The verdict in three sentences
For a spare parts wholesaler onboarding 40 third-party suppliers, the choice is between a Mirakl or Izberg licence at EUR 50,000 to 150,000 a year and a custom marketplace at EUR 120,000 to 250,000 in Berlin, or EUR 80,000 to 180,000 with a Lyon-based team. With commissions of 8 to 15 %, break-even typically lands between EUR 3 and 6 M of annual GMV. The feature that sells in B2B spare parts is search by OEM part number, and it deserves the first slice of budget.
The building blocks of a B2B spare parts marketplace
An industrial marketplace has nothing in common with a consumer webshop. Buyers are garages, maintenance workshops or procurement teams; they search by OEM reference, compare cross-references and order on account with 30 or 45 day terms.
| Building block | Role | Custom cost 2026, Berlin (EUR) | Custom cost 2026, Lyon (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM part number search | OEM refs, cross-references, fuzzy search, technical filters | 22,000 to 48,000 | 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Supplier onboarding and KYC | Company register, VAT ID, IBAN, AML checks | 12,000 to 25,000 | 8,000 to 18,000 |
| Supplier catalogue import | CSV feeds, APIs, mapping, quality control | 15,000 to 35,000 | 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Multi-vendor orders | Single cart, order split, per-supplier tracking | 18,000 to 38,000 | 12,000 to 28,000 |
| Payments and split | Marketplace PSP, payment terms, payouts | 15,000 to 35,000 | 10,000 to 25,000 |
| B2B accounts | Multiple users, approvals, negotiated prices, quotes | 15,000 to 35,000 | 10,000 to 25,000 |
| Operator back office | Commissions, disputes, reporting, moderation | 23,000 to 34,000 | 15,000 to 24,000 |
The low end targets an MVP with 10 to 15 suppliers and CSV imports. The high end covers 40 suppliers connected by API, a full cross-reference engine and payment terms.
Mirakl, Izberg or custom build
| Criterion | Mirakl | Izberg | Custom build (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | EUR 80,000 to 200,000 (integration) | EUR 40,000 to 120,000 (integration) | EUR 80,000 to 250,000 |
| Annual licence | EUR 80,000 to 150,000 + % of GMV | EUR 50,000 to 100,000 | None (maintenance EUR 15,000 to 35,000) |
| Three-year cost | EUR 320,000 to 650,000 | EUR 190,000 to 420,000 | EUR 125,000 to 355,000 |
| Time to launch | 6 to 9 months | 4 to 7 months | 5 to 8 months |
| OEM reference search | Front end to build | To build | Native |
| Connector ecosystem | Very broad | Broad | As needed |
| Code ownership | No | No | Yes |
Mirakl makes sense when GMV is expected to pass EUR 20 M quickly and its connector ecosystem saves months. Below EUR 10 M, a custom build or Izberg usually comes out cheaper over three years.
Commissions and break-even
In B2B spare parts, commissions observed in 2026 range from 8 % (heavy, low-margin parts) to 15 % (consumables, accessories). Marketplace PSP fees account for 0.8 to 1.5 % of GMV.
| Annual GMV | Average commission 11 % | PSP fees 1.2 % | Annual fixed costs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR 1 M | EUR 110,000 | EUR 12,000 | EUR 380,000 | - EUR 282,000 |
| EUR 2 M | EUR 220,000 | EUR 24,000 | EUR 380,000 | - EUR 184,000 |
| EUR 3.5 M | EUR 385,000 | EUR 42,000 | EUR 380,000 | - EUR 37,000 |
| EUR 4 M | EUR 440,000 | EUR 48,000 | EUR 380,000 | + EUR 12,000 |
| EUR 6 M | EUR 660,000 | EUR 72,000 | EUR 380,000 | + EUR 208,000 |
| EUR 10 M | EUR 1,100,000 | EUR 120,000 | EUR 420,000 | + EUR 560,000 |
Fixed costs include three-year project amortisation, maintenance, 2 people on supplier management and an EUR 80,000 acquisition budget. Break-even sits around EUR 3.9 M of GMV in this scenario; Berlin salaries push it about 10 % higher.
Mini case study
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Laurent runs a Lyon wholesaler (EUR 28 M revenue, 12,000 garage customers) and wants to add 180,000 references through 40 suppliers. He projects that 8 % of customers spend an average of EUR 4,000 a year on the marketplace: 960 × EUR 4,000 = EUR 3.84 M of GMV in year two. At 11 % commission that is EUR 422,000 of revenue, close to break-even. His real gain is a higher basket on his own catalogue, estimated at 6 %, or EUR 1.68 M of additional revenue.
FAQ
How much does a B2B spare parts marketplace cost in Berlin?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, EUR 120,000 to 250,000 for a custom build, or EUR 50,000 to 150,000 a year in SaaS licences plus integration.
What commission should suppliers pay?
Between 8 and 15 % depending on segment margin. Many wholesalers start at 10 % to attract the first 20 suppliers.
Is supplier KYC mandatory?
Yes, the marketplace PSP requires it under anti-money laundering rules. Allow 2 to 5 days of verification per supplier.
How do we handle 30 or 45 day payment terms?
Through a PSP offering B2B buy-now-pay-later or a factoring partner, at 1.5 to 3 % of the financed amount.
How long until break-even?
Most often 18 to 30 months, once GMV passes EUR 3 to 6 M a year.
Let's scope your project. Share your catalogue, target suppliers and GMV goal, and we will price a marketplace with a commission business plan and a 5 to 8 month launch. 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.
