The verdict in three sentences
A consulting firm in Amsterdam billing on time loses money on every missed reminder and poorly tracked receivable. In 2026, a bespoke build at 30 000-75 000 EUR or a SaaS at 25-60 EUR/user/month industrialises billing, automated reminders and DSO tracking. The gain is not cosmetic: -20 days of DSO is cash immediately available.
2026 benchmark and scope
A billing-collections tool covers time capture, invoice generation, tiered reminders and accounting integration. Bespoke pays off as soon as billing rules (fixed fees, time and materials, milestones) grow complex.
| Item | Billing SaaS | Kolonell bespoke |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 25-60 EUR/user/month | 30 000-75 000 EUR one-off |
| Time-based billing | yes | bespoke granularity |
| Tiered automated reminders | standard | custom scenarios |
| Receivables / DSO tracking | dashboard | real time and alerts |
| Accounting integration | limited connectors | bespoke API |
| Time to deploy | 2-6 weeks | 2-4 months |
| Cost 10 consultants / year | 3 000-7 200 EUR | amortised over 3 years |
The quantified cash impact
DSO (average customer payment delay) is the crux. Cutting it frees cash without raising debt.
| Metric | Before | After | 2026 gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSO | 68 days | 48 days | -20 days |
| Invoices issued late | 32 % | 6 % | -26 pts |
| Reminders triggered on time | 55 % | 98 % | +43 pts |
| Unbilled time | 12 % | 2 % | -10 pts |
| Cash freed (3 M EUR revenue) | baseline | ~164 000 EUR | 20 days of revenue |
Mini case study
Sarah, CFO of a 10-consultant firm in Amsterdam with 3 000 000 EUR of annual revenue, suffered a 68-day DSO. Bringing it to 48 days through automated reminders and receivables tracking frees 3 000 000 / 365 x 20 = ~164 000 EUR of cash. A bespoke build at 55 000 EUR is thus covered in the first year, with the freed cash funding the investment.
FAQ
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How does the software cut DSO?
By triggering tiered automated reminders and giving real-time visibility on receivables. In 2026, a 15-20 day DSO reduction is a realistic, documented target.
Does it integrate with my accounting?
Yes, via connector or API to your accounting software. Budget 3 000-8 000 EUR for a robust bespoke integration.
Does it handle fixed fees and time and materials together?
A good tool combines time-based billing, fixed fees and project milestones, with distinct rules per client, avoiding billing leakage.
What is the true full cost?
On top of build or subscription come integration, training and 15-20 % annual maintenance in bespoke. Price the total cost over 3 years.
How long to deploy?
SaaS is configured in 2 to 6 weeks; bespoke needs 2 to 4 months with receivables migration.
Let's scope your project. Send us your annual revenue, current DSO and billing rules, and we will price SaaS vs bespoke with reminder scenarios and accounting integration. 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.
