The verdict in three sentences
A B2B SaaS MVP in 2026 costs between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR, delivered in 3 to 5 months on a modern stack (Next.js, Supabase, Stripe). No-code drops to 8,000-20,000 EUR but caps out fast; an agency costs more but delivers a scalable base and code you own. With BPI / France Num schemes, part of the budget is fundable, which shifts the trade-off.
No-code vs freelance vs agency: the real cost
The choice depends on your horizon: a throwaway prototype or the foundation of a product aiming for 100+ paying customers.
| Criterion | No-code | Freelance | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP cost (EUR) | 8,000 - 20,000 | 20,000 - 45,000 | 40,000 - 80,000 |
| Timeline | 4-8 weeks | 2-4 months | 3-5 months |
| Scalability | Low | Medium | High |
| Code ownership | No / partial | Yes | Yes |
| Continuity risk | High (1 tool) | High (1 person) | Low (a team) |
| Best for | Testing an idea | Tight budget | Raising / scaling |
No-code is perfect to validate a need in 6 weeks. For a finance SaaS handling sensitive data and aiming for a raise, an agency secures the trajectory.
What makes up an MVP budget
| Line item | Share of budget | Indicative cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Product & UX scoping | 12% | 4,000 - 9,000 |
| Auth + account management | 10% | 3,000 - 8,000 |
| Core feature (the business heart) | 35% | 12,000 - 28,000 |
| Stripe billing + subscriptions | 12% | 4,000 - 9,000 |
| Dashboard & reporting | 15% | 5,000 - 12,000 |
| Testing, security, go-live | 16% | 6,000 - 14,000 |
On infrastructure, budget 300 to 1,200 EUR/month (hosting, database, Stripe, monitoring) depending on user count. This stays low until you cross a few hundred active accounts.
Mini case study
Yanis, founder of a B2B fintech startup in Lyon, wants to launch an MVP for bank reconciliation for SMEs. Agency quote: 62,000 EUR, 4-month timeline. He secures France Num / BPI support covering 30% of the project, i.e. 18,600 EUR, bringing his net cost to 43,400 EUR.
His goal: 40 customers at 79 EUR/month within 12 months, i.e. 37,920 EUR of annualised MRR. With 600 EUR/month infra cost (7,200 EUR/year), annual gross margin exceeds 30,000 EUR from the first full year: the MVP pays back around 18 months, grant included.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Is no-code really cheaper in the long run?
Short term yes (8,000-20,000 EUR). But tool subscriptions and the technical ceiling often force a bespoke rebuild around 100 customers: no-code then becomes a prototype cost, not an investment.
How long for a first usable MVP?
Budget 3 to 5 months with an agency for a B2B SaaS with billing. A scope trimmed to a single core feature can ship in 10-12 weeks.
What grants can fund a SaaS in 2026?
France Num schemes, regional grants and some BPI loans can cover 20 to 40% of the project depending on your profile. The amount depends on your region and company status, to confirm upfront.
Should we build billing ourselves?
No. Stripe Billing handles subscriptions, free trials and EU VAT. Integration costs 4,000 to 9,000 EUR and avoids months building an in-house billing engine.
What comes after the MVP?
A 6-12 month roadmap: onboarding, integrations, advanced roles, analytics. Budget 30 to 50% of the MVP cost per year to evolve the product based on customer feedback.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your core feature, target pricing model and fundraising horizon, and we'll frame an MVP scopable in 3-4 months. Detailed quote within 48h. 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.
