The verdict in three sentences
A website for an office furniture maker selling through fit-out firms and interior designers costs EUR 18,000 to 45,000 excl. VAT in 2026. Its value rests on three components: a downloadable BIM and 3D object library, environmental product declarations (EPD, FDES in France) and showroom booking. Well built, it influences 20 to 30% of specifications, because that is where the designer picks the products written into the project.
Specifiers first: what they come for
An interior designer fitting out a 2,000 m² floor does not read your company history. They look for a height-adjustable desk or an acoustic partition, download the Revit or SketchUp object, check the EPD for their carbon calculation or their BREEAM, LEED or HQE certification, then book a showroom visit with their client. The site must reduce each of these steps to a few clicks.
The dealer area serves the other channel: fit-out firms find price lists, high-resolution visuals, manufacturing lead times and sales material there, without calling your sales team for every project.
| Component | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Commercial impact |
|---|---|---|
| Product catalogue (150 to 400 SKUs, filters) | 6,000 to 14,000 | Foundation of every specification |
| BIM and 3D library (Revit, SketchUp, 3DS, DWG) | 3,500 to 9,000 | Downloaded object = product placed in plans |
| EPD and certifications (NF Environnement, PEFC) | 1,500 to 4,000 | Essential for certified projects |
| Showroom booking (calendar, reminders) | 1,500 to 3,500 | Visit = markedly higher closing rate |
| Dealer area (prices, media library, orders) | 4,000 to 10,000 | Fewer sales requests |
| Simple configurator (finishes, colours) | 3,000 to 8,000 | More accurate quotes |
| FR and EN versions | 1,500 to 3,500 | International projects and headquarters |
Three project levels depending on your catalogue
Not every maker needs a configurator. Here are the most common 2026 configurations, as orders of magnitude.
| Level | Budget (EUR excl. VAT) | Content | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 18,000 to 24,000 | Catalogue, EPDs, open BIM downloads, showroom booking | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Specifiers | 25,000 to 34,000 | + specifier account, shared selections, download tracking | 10 to 12 weeks |
| Full network | 35,000 to 45,000 | + dealer area, configurator, ERP link for lead times | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Annual maintenance | 2,500 to 6,000 / year | Updates, security, new collections | ongoing |
| BIM object production (if missing) | 80 to 250 per SKU | Modelling by a specialist provider | variable |
BIM download tracking is the most valuable data point: it signals that a practice has placed your products in a project, often 3 to 9 months before the order. Connected to the CRM, it lets your sales team step in at the right moment.
Mini case study
Isabel, marketing director of a French office furniture maker (EUR 28 M revenue, showroom in central Paris), makes 70% of her sales through specifications.
- Specifiers level project: EUR 30,000 excl. VAT
- 1,200 BIM downloads a year, about 8% leading to an order: 96 projects
- Average project value: EUR 45,000
- If the site wins just 4 extra projects a year: EUR 180,000 in revenue
- At a 40% gross margin: EUR 72,000 margin, 2.4 times the investment in year one
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The calculation is conservative: it counts neither showroom visits booked online nor the sales time saved by the dealer area.
FAQ
Do we have to produce the BIM objects ourselves?
No, a specialist provider models them for EUR 80 to 250 per SKU. For 200 SKUs, plan EUR 16,000 to 50,000, often spread by collection.
Are EPDs really requested?
Yes, RE2020, HQE, BREEAM or LEED projects require them. A missing declaration can exclude a product from a tender of several hundred workstations.
Should we display list prices?
Rarely in this sector. Prices stay in the dealer area, which protects your fit-out partners and preserves discounts of 30 to 45%.
How do we measure the site's influence on specifications?
By connecting BIM downloads, specifier accounts and showroom bookings to the CRM. Typically 20 to 30% of specifications are influenced.
How long until launch?
8 to 16 weeks depending on the level chosen. Aim to go live before a trade fair such as Workspace Expo or Orgatec.
Let's scope your project. Share your number of SKUs, sales channels and trade fair calendar: we will price the catalogue, BIM library, dealer area and showroom booking with an indicative budget and a firm timeline. 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.
