The verdict in three sentences
A custom B2B ecommerce platform for a wholesaler runs between 40,000 and 120,000 EUR in 2026, versus 500 to 2,500 EUR/month for an off-the-shelf B2B SaaS. Custom pays off as soon as you have per-customer pricing, recurring orders and a credit limit to control in real time. The return on investment comes mainly from self-service ordering, which cuts the processing cost of an order line by six.
What a B2B platform costs in 2026
B2B is not B2C with a login. You must handle price grids per account, volume discounts, payment terms and an ERP connection. Here are the 2026 ballpark figures for the London market.
| Item | Custom (EUR) | B2B SaaS (EUR/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | 40,000 - 120,000 | 3,000 - 8,000 |
| Platform subscription | 0 | 500 - 2,500 |
| Per-customer pricing | Included | Premium option |
| ERP connector | 8,000 - 20,000 | 4,000 - 12,000 |
| Credit limit and deferred payment | Included | Often absent |
| UX customisation | Full | Limited |
| Cost over 3 years | 55,000 - 150,000 | 40,000 - 110,000 |
Over three years the gap narrows: custom becomes worthwhile as soon as the SaaS forces you to pay for every add-on module or work around its limits.
The real ROI: order processing cost
A wholesaler handles hundreds of orders a day. Every order keyed in manually by a rep or sales admin costs time. Customer self-service is the variable that changes everything.
| Metric | Before (phone/email) | After (platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Processing cost / order | 12 EUR | 2 EUR |
| Average entry time | 8 min | 0 min (customer) |
| Order error rate | 6% | 1.5% |
| Orders outside business hours | 0% | 22% |
| Automated recurring reorder | No | Yes |
| Average validation delay | 4 h | Instant |
With 300 orders/day, moving from 12 to 2 EUR of processing cost saves 3,000 EUR per working day, roughly 660,000 EUR per year. The investment pays back in a few months.
Mini case study
Mark runs a catering-supplies wholesaler in London with 180 active pro customers and about 220 orders a day. He invests 72,000 EUR in a B2B platform with per-customer pricing, recurring orders and an ERP connector.
Before, his 3-person sales admin team spent 70% of its time keying in orders received by phone. After six months, 65% of orders go through self-service. Calculation: 220 orders x 65% x 10 EUR saved = 1,430 EUR/day, about 314,000 EUR/year. The platform pays back in under three months, and the team refocuses on advice and collections.
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FAQ
Should I go custom or B2B SaaS?
If your pricing rules are standard, a SaaS at 800 EUR/month is enough. As soon as you have per-customer grids, credit limits and an ERP to connect, custom between 40,000 and 120,000 EUR becomes cheaper over 3 years.
How long to deliver the platform?
Expect 4 to 8 months depending on catalogue and ERP integration complexity. A 5,000-SKU catalogue with a configurator takes longer than a simple 500-product catalogue.
Can you connect my existing ERP (Sage, SAP, Cegid)?
Yes. The ERP connector runs 8,000 to 20,000 EUR depending on the available API. It syncs stock, prices, customers and orders in real time or by batch.
How are credit limits and deferred payment handled?
The platform checks the authorised credit limit per customer before order validation and blocks beyond the ceiling. Payment at 30 or 60 days remains possible, with automatic reminders.
What annual maintenance budget should I plan?
Expect 15 to 20% of the development cost per year, i.e. 8,000 to 24,000 EUR, for enhancements, security and support.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your catalogue, your ERP and your order volume, and we will price a B2B platform that fits your budget. 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.
