The verdict in three sentences
A B2B ecommerce platform for a wholesaler costs between 40,000 and 120,000 EUR in 2026, driven by the depth of price lists, credit management and ERP integration. The real return isn't the storefront but order-entry automation: 24/7 ordering, 40% less manual entry and a 15% higher average order. The question is never "site or no site" but off-the-shelf vs custom, decided by how specific your commercial rules are.
What a B2B platform costs in 2026
A B2B portal is not a consumer store: it handles per-customer negotiated pricing, selling units, credit limits and order approval. Here are the 2026 order-of-magnitude figures for a mid-sized wholesaler.
| Item | Scope | 2026 budget (EUR excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Core platform (design + catalog) | Up to 5,000 SKUs | 18,000 - 35,000 |
| Per-customer price lists | Negotiated prices, volume discounts | 8,000 - 20,000 |
| Credit & deferred payment | Limits, due dates, dunning | 6,000 - 15,000 |
| ERP / real-time stock integration | Two-way API | 10,000 - 30,000 |
| Multi-user accounts per customer | Roles, internal approval | 4,000 - 12,000 |
| Total project | Full B2B portal | 40,000 - 120,000 |
Typical timelines run 3 to 6 months depending on product-data quality and whether your ERP exposes an API.
Off-the-shelf vs custom
The defining choice is between a packaged block (BigCommerce B2B, Shopify Plus B2B) and custom development. An honest comparison for a mid-sized wholesaler.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf (BigCommerce B2B) | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 25,000 - 55,000 EUR | 60,000 - 120,000 EUR |
| Annual subscription | 12,000 - 30,000 EUR/yr | Hosting 3,000 - 9,000 EUR/yr |
| Complex price lists | Limited to native rules | Unlimited, your exact rules |
| Specific ERP integration | Connector or middleware | Dedicated custom API |
| Time to launch | 2 - 4 months | 4 - 6 months |
| Vendor lock-in | High (roadmap, price hikes) | None, you own the code |
Simple rule: if your commercial rules fit native options, go off-the-shelf; if your discounts and credit terms are specific, custom pays back within 2-3 years.
Mini case study
Antoine, sales director of an industrial-supplies wholesaler in Lille, handles 220 orders/week keyed in manually by 3 order-desk staff. Each order takes ~7 minutes to enter, i.e. ~26 hours/week. With a 78,000 EUR B2B portal, 65% of orders go self-service: 17 fewer hours/week, roughly 35,000 EUR/year of reallocated desk time. Add a 15% higher average order on 4.2M EUR of targeted online revenue, and payback lands in under 14 months.
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FAQ
What does a B2B ecommerce platform really cost in 2026?
Budget 40,000 to 120,000 EUR by feature set. A simple portal with catalog and per-customer prices starts around 40,000 EUR; real-time ERP integration and deferred payment push you toward 90,000-120,000 EUR.
Can negotiated prices stay confidential per customer?
Yes. Each account sees only its own price list, credit terms and history. It's the most requested B2B feature and represents 8,000 to 20,000 EUR of development.
Do we need ERP integration at launch?
Not necessarily. Many wholesalers start with a daily stock export/import (cheaper), then move to real-time API in phase 2. Full integration costs 10,000 to 30,000 EUR.
What timeline should we plan for?
3 to 6 months. The bottleneck is rarely development but product-data quality: descriptions, selling units and ERP API availability.
Can deferred payment be handled online?
Yes: credit limits, 30/45/60-day terms, automatic blocking on overrun and dunning. It protects your cash flow while keeping customers self-sufficient.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your catalog, pricing rules and ERP, and we'll size a right-fit B2B portal with a clear budget range and a 3-phase launch 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.
