The verdict in three sentences
For non-technical founders raising EUR 400,000 in pre-seed in Paris, an agency delivers a B2B SaaS MVP for EUR 40,000 to 90,000 excl. VAT in 12 to 16 weeks, the most predictable route to pilot customers within 6 months. A freelance CTO at EUR 650 to 900 per day costs less over a short period but depends heavily on one person, and an in-house senior developer at EUR 60,000 to 75,000 per year loaded cost only pays off once the product is validated. Bpifrance's Bourse French Tech grant, up to EUR 30,000, can fund a significant share of the first release.
Three options for the same scope
Take a typical B2B SaaS MVP: authentication and team management, 3 to 4 business screens, a dashboard, Stripe subscription billing, an admin back office and two integrations (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, and a CRM). This scope represents about 90 to 130 days of work for an experienced team.
| Criterion | Agency | Freelance CTO | In-house team |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP cost | EUR 40,000 to 90,000 excl. VAT | EUR 45,000 to 100,000 excl. VAT (60 to 110 days) | EUR 60,000 to 110,000 over 9 to 12 months |
| Time to first pilot customer | 12 to 16 weeks | 14 to 24 weeks | 6 to 9 months (hiring included) |
| Skills covered | Product, design, front end, back end, DevOps, QA | Architecture, back end, sometimes front end | Depends on the hire |
| Dependency risk | Contract and documentation | High (single person) | Medium (possible departure) |
| Code ownership | Assigned by contract | Assigned by contract | Native |
| Founders' management load | 2 to 4 h per week | 4 to 8 h per week | Full-time management |
What each option really costs in 2026
The figures below are a 2026 order of magnitude for Paris and the Île-de-France region.
| Item | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Agency, 12 to 16 week MVP | EUR 40,000 to 90,000 excl. VAT |
| Agency, post-launch maintenance and features | EUR 2,000 to 6,000 excl. VAT per month |
| Freelance CTO, day rate | EUR 650 to 900 excl. VAT |
| Freelance CTO, 3 days a week for 6 months | EUR 50,000 to 70,000 excl. VAT |
| In-house senior developer, annual loaded cost | EUR 60,000 to 75,000 |
| Hiring a senior through a recruiter | 15 to 20% of gross annual salary, i.e. EUR 8,000 to 12,000 |
| Bpifrance Bourse French Tech | Grant of up to EUR 30,000 |
| MVP hosting and SaaS tools | EUR 150 to 600 per month |
An often-forgotten point: a single in-house developer covers neither design, QA nor infrastructure. For an MVP, you almost always need to add a freelance designer (EUR 5,000 to 12,000) and time for production deployment.
The hybrid model that works best
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For a pre-seed startup, the most effective sequence is often this: the agency builds the MVP in 12 to 16 weeks with documented architecture, a part-time freelance CTO (1 day per week, about EUR 3,000 to 3,600 per month) handles technical review and prepares hiring, then the first in-house developer joins once pilot customers are paying. The transition includes 2 to 4 weeks of handover.
Mini case study
Inès and Thomas, founders of a B2B procurement startup in Paris, raise EUR 400,000. They secure a Bourse French Tech grant of EUR 30,000. Agency option: MVP at EUR 72,000 excl. VAT in 14 weeks, plus 1 day per week of freelance CTO at EUR 800 for 4 months, i.e. EUR 12,800. Net cost after the grant: EUR 54,800, or 14% of the round, with pilot customers in month 4. In-house option: a senior at EUR 70,000 loaded, a designer at EUR 8,000 and EUR 10,000 in hiring fees, with an MVP in month 8. The 4 months gained are worth more than the cost difference, because the next round is decided on traction.
FAQ
How much does a B2B SaaS MVP cost in Paris in 2026? EUR 40,000 to 90,000 excl. VAT with an agency for 12 to 16 weeks of work. A very narrow scope (one core feature, no billing) can come down to EUR 25,000 to 35,000.
Is a freelance CTO cheaper than an agency? Per day, yes: EUR 650 to 900 versus an average agency rate of EUR 550 to 800, but the freelancer works alone. On a full MVP, the final cost is similar, with a timeline often 30 to 50% longer.
Can the Bourse French Tech pay for an agency? Yes, external service costs tied to product development are generally eligible. The amount can reach EUR 30,000, and the application must be filed before committing the expenses.
Who owns the code produced by the agency? The contract must provide for full assignment of economic rights to the startup upon payment. Investors check this point during seed due diligence.
When should we hire the first in-house developer? Usually after 5 to 10 paying pilot customers or a first MRR of EUR 5,000 to 10,000, when the product needs to evolve every week.
Let's scope your project. We scope your B2B SaaS MVP, including feature set, architecture and schedule, within a EUR 40,000 to 90,000 excl. VAT budget and a 12 to 16 week delivery. 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.
