000 to 120,000 EUR becomes rational again. The right call hinges on pricing complexity and SKU count, not on the storefront price tag.
What a B2B platform really costs in 2026
In B2B the average order is 5 to 20 times larger than B2C: a platform that converts 3 % better pays back fast. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Item | Packaged suite (Shopify Plus B2B) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| License / build | 2,300 EUR/month | 35,000 – 120,000 EUR |
| Per-account pricing module | Included (standard) | 6,000 – 15,000 EUR |
| Online quote workflow | Third-party app 150 – 500 EUR/mo | 8,000 – 20,000 EUR |
| ERP integration | Connector 300 – 900 EUR/mo | 10,000 – 30,000 EUR |
| Go-live lead time | 6 – 10 weeks | 12 – 22 weeks |
| Annual maintenance | ~15 % of recurring | 12 – 16 % of build |
A qualified team's day rate runs 470 to 650 EUR in 2026. A 60,000 EUR custom build is therefore roughly 100–130 person-days.
The features that make (or break) B2B
Every platform shows a cart. Few handle the B2B core cleanly. Prioritize these blocks in your spec.
| Feature | Business impact | Indicative custom cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per-account, per-tier pricing | Locks in key accounts | 6,000 – 15,000 EUR |
| Credit limits and net terms | Aligns web with your T&Cs | 6,000 – 18,000 EUR |
| Online quotes + follow-up | Shortens the sales cycle | 8,000 – 20,000 EUR |
| Multi-user accounts (buyer/approver) | Fits procurement flows | 4,000 – 9,000 EUR |
| Fast reorder / recurring lists | Boosts frequency | 3,000 – 7,000 EUR |
| Real-time ERP stock sync | Prevents stockouts | 10,000 – 30,000 EUR |
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Mini case study
Claire, CFO of an industrial supplies wholesaler in Miami, manages 4,200 SKUs and 320 pro accounts. Her reps spend ~35 h/week keying in emailed orders. A custom portal at 68,000 EUR plus 9,500 EUR/year maintenance absorbs 60 % of that entry, freeing ~21 h/week. At a loaded 28 EUR/h, annual savings reach ~30,500 EUR: payback in a little over 2 years, before counting the basket uplift from cross-selling.
FAQ
Is Shopify Plus B2B enough for a wholesaler? Yes, if your pricing fits simple per-account grids and a catalog under 5,000 SKUs. Above ~2,300 EUR/month, add 500 to 1,400 EUR/month of apps (quotes, ERP): compare that stack to amortizing a build.
How long to go live? Plan 6 to 10 weeks packaged, 12 to 22 weeks custom. ERP integration is almost always the critical path: budget 10,000 to 30,000 EUR and 3 to 6 weeks for it alone.
What maintenance budget? A 12–16 %/year maintenance fee on a custom build, i.e. ~9,000 EUR/year for a 60,000 EUR platform. Packaged, the ~2,300 EUR/month license covers the core but not your custom code.
Is custom worth it below 5,000 SKUs? Rarely, unless your pricing rules are unusual. Under that threshold with standard tariffs, a packaged suite plus 2–3 apps stays cheaper over 3 years.
Can we migrate from packaged to custom later? Yes, and it's common: start on Shopify Plus B2B, build up customer data, then replatform once app costs and functional limits pass ~1,500 EUR/month.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, per-account pricing logic and target ERP: we'll price packaged vs custom side by side. 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.
