The verdict in three sentences
Buying a SaaS wins as long as the tool isn't core to your differentiation and your team stays under ~30 users. Building wins when per-seat subscription x 36 months exceeds the build cost or when hidden costs (integrations, exports, lock-in) choke your agility. The real 2026 call turns on the user threshold and code ownership.
The build vs buy model in Dublin in 2026
A SaaS is paid per seat per month: cost explodes with team and time. Custom is capital sunk once, then amortized. Here are the 2026 magnitudes.
| Parameter (2026) | Off-the-shelf SaaS | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | 15-80 EUR/user/month | 50,000-140,000 EUR one-shot |
| Cost 20 users / 36 months | 10,800-57,600 EUR | build + maintenance |
| Maintenance / hosting yr | included | 8,000-20,000 EUR |
| Custom integrations | 3,000-25,000 EUR | included |
| Code ownership | no | yes |
| Exit cost (lock-in) | high | none |
Switch threshold by number of users
The larger the team, the more the subscription dominates. This table locates where building becomes rational over 3 years, at 45 EUR/user/month.
| Users | SaaS cost 3 yr (45 EUR) | Custom 3 yr | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 16,200 EUR | 74,000 EUR | buy |
| 25 | 40,500 EUR | 86,000 EUR | buy |
| 50 | 81,000 EUR | 104,000 EUR | frontier |
| 80 | 129,600 EUR | 128,000 EUR | build |
| 120 | 194,400 EUR | 150,000 EUR | build |
| 200 | 324,000 EUR | 180,000 EUR | build |
Mini case study
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Thomas, COO of a 60-person services scale-up in Dublin, pays 52 EUR/user/month for a mission-management tool, plus 12,000 EUR/yr of patched-together integrations. Over 3 years: 112,320 EUR of subscription + 36,000 EUR of integrations = 148,320 EUR, never owning the code. A custom tool is quoted at 98,000 EUR + 15,000 EUR/yr maintenance, i.e. 143,000 EUR over 3 years, but with owned code and zero lock-in. With headcount rising (90 users planned in year 2), custom pulls clearly ahead. He greenlights the build and saves about 60,000 EUR over 5 years.
FAQ
At how many users does custom pay off? In 2026, often between 50 and 80 users at 45 EUR/user/month over 3 years. Below that, off-the-shelf SaaS stays unbeatable.
What are a SaaS's hidden costs? Integrations (3,000-25,000 EUR), API quota overages, premium modules, and above all the exit cost when your data is trapped in the vendor's format.
Does custom really mean zero subscription? No per-seat fee, but hosting and maintenance (8,000-20,000 EUR/yr) remain. It's a fixed cost, not one that explodes with the team.
Can we start on SaaS then switch? Yes, and it's prudent: validate the need on a SaaS for 12-18 months, then build once the user threshold is crossed and the need is stable.
How long for a first useful build? 3 to 6 months for a production V1, shipping value in two-week increments.
Let's scope your project. Give us your current and 24-month user count, the per-seat price you pay today and the tool involved: we model the quantified switch threshold. 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.
