The verdict in three sentences
A B2B ordering portal for a distributor costs between EUR 30,000 and 80,000 depending on per-customer catalogue depth, credit management and ERP integration. The item that drives the price isn't the storefront but the business logic: negotiated pricing, fast reorder, credit limits and order approval. The return is measured in order-desk hours saved and orders placed outside business hours.
What makes up a B2B portal budget
A portal isn't a showcase site with an "order" button. It's a working tool for professional buyers who reorder every week. Here's the breakdown of a 2026 project, ballpark EUR.
| Line item | 2026 range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue and per-customer product page | EUR 6,000-14,000 | SKU count, variants |
| Per-customer pricing engine | EUR 5,000-15,000 | Tier complexity |
| Quick order / reorder | EUR 4,000-9,000 | CSV import, history |
| Credit and payment management | EUR 5,000-12,000 | Limits, net-30/60, dunning |
| ERP integration | EUR 8,000-20,000 | Real-time vs batch |
| Multi-user accounts | EUR 3,000-8,000 | Roles, approval |
| Portal total | EUR 30,000-80,000 | 4-7 month timeline |
A first phase at EUR 35,000 (catalogue + pricing + reorder) often shifts 50% of volume, with ERP and credit coming in phase 2.
Portal vs phone/email order intake
The portal is justified against the hidden cost of the current channel. Estimate for a distributor with 500 trade customers.
| Criterion | Phone / email | B2B portal |
|---|---|---|
| Entry time per order | 10-14 min | < 1 min (customer enters) |
| Availability | Business hours | 24/7 |
| Entry error rate | 3-6% | < 1% |
| Monthly order-desk cost (est.) | EUR 18,000 | EUR 6,000 |
| Spontaneous customer reorder | Low | High |
| Upsell on related SKUs | Manual | Automated |
The shift doesn't remove the order desk: it redirects it toward strategic accounts and service, where value is highest.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Anja, order-desk manager at a hygiene-products distributor in Berlin, runs a team of 6 entering 3,800 orders/month. At an average of 11 minutes, that's 697 hours/month. Moving 55% of customers to a portal at EUR 48,000 saves ~383 hours/month, about 2.4 FTEs at a loaded EUR 2,300, i.e. EUR 66,000/year. The portal pays back in under 9 months, and weekend orders show up from month one.
FAQ
What's the minimum budget to start? A useful first portal (per-customer catalogue, negotiated pricing, reorder) starts around EUR 30,000-35,000. Credit and ERP integration can come in phase 2 to smooth the investment.
How long to go live? Expect 4-7 months depending on pricing complexity and ERP. A first functional phase is often deliverable in 10-12 weeks.
Must we integrate the ERP? Not from day one, but soon: without synced stock and pricing, teams double-enter data. Integration costs EUR 8,000-20,000 depending on real-time or batch.
How do we manage customer credit? The portal applies the per-account credit limit, blocks beyond it and offers online or net-30/60 payment. It's a EUR 5,000-12,000 item but essential in B2B.
Will trade customers actually use it? Yes if reordering beats the phone: quick order by SKU, history and CSV import drive adoption. Aim for 50-60% shift within 6 months.
Let's scope your project. Give us your trade-customer count, ERP and order volume and we'll price a phased portal with order-desk ROI. 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.