The verdict in three sentences
A PrestaShop buckling under modules, load times and B2B limits deserves a controlled replatforming, not another patch job. Migrating to a custom foundation costs 35,000 to 90,000 EUR excl. tax (12 to 18 weeks), with catalog migration, customer accounts and a rigorous 301 redirect plan. The gain shows on three lines: green Core Web Vitals, +10 to 20% conversion and zero traffic loss if SEO is treated as a proper workstream.
What a serious migration covers
The danger of replatforming isn't the build: it's the loss of traffic and data. The budget splits between migration, foundation and SEO safeguarding.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR excl. tax) | Share of project |
|---|---|---|
| Audit & scoping | 3,000-8,000 | ~10% |
| Catalog & data migration | 6,000-18,000 | ~20% |
| Custom front + back foundation | 18,000-45,000 | ~50% |
| Customer accounts & B2B pricing | 4,000-12,000 | ~12% |
| Redirects & technical SEO | 4,000-10,000 | ~8% |
Cutting the SEO or data-migration line saves 10% of the budget to risk 40% of the traffic. Avoid it.
Performance and conversion: targets to hold
Performance isn't a luxury: on mobile B2B, every second of load costs carts. Here are the Core Web Vitals targets and the expected effect.
| Metric | Saturated PrestaShop (typical) | Custom foundation (target) |
|---|---|---|
| LCP (mobile) | 4.2 s | < 2.0 s |
| INP | 380 ms | < 150 ms |
| CLS | 0.22 | < 0.05 |
| B2B conversion rate | 1.8% | 2.0-2.2% |
| SEO traffic retained | — | > 95% at 3 months |
An LCP dropping from 4.2 to 2.0 s and a streamlined funnel explain most of the +10 to 20% conversion seen after migration.
Mini case study
Take Sébastien, head of a B2B pro-equipment distributor in Bordeaux, 3M EUR online revenue, 1.8% conversion on PrestaShop. The custom migration (58,000 EUR excl. tax) lifts conversion to 2.1% (+16%) and secures 96% of traffic via 1,400 301 redirects. On 3M EUR revenue, +16% conversion at equal traffic is about +480,000 EUR revenue/year — even prudently keeping half (margin, seasonality), the return far exceeds the investment in year one. The foundation also cuts the PrestaShop module bill (~4,000 EUR/year removed).
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FAQ
Will I lose my Google ranking by migrating?
Not if the 301 redirect plan is exhaustive and strategic URLs are preserved. Realistic target: > 95% of traffic maintained at 3 months, often trending up thanks to better performance.
How long does the migration take?
Expect 12 to 18 weeks depending on catalog size and B2B rule complexity. Data migration and redirect testing represent a significant part of the schedule.
Can I keep my customer data and order history?
Yes, data migration includes customer accounts, addresses, negotiated pricing and history. It's a dedicated workstream (6,000-18,000 EUR excl. tax) that underpins business continuity.
Why not just optimize PrestaShop?
If the base is healthy, optimizing is enough. But past a certain module stacking and technical debt, each optimization costs more than it returns: replatforming becomes rational again.
How do I avoid downtime at launch?
We switch via a prepared go-live: content freeze, final data migration, redirect testing and a short cutover window. A rollback is planned in case of critical anomaly.
Let's scope your project. Share your catalog size, current traffic and PrestaShop pain points: we'll quote a secured migration (35,000-90,000 EUR excl. tax, 12-18 weeks). 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.
