The verdict in three sentences
For a Paris startup aiming to connect 300 distributors and 5,000 industrial sites, a custom build at EUR 80,000 to 160,000 gives the best cost and control ratio over 3 years once the catalogue exceeds 200,000 technical SKUs. In New York, the same build would cost roughly USD 150,000 to 300,000 because of agency rates. Mirakl is the enterprise reference, but its licence (from EUR 100,000 a year) only makes sense beyond EUR 20M to 30M of GMV, while Sharetribe validates the market in 6 to 10 weeks for under EUR 30,000, provided you accept its B2B limits (quotes, 30-day terms, search by manufacturer part number).
Three ways to build the platform
| Criterion | Sharetribe (no-code + extensions) | Custom (Next.js + API + Stripe Connect) | Mirakl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch cost | EUR 15,000 to 30,000 | EUR 80,000 to 160,000 | EUR 150,000 to 300,000 integration |
| Annual licence | about EUR 1,200 to 4,000 | EUR 0 | from EUR 100,000 + % of GMV |
| Time to launch | 6 to 10 weeks | 4 to 7 months | 6 to 12 months |
| Part number search and equivalents | Limited | Custom (Typesense or Elasticsearch) | Advanced |
| Quotes and price negotiation | Not native | Yes | Yes |
| 30-day invoice terms | No | Yes (bank transfer + B2B financing) | Yes |
| Seller catalogue import (CSV, API, ERP feed) | Basic | Custom | Very advanced |
| Code ownership | No | Yes | No |
The critical issue for a spare parts marketplace is product data: the same part exists under 4 to 10 references depending on manufacturer and distributor. The equivalence engine often takes 20% to 25% of the custom budget.
Commissions and payment costs: the business model
Industrial B2B marketplace commissions sit between 8% and 15%, lower than B2C because baskets are large and distributor margins thin.
| Product category | Average basket | Usual marketplace commission | Typical distributor margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bearings and power transmission | EUR 450 | 10 to 12% | 25 to 35% |
| Pneumatics and hydraulics | EUR 680 | 9 to 11% | 22 to 30% |
| Electrical and automation | EUR 1,200 | 8 to 10% | 18 to 25% |
| Consumables and PPE | EUR 180 | 12 to 15% | 30 to 40% |
| OEM replacement parts | EUR 2,500 | 8% | 15 to 22% |
| Tools | EUR 320 | 11 to 13% | 28 to 35% |
For collections, Stripe Connect handles the automatic split between platform and seller and identity checks (KYC and company KYB). 2026 costs to plan for: European card fee of 1.5% + EUR 0.25, about EUR 2 per active seller account per month, and 0.25% + EUR 0.10 per payout (in the US: 2.9% + USD 0.30 per card, USD 2 per active account). On a EUR 2,500 basket, the card costs EUR 37.75: above EUR 1,000, steer buyers to SEPA transfer (under EUR 1 per transaction, ACH in the US) or 30-day B2B financing (1% to 3% depending on term), which industrial buyers prefer.
Total cost over 3 years
| Item (3 years, EUR excl. VAT) | Sharetribe | Custom | Mirakl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | 15,000 to 30,000 | 80,000 to 160,000 | 150,000 to 300,000 |
| Licence | 4,000 to 12,000 | 0 | 300,000 to 450,000 |
| Hosting and search engine | Partly included | 18,000 to 36,000 | Included |
| Enhancements and maintenance | 20,000 to 45,000 | 60,000 to 110,000 | 60,000 to 120,000 |
| Likely rebuild if growth | 80,000 to 150,000 | 0 | 0 |
| 3-year total | 119,000 to 237,000 | 158,000 to 306,000 | 510,000 to 870,000 |
The most common and most rational 2026 scenario: a Sharetribe prototype on one segment (for example bearings in the Paris region) to validate demand in 3 months, then a custom build reusing the lessons learned, without waiting for the platform to hit its limits.
Mini case study
Antoine, founder of a Paris startup born from industrial maintenance, targets 300 distributors and 5,000 customer sites. Year 2 target: 9,000 orders at a EUR 650 average basket, i.e. EUR 5.85M of GMV.
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With an 11% average commission, the platform earns EUR 643,500 of revenue. Absorbed payment fees (mix of 40% card, 60% transfer) are about 0.7% of GMV, EUR 41,000, and Stripe Connect charges about EUR 7,200 in seller account fees. Gross margin: about EUR 595,000. Custom-built for EUR 130,000 plus EUR 35,000 a year of maintenance, the platform is paid off in under 4 months of year-2 revenue. On Mirakl, the licence alone would absorb about 17% of that revenue.
FAQ
Do we need a regulated status to collect on behalf of sellers?
Not if you use a licensed provider such as Stripe Connect, Mangopay or Lemonway, which holds funds and carries compliance. Collecting on your own account and paying out requires a payment institution licence, out of reach for a seed-stage startup.
How do we vet the 300 distributors?
KYB checks company registration, beneficial owners and IBAN, usually in 1 to 3 business days via Stripe Connect. Add your own quality control: shipping time, dispute rate under 2%, compliance certificates.
What commission should we set at launch?
Start around 8% to 10% to recruit the first distributors, with 0% for 3 months for the first 50. A premium plan at EUR 150 to 300 a month (featured listings, analytics) adds revenue.
Is Mirakl worth the cost for a startup?
Rarely before EUR 20M of annual GMV. Mirakl mostly brings management of thousands of sellers and massive catalogues, useful for an established distributor opening its marketplace.
How long until profitability?
B2B marketplaces usually break even between 18 and 36 months. The heaviest cost is acquiring industrial buyers, often EUR 300 to 800 per active account.
Let's scope your project. Describe your segment, target seller count and commission model: we will cost a prototype, then the custom version with Stripe Connect and KYC, with budget and timeline. 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.
