The verdict in three sentences
For a Berlin construction SME, off-the-shelf SaaS at EUR 35-90 per user/month is fine as long as your processes fit the vendor's mold. The moment you need true per-project profitability tracking, offline field entry, and clean accounting integration, a custom build at EUR 30,000-70,000 pays off. Real ROI is measured in margin points, not license price.
What does site-management software cost in Berlin in 2026?
The market splits along two axes: per-user subscription (predictable, but it grows with headcount) and custom (upfront investment, near-zero marginal cost afterward). 2026 orders of magnitude:
| Solution | Upfront cost | Recurring cost | Per-project profitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry SaaS (micro-firm) | EUR 0 | EUR 40/user/mo | Basic |
| Mid-market vertical | EUR 3,000-8,000 setup | EUR 65/user/mo | Moderate |
| Premium construction suite | EUR 10,000-20,000 | EUR 90/user/mo | Good |
| Kolonell custom build | EUR 30,000-70,000 | EUR 300-600/mo hosting | Total, on your model |
At 15 users, a EUR 65/month SaaS is EUR 11,700/year — nearly EUR 47,000 over four years — while you never own the tool or its margin-calculation data.
What justifies a custom build?
Custom pays off when profitability data is your battleground. Here's the typical scope and pricing:
| Module | Scope | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Site tracking & scheduling | Gantt, milestones, crew assignment | EUR 8,000-14,000 |
| Offline mobile time entry | Hours, attendance, deferred sync | EUR 6,000-11,000 |
| Purchasing & subcontracting | Orders, receipt, cost commitment | EUR 7,000-12,000 |
| Per-project profitability | Cost-to-complete, live margin | EUR 6,000-13,000 |
| Accounting integration | DATEV/Sage export, entries | EUR 4,000-9,000 |
Offline entry is decisive: a basement or outer-district site doesn't always have signal, and a lost entry is an unbilled hour.
Mini case study
Thomas runs a structural-works SME in Berlin: 22 staff, EUR 3.4M revenue, 18 projects/year. Average margin per project sticks at 9% because overruns surface too late. He invests EUR 52,000 in a custom tool with live cost-to-complete. In year one, two projects corrected in time avoid EUR 61,000 of losses, and average margin rises to 14%. The software pays for itself in under 11 months, then generates net margin every year.
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FAQ
Isn't standard SaaS enough to start?
Often yes, below 8-10 users with simple processes. Switching to custom makes sense past 12-15 users or once per-project margin math no longer matches your reality.
How long to build the tool?
Allow 3 to 6 months depending on scope. A first operational module (time entry + site tracking) can ship in 6-8 weeks to validate field use before extending.
Does mobile entry work without signal?
Yes, it's a must. Data is stored locally on the phone and synced once the network returns, with no loss or double entry.
Can it connect to our DATEV or Sage accounting?
Yes. Journal export and cost-commitment carryover are a standard module in our quote — EUR 4,000 to 9,000.
What happens as my needs evolve?
You own it: changes are billed by fixed scope or monthly maintenance, with no per-user license hike as you add staff.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your sites, project volume, and current accounting tools; we'll frame a scope and indicative budget between EUR 30,000 and 70,000. 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.
