The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a fundable B2B MVP costs between EUR 25,000 and EUR 55,000 and ships in 8 to 14 weeks. You fund one core feature — the one that proves value — plus auth, minimal billing and a dashboard. Everything else (fine-grained roles, integrations, native mobile) waits for traction and the seed round.
What an MVP covers, and what it must exclude
An MVP is not a trimmed V1: it's the artifact that validates a business hypothesis with the least code possible. Scope discipline is the first cost lever.
| Scope | Include (MVP) | Defer (post-seed) |
|---|---|---|
| Core feature | 1 end-to-end workflow | Secondary modules |
| Authentication | Email + Google SSO | Enterprise SSO (SAML) |
| Billing | Stripe Checkout + 2 plans | Usage-based, dunning |
| Dashboard | Essential KPIs, 4-6 metrics | Advanced analytics, exports |
| Roles | Admin + member | Granular permissions |
| Mobile | Responsive web | Native iOS/Android app |
| Integrations | 1 webhook / 1 API | Integration marketplace |
Golden rule: if a feature doesn't help answer "will customers pay for this?", it leaves the MVP.
What a month of development costs in 2026
An MVP's cost is first a cost of team and time. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude for a Berlin project.
| Item | Monthly cost (2026 estimate) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Senior full-stack developer | EUR 9,000 - 13,000 | Time & materials or fixed |
| Product / tech lead (half-time) | EUR 4,500 - 6,500 | Scoping, trade-offs |
| UI/UX design (initial fixed fee) | EUR 5,000 - 9,000 | Light design system |
| Infra & tools (Vercel, Supabase, Stripe) | EUR 150 - 400 | Usage-based |
| No-code prototype (optional) | EUR 2,000 - 6,000 | Bubble/Retool to test |
A custom 10-12 week MVP mobilises the equivalent of 2 to 3 person-months, hence the EUR 25,000-55,000 range.
No-code vs custom: when to switch
| Criterion | No-code (Bubble, Retool) | Custom (Next.js/Supabase) |
|---|---|---|
| MVP cost | EUR 8,000 - 20,000 | EUR 25,000 - 55,000 |
| Timeline | 3 - 6 weeks | 8 - 14 weeks |
| Scalability | Limited beyond 500 users | High |
| Technical debt | High at resale | Controlled |
| Best for | Testing a pre-revenue hypothesis | Raising seed, industrialising |
No-code validates a hypothesis fast; custom pays off as soon as you target a round or real load.
Mini case study
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Thomas, founder of a B2B SaaS startup in Berlin, has EUR 40,000 in friends-and-family money. He picks a custom MVP at EUR 38,000 delivered in 11 weeks: one core feature (supplier matching), Google auth, Stripe and a dashboard. After 3 months, 14 SMEs pay EUR 290/month, i.e. EUR 4,060 MRR and an annualised ARR of ~EUR 49,000. That traction lets him raise a EUR 450,000 seed, of which EUR 120,000 goes to the V1. The MVP cost less than 10% of the round it unlocked.
FAQ
How long to ship an MVP in 2026?
Expect 8 to 14 weeks for custom, 3 to 6 weeks for no-code. The limiting factor is almost always feature count, not team speed.
Can I raise funds with just an MVP?
Yes: seed funds expect proof of traction (10-20 paying customers or EUR 3,000-5,000 MRR), not a complete product. A well-targeted MVP is enough.
What budget after the MVP?
An industrialised V1 typically costs EUR 60,000 to 150,000 over 6 to 12 months. Plan this line into your seed financing.
Is no-code a trap?
Not if it stays temporary. It becomes costly if you scale on it: a later rewrite can exceed the cost of an initial custom build.
Who owns the code?
Require full IP transfer and a repository on your own Git from the first commit. It's a due-diligence criterion for any investor.
Let's scope your project. Describe your core feature, target seed budget and raise deadline, and we'll frame a fundable MVP. 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.
