The verdict in three sentences
A B2B ecommerce portal for a Vancouver wholesaler costs CAD 25,000 to CAD 180,000 to build in 2026, driven mainly by customer specific pricing, net 30 credit terms and how deeply it connects to your ERP or accounting system. The middle tier, around CAD 50,000 to CAD 90,000, covers most distributors: trade accounts, price lists per customer, card and invoice payment, correct GST and PST handling and 500 to 3,000 SKUs. Add CAD 600 to CAD 3,500 a month in platform, hosting and support to get the real annual budget.
The context: a wholesaler moving off email and phone orders
Take the general manager of a Vancouver distributor of specialty foods and beverages supplying 400 cafés, grocers and restaurants across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Orders arrive by email, phone and sales rep, with keying errors, outdated price sheets and slow collections. The goal: each customer logs in, sees negotiated prices, reorders in two clicks and pays by card or on approved terms.
Three tier price grid
| Item | Tier 1: trade catalogue | Tier 2: full trade portal | Tier 3: connected platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost | CAD 25,000 to 45,000 | CAD 50,000 to 90,000 | CAD 100,000 to 180,000 |
| Timeline | 6 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 months | 5 to 8 months |
| SKUs | Up to 500 | 500 to 3,000 | 3,000 and more |
| Pricing | One wholesale price list | Price lists per customer or group | Customer, volume and contract pricing |
| Payment | Card only | Card plus invoice on net terms | Card, terms, credit limits, auto hold |
| Tax | GST only, manual PST exemptions | GST plus BC PST with exemption certificates | Multi province GST, HST and PST rules |
| ERP or accounting | CSV export | Daily stock and order sync | Real time sync of stock, invoices and AR |
| Delivery | Flat zones | Delivery days by route | Route planning and proof of delivery |
These are 2026 estimates for custom or heavily configured builds. A wholesaler with a reliable ERP often starts at tier 2 and adds real time sync in year two.
Running costs to add
| Monthly item | 2026 amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Platform or licence | CAD 0 to 2,000 | Public plan price varies by platform |
| Hosting | CAD 50 to 400 | Custom builds only |
| Support and maintenance | CAD 500 to 1,500 | Updates, security, small changes |
| Card processing | 2.5 to 3 % per transaction | Interchange plus or flat rate |
| Payment by EFT or cheque | Low or no fee | Slower cash collection |
| ERP connector | CAD 100 to 500 | If a third party connector is used |
Kolonell builds comparable portals as web applications, priced at 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA for a medium project and 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA or more for a complex one, with maintenance from 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA a month (about €38 to €115).
What pushes the price up
- Customer and volume pricing rules that must be tested line by line.
- Credit limits with automatic order holds when a customer goes over terms.
- ERP integrations without a documented API.
- Bilingual or multilingual catalogues and large volumes of product data cleanup.
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Illustrative example: Priya, general manager of a food distributor in Burnaby, picks tier 2 at CAD 72,000, with CAD 1,400 a month in platform, hosting and support. Year one costs CAD 72,000 + CAD 16,800, so CAD 88,800. Her 400 customers order an average CAD 3,500 a month. If online ordering cuts order errors and credits by 1.5 %, she saves about CAD 252,000 a year. If 15 % of customers add one extra CAD 600 order a month thanks to easy reorders, that adds CAD 432,000 of annual revenue.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget for B2B ecommerce in Vancouver?
Around CAD 25,000 for a trade catalogue with one price list and card payment. Below that, you usually get a retail store with a wholesale discount code.
Can each customer see their own prices?
Yes, from tier 2, at CAD 50,000 to CAD 90,000. Customers see negotiated prices once logged in.
How should GST and PST be handled?
The portal must charge 5 % GST and 7 % BC PST where applicable, and store PST exemption numbers for resellers. Getting this wrong creates audit risk.
Can we offer net 30 terms online?
Yes, with credit limits per account and an automatic hold above the limit. This usually adds CAD 8,000 to CAD 20,000 to the build.
How long does a launch take?
About 6 to 10 weeks for tier 1, 3 to 4 months for tier 2 and 5 to 8 months for a fully connected platform.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, number of trade accounts and ERP, and we will price the right tier, timeline and monthly costs. 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.