B2B ordering portal : Shopify B2B vs custom in Berlin (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

Shopify Plus with a B2B module launches in 2 to 4 months for around EUR 2,000/month plus commissions, while a custom portal needs EUR 45,000 to 110,000 and 5 to 8 months, but no commission. The choice comes down to three criteria: the complexity of negotiated pricing, the depth of ERP integration and transaction volume. Below EUR 2M of online revenue with simple rules, Shopify wins; above that, with per-customer pricing and an in-house ERP, custom becomes cheaper over 3 years.

Shopify Plus B2B vs custom: the comparison

The 3-year TCO calculation

Total cost of ownership (TCO) is the real judge. Here are two 2026 scenarios for a Berlin manufacturer.

At moderate volume, Shopify stays competitive. But every app added (PIM, advanced pricing, ERP) inflates the SaaS bill, and non-native payment commissions can exceed 1.5 % of online revenue, i.e. EUR 30,000/year on EUR 2M of sales.

When to switch to custom

Mini case study

Sophie, MD of a professional furniture maker in Berlin, targets EUR 2.4M of B2B online sales. With Shopify Plus and non-native payment at 1.8 %, she would pay EUR 43,200/year in commissions, plus EUR 24,000 subscription and EUR 4,800 of apps, i.e. EUR 72,000/year of recurring cost. Over 3 years with a EUR 12,000 setup: EUR 228,000.

A custom portal at EUR 85,000, with EUR 500/month hosting and EUR 1,000/month maintenance, costs over 3 years: 85,000 + 18,000 + 36,000 = EUR 139,000. At that commission level, custom saves ~EUR 89,000 over 3 years. Sophie's tipping point is around EUR 1.3M of online revenue.

FAQ

Is Shopify Plus B2B really capped at EUR 2,000/month? The base subscription runs around EUR 2,000/month (billed annually), but advanced B2B apps, PIM and ERP often add EUR 300 to 900/month. The real monthly cost sits between EUR 2,300 and 3,200.

How much time do you save with Shopify? A Shopify B2B portal ships in 2 to 4 months versus 5 to 8 months custom: a real advantage when time-to-market is critical.

Can we migrate from Shopify to custom later? Yes, but budget a migration of EUR 30,000 to 70,000. Better to choose right from the start if the switch signals are already present.

Are commissions avoidable on Shopify? With native Shopify Payments, yes; otherwise fees of 0.5 to 2 % apply depending on region and payment method, which adds up fast at high volume.

What is the deciding factor? The volume x pricing-complexity pair. Simple rules and moderate volume: Shopify. Per-customer pricing + in-house ERP + high volume: custom wins over 3 years.

Let's scope your project. Give us your target online revenue, your pricing rules and your ERP, and we will model your Shopify vs custom TCO. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.