The verdict in three sentences
A B2B SaaS MVP has one job before seed: prove that 5 pilot customers use the product every week and agree to pay. With a tight scope, the development budget sits between 3,810 and 10,670 EUR excl. VAT at Kolonell (simple to medium applications on our 11/10/2026 grid), far from the 40,000 to 90,000 EUR quoted by many Berlin agencies. The real discipline is to cut features until the MVP fits in 8 to 14 weeks, hidden costs included.
The minimum scope that convinces an investor
Seed funds look at recurring usage, pilot retention and first revenue, not screen count. A credible B2B MVP usually fits in 6 building blocks.
| Block | Minimum content | Deferred to V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | Email + password, magic link, admin/user roles | SAML SSO, SCIM |
| Core feature | The single flow that solves the customer problem | Variants, advanced automation |
| Multi-tenancy | One organisation per customer, isolated data | Sub-accounts, white label |
| Billing | Stripe Billing, 2 plans, 14-day trial | Usage-based billing, quotes |
| Dashboard | 3 to 5 key metrics | Custom reports |
| Support and analytics | Chat widget, PostHog or Plausible | Full help centre |
| Compliance | GDPR, EU hosting, legal notice (Impressum) | SOC 2, ISO 27001 |
If your core feature needs heavy integration (ERP, banking API, specialised AI), the project moves to the complex category, 7 M to 15 M FCFA and more, about 10,670 to 22,870 EUR.
Development options compared in 2026
The figures below are Berlin market estimates, except the Kolonell rows, which follow our grid.
| Option | Indicative MVP budget | Timeline | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin agency | 40,000 to 90,000 EUR | 3 to 6 months | Eats a large share of pre-seed money |
| Freelance CTO (600 to 900 EUR/day) | 36,000 to 72,000 EUR for 60 to 80 days | 3 to 5 months | Single-person dependency |
| No-code (Bubble, Softr) | 2,000 to 10,000 EUR + subscriptions | 4 to 8 weeks | Rewrite needed after seed |
| Kolonell, simple app | 3,810 to 6,100 EUR | 8 to 10 weeks | Scope must be held strictly |
| Kolonell, medium app | 6,100 to 10,670 EUR | 10 to 14 weeks | Integrations to frame upfront |
| Kolonell, complex app | 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and up | 14 to 20 weeks | Better suited post-seed |
Code is delivered to your Git repository in TypeScript, Next.js and PostgreSQL: a CTO hired after the round inherits a standard codebase, not a black box.
Hidden costs to budget over 12 months
Founders often forget the MVP keeps costing money after launch.
| Item | Monthly order of magnitude | Over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting (Vercel, Supabase or similar) | 40 to 150 EUR | 480 to 1,800 EUR |
| Stripe | 1.5 % + 0.25 EUR per EU card transaction, plus 0.7 % Billing | Variable |
| Transactional email | 15 to 50 EUR | 180 to 600 EUR |
| Monitoring and logs | 0 to 50 EUR | 0 to 600 EUR |
| Kolonell corrective maintenance | 50 to 180 EUR (35,000 to 120,000 FCFA) | 600 to 2,160 EUR |
| Post-pilot product iterations | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR per batch | Based on customer feedback |
In Germany, public programmes such as EXIST or regional Berlin funding can cover part of this budget if your project qualifies; in France the equivalent is the Bourse French Tech, up to 30,000 EUR. Check current conditions with the funding body and your incubator.
Mini case study
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Camille, founder of a B2B startup incubated in Berlin, builds a non-conformity tracking tool for construction SMEs. She has 5 pilot customers ready to pay 150 EUR a month after the trial. She picks a medium app at 8,500 EUR, delivered in 12 weeks, plus 1,200 EUR of technical costs in year one.
Calculation: 5 pilots x 150 EUR x 9 billed months = 6,750 EUR of first-year revenue. With a 30,000 EUR grant, the MVP and its running costs (9,700 EUR) are covered and more than 20,000 EUR remains for sales. She enters seed meetings with 750 EUR MRR and 5 active customers, a signal her own data will need to confirm.
FAQ
What budget should I plan for a B2B SaaS MVP in 2026?
At Kolonell, 3,810 to 10,670 EUR excl. VAT depending on complexity, plus 1,000 to 3,000 EUR of technical costs in year one. Berlin agencies typically quote 40,000 to 90,000 EUR.
How long does an MVP take?
Allow 8 to 14 weeks from scoping to production with pilots. Scoping itself takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Freelance CTO or agency?
A freelance CTO at 600 to 900 EUR a day brings technical vision but creates dependency. An external team ships a defined scope faster, and you hire the CTO after the round.
Can public grants fund development?
Often yes, many innovation grants accept external development costs, such as the French Bourse French Tech up to 30,000 EUR. Applications usually take 1 to 3 months to prepare.
Do I own the code?
Yes, it is delivered to your Git repository with documentation. This is essential for investor due diligence.
Let's scope your project. Send us your core feature, your pilots and your fundraising date: we will price an MVP between 3,810 and 10,670 EUR, delivered in 8 to 14 weeks, through our free quote form. 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.
