The verdict in three sentences
A construction vertical costs 40 to 60 EUR per user per month, about 12,000 EUR/yr for 20 users. A custom build at 50,000-80,000 EUR one-off fits your work breakdown and progress billing, saves 10 hours per month on budget tracking and cuts cost overruns by 4 %. Across 6 concurrent sites, that 4 % weighs far more than the software price.
Financial tracking features: vertical vs custom
The heart of the matter is budget tracking by lot and monthly progress billing. That is where custom outperforms a generic vertical.
| Feature | Construction vertical | Custom (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget tracking by lot | Standard | Fits your breakdown |
| Monthly progress billing | Yes | Automated |
| Estimate vs actual reconciliation | Partial | Complete |
| Real-time overrun alerts | Rare | Yes |
| Consolidated multi-site view | Option | Included |
| Own the code | No | Yes |
| Cost per added user | +600 EUR/yr | 0 EUR |
5-year TCO for 20 users
Custom is amortized then maintained at 15 % ATM; the vertical is a subscription that rises with every new field user.
| Item | Construction vertical | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 3,000 EUR | 65,000 EUR |
| Annual recurring | 12,000 EUR | ATM 9,750 EUR |
| Year 1 | 15,000 EUR | 74,750 EUR |
| 3-year cumulative | 39,000 EUR | 84,500 EUR |
| 5-year cumulative | 63,000 EUR | 104,000 EUR |
| Overruns avoided (4 %) | — | ~60,000 EUR/yr |
At flat headcount, the vertical stays cheaper in direct cost. But custom's real saving comes from overruns avoided: on 6 sites at 250,000 EUR average budget, 4 % is 60,000 EUR/yr — enough to fund the project in year one.
Mini case study
Fabrice, CFO of a property developer, 25 staff and 6 concurrent sites. He still runs progress billing in spreadsheets. A custom build at 65,000 EUR + 15 % ATM costs 74,750 EUR in year 1. With 10 hours saved per month on billing (loaded hourly cost 42 EUR) and above all 4 % of overruns avoided on 1.5 M EUR of annual works, i.e. 60,000 EUR, his operational ROI lands at month 24. GDPR-compliant EU hosting, deployment in 14 to 20 weeks, with a budget-tracking core deliverable in 8-10 weeks.
FAQ
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What does custom site-management software cost in 2026?
Between 50,000 and 80,000 EUR one-off depending on modules (budget tracking, progress billing, multi-site, mobility), plus 15 % ATM/yr. A 20-25 person developer lands around 65,000 EUR.
How does custom reduce overruns?
Through real-time estimate-vs-actual reconciliation and per-lot overrun alerts. Across 6 sites, avoiding 4 % of drift on 1.5 M EUR of works is 60,000 EUR saved per year.
Can I keep my accounting vertical and plug custom onto it?
Yes, via API or export. Many developers keep their accounting vertical and build custom on site tracking and multi-project oversight, where verticals are rigid.
What deployment timeline?
Budget 14 to 20 weeks for a full scope. The budget-tracking and progress-billing core can ship in 8-10 weeks for a quick first win.
Can field teams enter data from the site?
Yes, via a mobile interface. On-site progress entry feeds monthly billing directly and removes office re-keying, the source of the 10 hours saved per month.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of concurrent sites, annual works volume and priority modules, for an indicative budget of 50,000-80,000 EUR. 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.
