The verdict in three sentences
A credible B2B SaaS MVP for investors costs EUR 25,000 to 70,000 and ships in 10 to 14 weeks if the scope fits one core user journey. The choice of provider can double the bill: EUR 650 to 900 day rates at a Berlin agency versus EUR 300 to 450 with a nearshore team. Public funding, such as EXIST for eligible university spin-offs or regional innovation programmes, can cover part of the cost if you apply before kickoff.
What an MVP budget actually pays for
A B2B MVP is not a clickable prototype: it must take payment from first customers, handle several users per account and produce metrics you can show an investment committee.
| Item | Effort (days) | Berlin agency (EUR 750/day) | Nearshore team (EUR 380/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping, user journeys, UX mock-ups | 8 to 12 | EUR 6,000 to 9,000 | EUR 3,040 to 4,560 |
| Authentication, accounts, roles, multi-tenancy | 8 to 12 | EUR 6,000 to 9,000 | EUR 3,040 to 4,560 |
| Core product feature | 25 to 45 | EUR 18,750 to 33,750 | EUR 9,500 to 17,100 |
| Stripe subscriptions, invoicing | 5 to 8 | EUR 3,750 to 6,000 | EUR 1,900 to 3,040 |
| Admin dashboard and product analytics | 6 to 10 | EUR 4,500 to 7,500 | EUR 2,280 to 3,800 |
| QA, security, production release | 6 to 10 | EUR 4,500 to 7,500 | EUR 2,280 to 3,800 |
| Indicative total | 58 to 97 | EUR 43,500 to 72,750 | EUR 22,040 to 36,860 |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude. Add EUR 50 to 300 a month for infrastructure (hosting, database, transactional email, monitoring) depending on customer count.
Berlin agency, freelancer or nearshore: comparison
| Option | 2026 day rate | MVP timeline | Advantages | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin agency | EUR 650 to 900 | 10 to 12 weeks | On-site, full team | Budget often above EUR 50,000 |
| Solo senior freelancer | EUR 600 to 850 | 14 to 20 weeks | Flexibility | Dependence on one person |
| Nearshore team (Dakar, Tunis, Casablanca) | EUR 300 to 450 | 10 to 14 weeks | Full team, close time zone | Requires rigorous written scoping |
| Co-founder CTO for equity | EUR 0 cash | Variable | Aligned with success | Dilution of 10 to 25 % |
| No-code (Bubble, Softr) | EUR 0 to 300/month + EUR 5,000 to 15,000 | 4 to 8 weeks | Very fast | Likely rewrite after the round |
Funding the MVP: grants and schedule
In Germany, EXIST Business Start-up Grants support eligible founding teams from universities and research institutes, and regional programmes in Berlin finance innovation projects. Applications take several weeks to months, so file them during scoping with a detailed quote. Check eligibility rules for external development costs before you count on them.
Recommended schedule: weeks 1 and 2 scoping and mock-ups, weeks 3 to 10 development in 2-week sprints with demos, weeks 11 and 12 QA and onboarding of 3 to 5 pilot customers, then 2 weeks of fixes.
Mini case study
Jonas, founder of a Berlin startup automating invoice reminders for SMEs, is preparing an EUR 800,000 seed round. His MVP represents 80 days of work. At a Berlin agency at EUR 750 a day, the bill reaches EUR 60,000. With a nearshore team at EUR 380, it drops to EUR 30,400, plus about EUR 150 a month in infrastructure. He keeps nearly EUR 30,000 in cash for acquiring his first customers, roughly 4 extra months of runway for a two-person team.
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FAQ
What budget should I plan for a B2B SaaS MVP in 2026?
Expect EUR 25,000 to 70,000 depending on the core feature's complexity and the provider's day rate. Below EUR 20,000, the scope is usually too thin to convince investors.
How long does it take to ship an MVP?
Between 10 and 14 weeks for one main journey, including subscriptions and a dashboard. Each feature added mid-project costs 1 to 2 weeks on average.
Is nearshore reliable for a SaaS product?
Yes, if the team works in your language, runs 2-week sprints with demos and gives you code access from day one. The rate gap, EUR 300 to 450 versus EUR 650 to 900, means 40 to 55 % savings.
Who owns the code's intellectual property?
The contract should transfer all exploitation rights as payments are made. Investors check this systematically during due diligence.
What does infrastructure cost after launch?
Between EUR 50 and 300 a month for the first 100 customers, then growth in line with usage.
Let's scope your project. Describe your SaaS core feature, your fundraising timeline and target budget to receive a sprint-by-sprint quote between EUR 25,000 and 70,000, ready for your grant application. 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.
