B2B E-commerce Platform Cost for Wholesalers in 2026

The verdict in three sentences

A wholesaler selling to professionals doesn't need a consumer storefront: it needs negotiated per-customer pricing, credit-limit management and real-time ERP sync. Custom builds land between 45,000 and 120,000 EUR excl. tax (14 to 22 weeks), while Shopify Plus B2B costs 2,000 to 6,000 EUR/month in licensing but quickly constrains business logic. The real return isn't in the sticker price but in the +30% reorder rate and the elimination of double order entry.

Custom vs SaaS: what each euro covers

The question isn't "which is cheaper" but "which enforces my B2B pricing rules without workarounds". A wholesaler with 400 customers and 6 price lists hits the limits of packaged SaaS fast.

SaaS wins at launch; custom wins the moment business rules become the portal's core value.

3-year TCO: the real comparison

Thinking in total cost over 36 months avoids the entry-ticket trap. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude for a mid-size wholesaler (400 customers, 3,000 SKUs).

Beyond 24 months, custom often becomes cheaper — and it builds an asset you own.

Mini case study

Take Laurent, sales director of a foodservice supplies wholesaler in Paris: 420 active customers, average order 640 EUR, 5 orders/month per customer. Previously, 40% of orders came by phone with ERP re-keying. The custom portal (68,000 EUR excl. tax) removed double entry and pushed automated reordering. Result: reorder rate rises from 2.3 to 3.0 orders/month (+30%), i.e. +448 EUR revenue/month per customer, or 188,160 EUR/year across the base. The investment pays back in under 5 months, excluding admin time saved (2 FTE relieved).

FAQ

How long to deliver a wholesaler B2B portal?

Expect 14 to 22 weeks depending on the number of price lists and ERP complexity. A core with catalog, customer accounts and simple ordering can ship in 10 weeks; credit terms and advanced integrations add the rest.

Can I keep my current ERP (Sage, SAP, Cegid)?

Yes. The connector is built around the existing ERP via API or files, syncing stock/prices/orders. Budget 12,000 to 40,000 EUR excl. tax for this brick depending on API maturity.

Is Shopify Plus B2B really not enough?

It's enough for a simple catalog with 2-3 price lists. As soon as you have credit terms, per-customer payment conditions and negotiated-price logic, the workarounds cost more than custom.

What annual maintenance budget should I plan?

2026 order of magnitude: 8,000 to 15,000 EUR excl. tax/year for a custom core, covering security, minor evolutions and support. Major evolutions are quoted per project.

How do I protect existing SEO and traffic?

If you migrate, a 301 redirect plan and preserving strategic URLs prevent traffic loss. On a closed B2B portal SEO matters less, but public catalog pages must be preserved.

Let's scope your project. Tell us about your customer base, price lists and ERP: we'll quote a calibrated B2B portal (build 45,000-120,000 EUR excl. tax, 14-22 weeks). Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.