The verdict in three sentences
A healthcare SaaS starts at 40-120 GBP/user/month and deploys in weeks, while a custom build costs 70 000 to 160 000 GBP but belongs to you. Beyond 15-20 users or with specific workflows (theatres, technical platforms, complex insurance billing), custom becomes financially rational over 5 years. In every case, compliant secure hosting (UK GDPR and health-data standards) is not optional: it is a legal requirement.
Market SaaS or custom: the 2026 costs
The decision hinges on three variables: number of users, workflow specificity, and how long you plan to own the tool. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude for a London clinic.
| Item | Market SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0-5 000 GBP (setup) | 70 000-160 000 GBP |
| Recurring cost | 40-120 GBP/user/month | 12-15 %/yr maintenance |
| Time to go live | 3-8 weeks | 6-9 months |
| Secure hosting | included | 300-900 GBP/month |
| Customisation | option-limited | total |
| Code ownership | no | yes |
| Data portability | variable | total |
For 10 users, SaaS represents roughly 4 800 to 14 400 GBP/year. Custom requires an upfront investment, but maintenance stays predictable and the per-user cost becomes marginal as the team grows.
What drives the custom quote
A healthcare software quote depends directly on functional scope and the seniority of the profiles involved. The day rate for a team able to deliver compliant health software sits between 500 and 850 GBP in 2026.
| Module | Estimated effort (days) | Range GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Booking + multi-practitioner calendar | 20-35 | 10 000-30 000 |
| Patient record + history | 30-50 | 15 000-42 000 |
| Billing + insurance | 25-45 | 12 500-38 000 |
| Patient portal (online booking) | 15-30 | 7 500-25 000 |
| Reporting + activity dashboards | 12-25 | 6 000-21 000 |
| Interoperability (HL7/FHIR, lab) | 20-40 | 10 000-34 000 |
Add change management and staff training: budget 8 to 15 % of the project. An unadopted tool is a wasted tool.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Dr Lawson runs a 14-practitioner multi-disciplinary clinic in London. On SaaS at 90 GBP/user/month she pays 15 120 GBP/year, or 75 600 GBP over 5 years, never owning the tool nor able to integrate her imaging suite. A custom build at 115 000 GBP + 13 % maintenance (14 950 GBP/yr) totals 189 750 GBP over 5 years. Higher on paper, but the custom tool saves her 25 % of administrative time (equivalent to a part-time secretary, ~17 000 GBP/yr) and cuts no-shows by 30 % through automated reminders. On recovered no-shows alone (an estimated 26 000 GBP/yr of honoured slots), the custom build pays back in just over 3 years.
FAQ
Is compliant health-data hosting really mandatory? Yes. Personal health data must be hosted to UK GDPR and applicable health-data standards. Budget 300 to 900 GBP/month depending on volume and redundancy.
How long until a custom build is operational? Between 6 and 9 months for full scope. A usable first release (booking + patient record) can ship in 3-4 months with an iterative approach.
Can I migrate data from my current software? Yes, a data migration is almost always possible. It represents 5 to 12 % of the budget depending on the cleanliness and structure of the existing data.
Is SaaS cheaper long term? Not systematically. Beyond ~15 users or 5 years of ownership, cumulative subscriptions often exceed an amortised custom build, with no ownership or product control.
Who handles regulatory updates? With SaaS, the vendor. With custom, that is the maintenance contract (12-15 %/yr), covering fixes, evolutions and compliance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your clinic (number of practitioners, workflows, compliance constraints) and your indicative budget, and we will tell you whether SaaS or custom is the better fit. 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.
