The verdict in three sentences
A no-code micro-automation (Make, n8n, Zapier) costs 4,000 to 12,000 EUR and pays for itself within months; a custom automation of a full process runs between 18,000 and 45,000 EUR. The decisive metric is not the sticker price but the number of recurring hours saved: above 15 to 30 h/month, payback arrives in 8 to 14 months. Below 200 items processed per month, stay no-code; above it, custom development becomes profitable.
How much automation costs by approach
Automation projects fall into three families, from lightest to most integrated. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude for a European SMB of 10 to 100 employees.
| Approach | Project budget | Recurring | Timeline | Typical case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-code (Make/n8n/Zapier) | 4,000 - 12,000 EUR | 30 - 150 EUR/mo | 2 - 4 weeks | Reminders, notifications, simple entry |
| RPA (software robot) | 12,000 - 25,000 EUR | license 100 - 400 EUR/mo | 4 - 8 weeks | Copying between API-less apps |
| Custom (API + code) | 18,000 - 45,000 EUR | 12 - 18 %/yr | 8 - 14 weeks | Full critical process |
An integration developer's day rate ranges from 550 to 750 EUR in 2026, and annual maintenance amounts to 12 to 18 % of build cost. Never skip this line: an unmaintained flow breaks the moment a third-party API changes.
Automate or hire: the comparison that settles it
Many leaders compare automation to the cost of a hire. Take a repetitive task of 25 h/month, roughly 300 h/year.
| Item | Loaded salary/yr | Useful hours/yr | Task cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admin employee | 34,000 EUR | 1,500 h | ~6,800 EUR (300 h) |
| No-code automation | amortized 8,000 EUR | unlimited | ~1,200 EUR (maintenance) |
| Custom automation | 24,000 EUR over 3 yrs | unlimited | ~3,800 EUR/yr |
Over three years, a 24,000 EUR custom automation costs about 11,400 EUR including maintenance, versus 20,400 EUR for the same task handled by a human — before counting errors or leave. The rule: automate high-volume, stable-rule, low-value tasks first.
Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 45-employee industrial SMB in Lyon, spends 28 h/month consolidating email orders into the ERP and chasing unpaid invoices. Kolonell prices a custom automation at 22,000 EUR, maintenance 15 %/yr. At an internal rate of 42 EUR/h, those 28 h/month free up 14,112 EUR/year. Payback: 19 months; from year three, the flow runs for 3,300 EUR/yr of maintenance — a net saving of 10,800 EUR/yr. Unquantified bonus: order processing time drops from 6 h to 20 minutes.
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FAQ
No-code or custom: how do I decide fast?
If the process handles fewer than 200 items/month with simple rules, no-code (4,000-12,000 EUR) is enough. Beyond that, or if several API-less apps are involved, custom (18,000-45,000 EUR) becomes more robust and profitable.
What is the minimum budget to start safely?
A first no-code flow at 4,000 to 6,000 EUR validates a use case in 2 to 3 weeks. It is the best entry ticket to prove ROI before investing further.
How much does maintenance cost each year?
Budget 12 to 18 % of build cost for custom work, or 30 to 150 EUR/month platform subscription for no-code. Without maintenance, a flow breaks as soon as a third-party API evolves.
How long until I recover the investment?
When you automate 15 to 30 h/month, payback usually lands between 8 and 14 months. After that, each month is near-pure gain, minus maintenance.
Can I automate without changing software?
Yes: RPA (12,000-25,000 EUR) copies data between apps even without an API, and no-code connectors integrate with most existing SaaS tools.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your most time-consuming process (monthly volume, software involved, hours lost) and we will recommend no-code or custom with an indicative budget. 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.
