The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, an operational BI dashboard for a Berlin SME sits between 5,000 and 30,000 EUR, with most of the cost coming from data source integration, not visualisation. A well-scoped Metabase or Power BI dashboard starts at 5,000 EUR and ships in 3 to 6 weeks. Custom builds are only justified beyond 5 heterogeneous sources or for second-by-second real time.
Price by technical solution
The Berlin market pits three families against each other: open-source BI (Metabase, Superset), proprietary suites (Power BI, Tableau) and custom development. The budget depends mostly on the number of connectors and the required data freshness.
| Solution | Setup (EUR) | Licences/mo | Timeline | Data freshness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted Metabase | 5,000 - 12,000 | 0 - 85 EUR | 3 - 5 wks | 5 - 60 min |
| Power BI | 6,000 - 15,000 | 10 - 20 EUR/user | 3 - 6 wks | 15 - 30 min |
| Tableau | 9,000 - 20,000 | 60 - 75 EUR/user | 4 - 8 wks | 15 - 60 min |
| Custom (React + API) | 15,000 - 30,000 | 100 - 400 EUR | 6 - 12 wks | real time |
For 80% of SMEs of 10 to 100 staff, self-hosted Metabase offers the best value: no per-user licence, quick onboarding and broad reporting coverage.
Cost per data source
The line item that drives the quote is the number and nature of sources to connect. Each source needs a connector, cleaning and modelling.
| Data source | Integration cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Internal SQL database | 800 - 1,500 | 2 - 4 d |
| CRM (HubSpot, Pipedrive) | 1,000 - 2,000 | 3 - 5 d |
| Accounting / ERP | 1,500 - 3,500 | 4 - 8 d |
| Google Analytics / Ads | 700 - 1,300 | 2 - 3 d |
| Excel / Sheets files | 500 - 1,000 | 1 - 2 d |
| Third-party custom API | 1,200 - 3,000 | 3 - 7 d |
A dashboard connecting CRM + accounting + Analytics therefore costs around 3,200 to 6,800 EUR in pure integration, on top of view and KPI design. That explains the gap between a 5,000 EUR entry price and a full 15,000 EUR project.
Mini case study
Marc, managing director of a 60-staff distribution SME in Berlin, ran his business on five Excel files emailed every Monday, often already outdated. Kolonell deploys a Metabase connected to the ERP, CRM and accounting, with a revenue, margin and overdue-payment dashboard refreshed every 30 minutes.
Budget: 11,500 EUR, delivered in 5 weeks. The management team saves 6 h/week of manual consolidation (about 9,000 EUR/year at 35 EUR/h loaded) and, above all, detects margin drift in 24 h instead of 3 weeks. Faster corrective decisions recovered 1.5 margin points in one quarter, far exceeding the project cost.
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FAQ
What's the entry price for a real BI dashboard?
From 5,000 EUR for a Metabase connected to 1 or 2 sources, delivered in 3 to 5 weeks. Below that, you're talking automated Excel exports, not a decision tool.
Power BI or Metabase?
Power BI suits companies already on Microsoft 365, at 10 to 20 EUR/user/month. Metabase, with no per-seat licence, becomes cheaper from 15 to 20 users and avoids proprietary lock-in.
How much to add a source later?
Between 500 and 3,500 EUR per source depending on complexity, with 1 to 8 days lead time. A SQL database is quick; an old ERP or exotic API costs more.
Can we get second-by-second real time?
Yes, but it requires a custom architecture (React + API + streaming) from 15,000 EUR. For 90% of steering needs, a 15 to 30 minute refresh is plenty.
Who maintains the dashboard afterwards?
Budget 100 to 400 EUR/mo for maintenance (KPI evolution, connector fixes, version upgrades). An evolving retainer lets you add views as you grow without a full re-quote.
Let's scope your project. List your data sources and the 5 KPIs your leadership wants in real time: we'll price the dashboard, integration and maintenance. 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.
