The verdict in three sentences
A London founder who wants to test a B2B SaaS with 10 pilot customers before raising should know that, as a 2026 market estimate, local contractors charge 600 to 900 GBP per day, which puts a typical MVP at 45,000 to 110,000 GBP. A nearshore French-speaking team at 300 to 500 EUR per day delivers the same Next.js and PostgreSQL scope in 10 to 16 weeks, often for half the budget. Hosting stays at 50 to 300 EUR per month at pilot stage, so the real decision is about scope discipline and team setup, not infrastructure.
What an MVP must prove, and what it should leave out
An MVP is not a smaller version of the final product. It is the tool that tests one precise hypothesis: do the 10 pilot customers use the core feature every week, and will they pay? Anything that does not serve that proof goes on the "after the round" list.
| Feature | In the MVP | After the round | Budget impact (nearshore) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core feature (the problem you solve) | Yes, polished | Iterations | 40 to 50% of budget |
| Authentication, accounts, simple roles | Yes | Enterprise SSO, SAML | 8,000 to 12,000 EUR |
| Subscription billing (Stripe) | Yes, one or two plans | Usage-based, multi-currency | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR |
| Customer dashboard | Minimal version | Custom reports | 4,000 to 10,000 EUR |
| Integrations (CRM, ERP, Slack) | Just one, the most requested | Full catalogue | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR each |
| Native mobile app | No, responsive web | If usage justifies it | 20,000 EUR or more avoided |
| Admin back-office | Basic | Support, internal analytics | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR |
The classic trap is adding three integrations "because one prospect asked". Each integration adds one to two weeks on average.
Budget and timeline by type of provider
| Provider | 2026 day rate or package (estimate) | MVP budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| London freelancer | 600 to 900 GBP per day | 35,000 to 70,000 GBP | 12 to 20 weeks |
| London product studio | 750 to 1,100 GBP per day | 60,000 to 150,000 GBP | 10 to 14 weeks |
| Nearshore French-speaking team | 300 to 500 EUR per day | 18,000 to 50,000 EUR | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Offshore generalist team | 150 to 300 EUR per day | 12,000 to 35,000 EUR | 14 to 24 weeks |
| Kolonell, simple application | Kolonell grid package | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) | Depends on scope |
| Kolonell, medium application | Kolonell grid package | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | Depends on scope |
On top of these amounts come hosting (50 to 300 EUR per month on Vercel, AWS London or Scaleway with managed PostgreSQL), tooling (email, monitoring, 50 to 150 EUR per month) and legal work (SaaS terms, UK GDPR data processing agreement, 1,500 to 4,000 GBP with a specialist lawyer).
Tech stack and how to run a nearshore team
Next.js and PostgreSQL are not a fashion choice: hiring is easy in London when you bring development in-house, the ecosystem is mature, and moving to a heavier architecture does not require a full rewrite. For a B2B SaaS selling to UK companies, UK or EU hosting and a clear data processing agreement are expected from the first security questionnaire.
A nearshore team works when three things are in place: a product owner on your side who decides within 24 hours, a demo every two weeks, and code in your own Git repository from day one. Dakar is on GMT, the same as London in winter and one hour behind in summer, which gives a full working-day overlap. UK R&D tax relief may also cover part of qualifying development costs; check eligibility with your accountant before the work starts.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Oliver, founder of a scheduling SaaS for UK manufacturers, receives a London studio quote at 78,000 GBP for 12 weeks. He trims two secondary integrations and the mobile app, then compares a nearshore team at 420 EUR per day for 85 days, so 35,700 EUR (about 30,500 GBP). The saving of roughly 47,000 GBP extends his runway by several months.
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With 10 pilot customers at 250 GBP a month after three free months, he reaches 2,500 GBP of monthly recurring revenue, or 30,000 GBP annualised, against about 170 GBP a month of hosting. That number and weekly pilot usage become the two core metrics in his fundraising deck.
FAQ
How much does a B2B SaaS MVP cost for a London startup in 2026?
As a market estimate, 35,000 to 150,000 GBP with London freelancers or studios, and 18,000 to 50,000 EUR with a nearshore French-speaking team. The scope of the core feature explains most of the gap.
How long does it take to ship an MVP?
Between 10 and 16 weeks with an organised team, often 12 to 20 weeks for a single freelancer. Each third-party integration adds one to two weeks.
Is a nearshore team risky for IP?
Not if the contract assigns all IP to your company and the code lives in your Git repository from the first commit. Ask for that clause and repository access in the first week.
What hosting budget should we plan at launch?
Between 50 and 300 EUR per month for 10 pilot customers, managed PostgreSQL included. The cost stays low until usage passes a few hundred active users.
Do we need a mobile app in the MVP?
Rarely in B2B. A responsive web app is enough to validate usage, and a native app usually adds 20,000 EUR or more.
Let's scope your project. Send us your core feature, number of pilot customers and target raise date, and we will reply with a prioritised MVP scope and a plan through our quote request. 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.
