The verdict in three sentences
A brochure website costs in 2026 between 5,000 and 15,000 EUR (excl. VAT); a client portal with a secure area between 15,000 and 45,000 EUR. The portal becomes profitable when self-service (documents, invoices, order tracking) cuts support tickets by 25 to 40%. For a services SME, the tipping point sits around a few hundred recurring requests per month, with ROI reached in 12 to 18 months.
Brochure or portal: feature comparison
The two solve different needs: one attracts prospects, the other serves and retains existing customers. Here is the 2026 comparison.
| Criterion | Brochure site | Client portal |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (EUR excl. VAT) | 5,000 - 15,000 | 15,000 - 45,000 |
| Goal | Attract, convert | Serve, retain |
| Authentication | No | Secure accounts |
| Self-service | No | Documents, invoices, tracking |
| Delivery time | 4 - 8 weeks | 8 - 16 weeks |
| Maintenance/year | 600 - 2,000 EUR | 3,000 - 9,000 EUR |
| Support-ticket impact | Neutral | -25 to -40% |
A portal is not a "big brochure site": it is an application with authentication, permissions and customer data.
The portal break-even threshold
A portal is justified by the costs it removes, not by its looks. Here is how to estimate the tipping point.
| Monthly ticket volume | Estimated support cost/month | Portal relevant? |
|---|---|---|
| < 100 tickets | < 1,500 EUR | No, brochure site is enough |
| 100 - 300 tickets | 1,500 - 4,500 EUR | Worth studying |
| 300 - 600 tickets | 4,500 - 9,000 EUR | Yes, likely ROI |
| 600 - 1,000 tickets | 9,000 - 15,000 EUR | Yes, fast ROI |
| > 1,000 tickets | > 15,000 EUR | Yes, priority |
Simple rule: if the portal removes 30% of tickets at 15 EUR per handled ticket, compute the annual saving and compare it with the development budget.
Mini case study
Julien, head of an industrial-maintenance SME in Lyon (28 employees), handles 480 support tickets/month (invoice requests, intervention tracking, documents) at an average cost of 14 EUR per ticket, about 6,720 EUR/month. He invests 32,000 EUR (excl. VAT) in a self-service client portal. Result: -35% of tickets, about 2,350 EUR/month saved, plus response time divided by three. Annual saving: 28,000 EUR. The portal pays back in about 14 months, before counting the gain in satisfaction and retention.
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FAQ
When is a brochure site really enough?
When the goal is to attract and convert prospects, with few recurring requests from existing customers. Below roughly 100 support tickets/month, a portal is hard to justify.
Why does a portal cost three times more?
Because it is an application: authentication, permission management, customer database, integrations (billing, CRM), hardened security. The 15,000 to 45,000 EUR budget reflects that complexity.
Can we start small and grow?
Yes, a recommended approach: first deliver a high-performance brochure site, then add a client area in modules (invoices, then tracking, then documents) as volume justifies it.
What is a portal's main source of gain?
The reduction of repetitive support tickets (-25 to -40%) and faster responses. Self-service frees teams from low-value tasks and improves satisfaction.
How long to build a client portal?
Between 8 and 16 weeks depending on integrations (billing, CRM, ERP) and the number of self-service features. An MVP focused on one function can ship faster.
Let's scope your project. Give us your monthly ticket volume and the documents to expose in self-service: we compute your break-even threshold and frame a budget between 5,000 and 45,000 EUR (excl. VAT). 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.
