The verdict in three sentences
For an Irish distributor of hygiene and cleaning supplies serving 1,400 businesses, a B2B subscription and automatic replenishment webshop costs roughly EUR 28,000 to 60,000 ex VAT in 2026, delivered in 3 to 4 months. It turns one-off orders, easy to lose to a cheaper rival, into scheduled deliveries paid by SEPA direct debit. Distributors who make the switch see retention rise from about 70% to 88% and average order value grow by 18%.
Why subscriptions change a distributor's economics
Hygiene consumables (paper towels, hand soap, bin liners, floor products) are repeat, low-involvement purchases that an office manager at an SME or a facilities lead at a clinic would rather not think about. The distributor who delivers automatically at the right pace becomes hard to replace.
Core features:
- Customer-editable subscriptions: quantities, frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly), skip a delivery, pause for holidays.
- Multiple sites per account: a group with 6 offices runs one subscription per address with central invoicing.
- SEPA direct debit with an online mandate, plus card as a fallback.
- Usage alerts: a nudge when a site uses 30% more than planned, or a suggestion to change frequency.
- Route planning: scheduled deliveries flow into logistics with 4 weeks of visibility.
Irish buyers also expect VAT invoices that show the 23% standard rate clearly, and many public bodies and hospitals still require a purchase order number on each invoice, so the platform must store PO references per subscription.
2026 budget by module
Amounts are 2026 ballpark estimates for the Irish market, for custom development or a heavy extension of an existing e-commerce platform. Dublin rates sit slightly above French regional rates.
| Module | 2026 ballpark (EUR ex VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| B2B catalogue, account pricing, multi-site | 5,500 to 11,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Subscription engine: frequency, pauses, edits | 8,000 to 16,000 | 4 to 5 weeks |
| SEPA direct debit, mandates, returns handling | 4,500 to 10,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Usage alerts and recommendations | 3,500 to 7,500 | 2 weeks |
| ERP sync and delivery route planning | 4,500 to 11,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| QA, customer migration, launch | 2,000 to 4,500 | 2 weeks |
| Total | 28,000 to 60,000 | 3 to 4 months |
SEPA, card or transfer: comparing costs
Payment method affects both margin and retention. Figures are 2026 ballpark estimates for Ireland.
| Payment method | Indicative cost per transaction | Time to cash | Failure or delay rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEPA direct debit (B2B or Core) | EUR 0.20 to 0.80 | 2 to 5 days | 1% to 3% returns | Recurring subscriptions |
| Card | 1.2% to 2.5% | 1 to 2 days | 5% to 10% expired cards a year | Small accounts |
| Transfer on 30-day terms | Near zero | 30 to 45 days | 10% to 20% late | Large accounts with POs |
| Invoice financing | 1.5% to 3% | Immediate for seller | Risk carried by provider | Equipment orders |
| Open banking payment | EUR 0.20 to 0.50 | Same day | Low | One-off top-ups |
SEPA direct debit is the natural fit for subscriptions, with automatic returns handling: re-present, then remind, then pause deliveries after two failures.
Rolling out without upsetting existing customers
Do not force the switch. Start with the 20% of customers who order the same basket every month, propose a pre-filled subscription based on their last 6 months of orders, and let them confirm in two clicks. Sales reps then call the next tier with a one-page summary of savings. This approach typically converts 15% to 25% of the base in the first 3 months.
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Mini case study
Aoife runs a hygiene and cleaning supplies distributor in Dublin. Her 1,400 business customers spend about EUR 2,600 ex VAT a year on average, EUR 3.64 million in revenue. With 70% annual retention she loses about 420 customers a year and must replace them through prospecting.
She moves 600 customers to subscriptions in year one. In that group retention rises to 88%: she keeps 108 more customers than before, EUR 280,800 of revenue preserved. Subscriber order value grows 18%, so 600 × 2,600 × 0.18 = EUR 280,800 extra. At a 28% gross margin, the total gain is about EUR 157,000. For a EUR 45,000 platform, payback comes in under 4 months.
FAQ
How much does a B2B subscription webshop cost in Dublin in 2026?
Plan EUR 28,000 to 60,000 ex VAT as a 2026 ballpark. The subscription engine, with pauses and edits, is often a quarter of the budget.
SEPA B2B or SEPA Core?
SEPA B2B removes the debtor's right to refund an authorised debit, but the customer must register the mandate with their bank. Core is easier to sign up, with an 8-week refund right.
Will customers agree to subscribe?
In practice 30% to 50% of repeat customers accept in year one if the subscription can be changed at any time and a small 3% to 5% discount is offered.
How long does launch take?
From 3 to 4 months, including 2 weeks to migrate existing customers and their order history into suggested subscriptions.
How do we avoid unwanted deliveries?
With usage alerts and a reminder 5 days before each delivery, customers can delay or reduce. Distributors then see under 2% returns on scheduled deliveries.
Let's scope your project. We design your subscription engine, SEPA flows and route-planning sync for a launch in 3 to 4 months. 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.
