The verdict in three sentences
A custom B2B e-commerce portal for a wholesaler costs in 2026 between EUR 40,000 and 120,000 depending on scope (customer-specific pricing, multi-buyer accounts, ERP integration), over a 5 to 8 month build. The difference with a B2C site comes down to three things: negotiated prices per account, quick order by SKU and real-time stock/ERP sync. Done well, it shifts 25 to 40 % of phone/email orders to self-service, paying back the investment in 12 to 20 months.
What a custom B2B portal costs in 2026
Price is driven mostly by functional scope and the complexity of the ERP integration. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for the London market.
| Scope | Included functions | Budget EUR | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Catalog, customer accounts, base pricing, cart | 40,000 - 60,000 | 4 - 5 months |
| Standard | + per-customer pricing, quick order, history, reorder | 60,000 - 90,000 | 5 - 7 months |
| Advanced | + real-time ERP integration, approval workflow, multi-warehouse | 90,000 - 120,000 | 7 - 8 months |
| Heavy custom | + product configurator, credit limits, EDI | 120,000 - 180,000 | 8 - 12 months |
The lower range assumes a modern ERP with APIs. A legacy ERP (flat files, nightly batch) adds EUR 8,000 to 20,000 of middleware development.
The functions that make the B2B difference
A professional buyer does not behave like a consumer. These building blocks are non-negotiable.
| Function | What it delivers | Measured impact |
|---|---|---|
| Per-customer pricing | Negotiated prices, volume discounts | +18 % account conversion |
| Quick order (by SKU) | 50 lines in 2 minutes | -70 % order time |
| Multi-buyer accounts | Roles, budgets, approval | +30 % average order |
| Real-time ERP stock | Zero oversell, reliable availability | -40 % delivery disputes |
| One-click reorder | Suggests order history | +22 % order frequency |
The B2B average order sits between EUR 400 and 2,500 depending on sector, 5 to 20 times B2C: every conversion point matters.
Running costs: maintenance and hosting
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| Item | 2026 range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance (evolutive) | EUR 700 - 1,600/month | fixes + small features |
| Cloud hosting | EUR 150 - 500/month | traffic and peaks |
| Monitoring / SLA | EUR 200 - 600/month | optional, guaranteed uptime |
| Major evolutions | fixed price | new modules |
Mini case study
Mark, sales director of an industrial supplies wholesaler in London, takes 900 orders/month by phone and email. Each order ties up 11 minutes of a sales-admin (entry, stock check, confirmation). At EUR 28/h loaded, that is 900 x 11/60 x 28 = EUR 4,620/month of order entry.
After launching a portal at EUR 78,000, 35 % of orders go self-service within 6 months. Monthly saving: EUR 1,617 of labour, plus a +25 % rise in reorders (customers ordering more often). With an average order of EUR 620 and a 22 % margin, that +25 % adds roughly EUR 9,500 of margin/month. The portal pays back in under 8 months excluding commercial gains, then runs a net surplus.
FAQ
Why not just buy a cheaper SaaS? SaaS works if your pricing is simple and your ERP standard; the moment you have negotiated per-customer prices and deep ERP integration, custom avoids costly workarounds. Budget EUR 2,000/month for high-end SaaS versus a custom build amortised over 3 years.
How long for ERP integration? With an ERP offering REST APIs, expect 4 to 8 weeks of middleware; with legacy ERP, up to 12 weeks and an extra EUR 8,000 to 20,000.
Is mobile useful in B2B? Yes: around 45 % of reorders now happen from a smartphone on the road or in the workshop. A responsive portal or PWA is essential.
What order uplift can I expect? Wholesalers that digitise well see +20 to +30 % order frequency over 12 months, driven by one-click reorder and 24/7 availability.
Can we start small? Yes: an Essential base at EUR 45,000 with catalog, accounts and base pricing ships in 4 months, then you add ERP and workflows in phases.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your catalog size, your ERP and your monthly order volume, and we will cost a B2B portal matched to your margin. 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.