The verdict in three sentences
Automating repetitive manual tasks for a London SMB costs 9 000 to 34 000 EUR in 2026 depending on the number of flows and connector complexity. Budget 20 to 220 EUR/month for licences (n8n, Make, API connectors) and a 3 to 8 week timeline. On high-volume processes (dunning, data entry, reporting), the ROI frequently lands under 6 months.
What each automation tier costs
Price is driven by the number of flows, the number of systems to connect and the required reliability (retries, logs, alerts). 2026 order of magnitude for the London market:
| Scope | Automated flows | Setup cost (EUR) | Licences/month | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick win | 1 to 2 simple flows | 9 000 - 13 000 | 20 - 60 | 3 wks |
| Standard | 3 to 5 flows, 2-3 connectors | 13 000 - 22 000 | 60 - 130 | 4-6 wks |
| Advanced | 6+ flows, ERP/CRM | 22 000 - 34 000 | 130 - 220 | 6-8 wks |
| Bespoke | Critical flows + supervision | 34 000+ | 220+ | 8+ wks |
The gap comes from connectors: a documented REST API is cheap to integrate, while a legacy business tool without an API forces scraping or a custom connector (2 000 to 5 500 EUR extra).
ROI by automated process
The real argument is not cost but re-keyed time recovered. 2026 estimate at a loaded cost of 38 EUR/hour:
| Process | Hours saved/month | Value/month (EUR) | Expected ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer dunning | 25 h | 950 | < 5 months |
| Quote/order entry | 40 h | 1 520 | < 4 months |
| Weekly reporting | 18 h | 684 | < 6 months |
| Supplier onboarding | 12 h | 456 | < 8 months |
| CRM <-> accounting sync | 20 h | 760 | < 5 months |
An SMB stacking 3 of these flows typically saves 60 to 90 hours/month, the equivalent of a half-time admin role.
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Mini case study
Claire, CFO of a 45-person industrial SMB in London, loses 3 days/month consolidating exports and chasing unpaid invoices. She invests 17 000 EUR automating 4 flows (dunning, order entry, reporting, accounting sync) plus 100 EUR/month in licences.
Math: 70 hours saved/month x 38 EUR = 2 660 EUR/month of value. Annual licence cost: 1 200 EUR. Net ROI: (17 000 + 1 200) / (2 660 x 12 - 1 200) = payback in 6.8 months, then ~30 000 EUR/year of recurring savings.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget to start? A first useful flow (dunning or reporting) starts at 9 000 EUR with 20-40 EUR/month in licences. It is the best entry point to prove ROI before scaling.
n8n, Make or custom development? For 80 % of SMBs, Make or n8n cover the need at 3 to 5 times less than custom dev. Custom is only justified beyond high volumes (>100 000 operations/month) or extreme reliability needs.
What do licences cost at scale? Budget 20 to 220 EUR/month depending on operation volume. A flow at 50 000 executions/month on Make costs roughly 100-160 EUR/month in 2026.
How long before the first result? The first flow is live in 3 weeks on average. Time savings are measurable from the first full month of operation.
What if a tool changes its API? A maintenance contract (160 to 420 EUR/month) covers connector updates and error monitoring, preventing silent flow breakages.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your 3 most time-consuming tasks, your indicative budget and target timeline, and we will price the priority flows. 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.
