The verdict in three sentences
A B2B hospitality supplies marketplace in Miami, connecting about 300 hotels and restaurants to 50 suppliers, costs $180,000 to $420,000 (about 165,000 to 385,000 EUR) to build in 2026, over 5 to 7 months. The features that matter in B2B are multi-location buyer accounts with approval workflows, automatic payment splitting and per-supplier invoicing with correct sales tax handling. With a commission of 5 to 12%, the model turns profitable at around $1.3 to $2.2 million in monthly volume, which means signing about a hundred active buyers first.
Why hospitality B2B is not regular e-commerce
A 120-room hotel in Brickell or Miami Beach does not order like a consumer. It places recurring orders through a purchasing manager, with a general manager approving above a threshold, negotiated prices and net 30 terms. A B2B marketplace must mirror these habits, or buyers go back to phone calls and emailed purchase orders.
| Buyer need | Consumer marketplace | Hospitality B2B marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts | Single user | Group, properties, roles (buyer, approver, accounts payable) |
| Pricing | One public price | Negotiated price lists per client and volume |
| Orders | One-off | Recurring, saved lists, scheduled replenishment |
| Approval | None | Thresholds (e.g. above $4,500) |
| Payment | Immediate | Card, ACH, virtual card, net 30 terms |
| Invoicing | Receipt | Invoice per supplier, Florida sales tax or resale certificate, delivery note |
| Delivery | Standard parcel | Time slots per property, consolidated delivery |
Build budget by component
Budget depends mostly on the depth of B2B features and payment integrations. A phased version lets you launch with 15 to 20 suppliers before opening up to 50.
| Component | Scope | Indicative budget 2026 (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-vendor catalog | Product pages, variants, pack sizes, moderation | $25,000 to $55,000 |
| Multi-location buyer accounts | Groups, roles, approval thresholds, saved lists | $30,000 to $65,000 |
| Negotiated pricing and quotes | Client price lists, RFQs, volume discounts | $22,000 to $50,000 |
| Payments and split | Card, ACH, Stripe Connect or similar, commission routing | $35,000 to $80,000 |
| Per-supplier invoicing | Compliant invoices, credit notes, accounting export | $18,000 to $42,000 |
| Supplier portal | Orders, inventory, payouts, analytics | $25,000 to $60,000 |
| Logistics | Delivery slots, consolidation, tracking | $25,000 to $68,000 |
Net 30 terms are the trickiest part: either the platform carries the credit risk, or it relies on a B2B buy now pay later or factoring partner. That choice affects working capital more than the technical budget.
Commission, split and break-even
Automatic splitting allocates each payment between supplier and platform at capture. Example: an $8,000 order with an 8% commission pays $7,360 to the supplier, minus payment fees, and keeps $640 for the platform.
| Monthly volume (GMV) | 5% commission | 8% commission | 12% commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $25,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 | $120,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $100,000 | $160,000 | $240,000 |
| $3,000,000 | $150,000 | $240,000 | $360,000 |
| $5,000,000 | $250,000 | $400,000 | $600,000 |
With operating costs of $100,000 to $150,000 per month (sales team, customer service, logistics, hosting), break-even sits around $1.3 to $2.2 million of monthly volume at 6 to 8% commission. Consumables (cleaning products, kitchen disposables) usually bear 5 to 7%, linen and equipment 10 to 12%.
Mini case study
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Carlos, a Miami entrepreneur and former purchasing director of a hotel group, targets 300 properties with an average monthly basket of $7,500. He budgets the platform at $290,000 with $115,000 of monthly operating costs. At 12 months, with 180 active buyers, volume reaches 180 x $7,500 = $1,350,000 per month. At an 8% average commission he earns $108,000, close to break-even. At 250 active buyers, volume rises to $1,875,000, i.e. $150,000 of commission and $35,000 of monthly margin, which pays back the build in a little over 8 months (estimate, excluding financing of net terms).
FAQ
How much does a hospitality B2B marketplace cost in Miami in 2026?
Expect $180,000 to $420,000 depending on B2B feature depth. A first version with catalog, multi-location accounts and card and ACH payments starts around $180,000 to $220,000.
What commission rate should we charge?
Between 5 and 12% depending on product category. Low-margin consumables bear 5 to 7%, linen and equipment up to 10 to 12%.
How does payment splitting work?
At each capture, the platform keeps its commission and pays the balance to the supplier, instantly or through weekly payouts. On $8,000 at 8%, $640 stays with the platform.
Should we offer net 30 terms?
Hotel groups often require them. You either carry the risk with a credit limit per client, for example $25,000 to $90,000, or rely on a B2B payment terms partner.
How long does launch take?
Plan 5 to 7 months for a full version, including 4 to 6 weeks of onboarding the first suppliers. A pilot with 15 suppliers and 40 properties is possible around month four.
Let's scope your project. Share your target buyers, your first suppliers and your commission model, and we will price a phased scope with an indicative budget and a pilot 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.
