The verdict in three sentences
A B2B spare parts marketplace lives or dies on three things: quality technical listings, split payments between platform and sellers, and an 8 to 12% commission distributors accept because it brings them new customers. For 80 sellers at launch, a marketplace SaaS lets you test the market in 2 to 3 months, but custom becomes more profitable once business rules (manufacturer cross-references, quotes, multi-site buyer accounts) pile up. Plan on 5 to 8 months for a solid custom platform, KYC and payments included.
The model: 80 distributors, food plants as buyers
The founder, a former maintenance manager at a dairy plant in the Midlands, knows the pain: when a pump, a stainless bearing or a packaging machine seal fails, maintenance calls five suppliers to find the part. The platform brings together 80 specialist distributors, from power transmission to pneumatics, and targets the roughly 2,500 UK food and drink sites with more than 50 staff. A Berlin founder would face the same model across Germany's food processing belt, priced in euros.
Buyers want to find a part by manufacturer reference, compare lead time and price, order on account with 30-day terms and receive a compliant invoice. Sellers want fast payment and control over their prices.
| Model parameter | 2026 range | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Platform commission | 8 to 12% of net amount | Tapering with seller volume |
| Optional seller subscription | GBP 0 to 120 per month | Featured listings, analytics |
| Payment fees | 1.2 to 2% by method | Card, transfer, direct debit |
| Target average order | GBP 400 to 800 net | Technical parts |
| Seller payout delay | 7 to 30 days | Depends on buyer terms |
| Tolerated dispute rate | Under 2% | Returns, non-conforming parts |
Marketplace SaaS or custom: the comparison
Marketplace SaaS costs around GBP 400 to 2,000 (EUR 500 to 2,500) per month as a 2026 ballpark at this volume, sometimes plus a fee on transaction volume. It handles multi-seller catalogue, orders and payouts, but adapts poorly to manufacturer cross-references or multi-site buyer accounts.
| Criterion | Marketplace SaaS | Custom, London or Berlin agency | Custom, Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | GBP 8,000 to 35,000 | GBP 100,000 to 220,000 (EUR 120,000 to 250,000) | EUR 10,670 to 22,870+ (complex application) |
| Recurring cost | GBP 400 to 2,000 per month plus fees | Support GBP 1,700 to 4,300 per month | Maintenance EUR 53 to 183 per month, hosting on quote |
| Time to launch | 2 to 3 months | 6 to 10 months | 5 to 8 months |
| Manufacturer cross-references | Limited | Native | Native |
| Multi-site buyer accounts | Partial | Native | Native |
| Code ownership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Split payments | Built in | Via a licensed provider | Via a licensed provider |
At Kolonell, a marketplace at this level is a complex custom application, FCFA 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+), with maintenance at FCFA 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 per month (EUR 53, 114 or 183). Options and hosting are set in the quote.
Split payments and KYC: the regulatory core
In the UK and the EU, a platform collecting on behalf of sellers should not route money through its own account without authorisation. The standard answer is a licensed payment provider offering per-seller e-money or connected accounts: the buyer pays, the provider automatically splits the platform commission from the seller's share.
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That provider requires seller KYC: company registration, director ID, bank account proof, sometimes articles and beneficial owners. Build a seller onboarding flow that collects these documents from day one, or the first payouts stay frozen. On the buyer side, the platform must issue compliant invoices, and in Germany mandatory B2B e-invoicing is phasing in between 2025 and 2028.
Mini case study
Tom, the founder, targets GBP 1,300,000 of net transaction volume in year one at an average 10% commission, GBP 130,000 of gross revenue. Payment fees around 1.6% take about GBP 20,800, leaving GBP 109,200 before salaries and marketing.
With SaaS at GBP 1,700 a month plus 1% of volume, the annual bill reaches about GBP 33,400. With a complex custom application at EUR 22,870 and Premium maintenance of EUR 2,196 a year, hosting on top per quote, year one costs about EUR 25,000, then only maintenance and hosting afterwards. Over 3 years the gap exceeds GBP 60,000 in favour of custom. Tom runs a 3 month pilot with 20 distributors before opening to all 80.
FAQ
What commission will distributors accept? In industrial B2B, 8 to 12% is the usual 2026 range, often tapering above GBP 17,000 of monthly sales per seller. Above 15%, seller recruitment gets hard.
Can we collect directly and pay sellers out? Not without a payment institution or e-money licence. You go through a licensed provider that handles split payments and KYC.
How long to launch? Plan on 5 to 8 months custom, including 4 to 6 weeks for payments and KYC. SaaS can open in 2 to 3 months.
How do we handle 30-day terms for factories? The payment provider or a B2B trade credit service advances payment to the seller for 1 to 2.5% in fees. Alternatively the platform pays the seller once the buyer pays.
Should we start with 80 sellers? No, 15 to 20 well-chosen sellers often cover 70% of routine needs. The pilot validates listings and the buying journey before a wider opening.
Let's scope your project. We scope your B2B marketplace, from seller onboarding with KYC to split payments, with a launch in 5 to 8 months. 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.
