The verdict in three sentences
A property manager and contractor matching MVP in Dublin takes 12 to 16 weeks and EUR 35,000 to 65,000 excl. VAT, provided the scope is limited to the post, quote, job, sign-off cycle. The real differentiator is not the interface but automated contractor verification (company registration, insurance certificates, tax clearance), which costs EUR 0.50 to 2 per check via API. With an early-stage grant such as Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund or a Local Enterprise Office feasibility grant (up to around EUR 30,000 in comparable schemes), two founders can fund close to half of the MVP without raising equity.
What the MVP must include, and what can wait
Two former block managers know the pain: a water leak on a Friday evening, three contractors to chase by phone, quotes received as PDF attachments and no usable record for the annual general meeting of the owners' management company. The MVP must solve that cycle, not the whole property management job.
| Module | In the MVP | Estimated cost (EUR excl. VAT) | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job posting (photos, urgency, address, unit) | Yes | 4,000 to 7,000 | MVP |
| Verified contractor profiles (registration, insurance, area, trades) | Yes | 6,000 to 11,000 | MVP |
| Structured quotes and side-by-side comparison | Yes | 5,000 to 9,000 | MVP |
| Messaging and before/after photo tracking | Yes | 4,000 to 8,000 | MVP |
| Contractor ratings by property managers | Yes | 2,000 to 4,000 | MVP |
| Admin back office and moderation | Yes | 4,000 to 8,000 | MVP |
| Escrow payment and commission | No | 8,000 to 15,000 | V2 |
| Connectors to property management software | No | 10,000 to 25,000 | V2 |
Escrow payment is tempting, but it requires a licensed provider (Mangopay, Stripe Connect), contracts and full contractor KYC. To validate traction, a subscription billed to property managers is enough at first.
Budget, timeline and recurring costs in 2026
| Item | Low range | High range | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and UX mockups (2 to 3 weeks) | EUR 4,000 | EUR 7,000 | Manager and contractor journeys tested with 5 users |
| Responsive web app + back office | EUR 25,000 | EUR 48,000 | Next.js, PostgreSQL, photo storage |
| Verification API integration | EUR 2,500 | EUR 5,000 | Plus EUR 0.50 to 2 per check |
| QA, GDPR, go-live | EUR 3,500 | EUR 5,000 | Processing register, terms, notices |
| Total MVP | EUR 35,000 | EUR 65,000 | 12 to 16 weeks |
| Hosting, storage, email, monitoring | EUR 150/month | EUR 400/month | Depends on photo volume |
| Ongoing maintenance | EUR 800/month | EUR 2,000/month | Fixes and small improvements |
Verification stays cheap at the margin: 300 contractors checked at sign-up and then quarterly, or 1,200 checks a year, cost EUR 600 to 2,400 a year. It is the strongest sales argument for property managers, who carry liability for the firms they appoint.
6-month targets and funding
| Indicator | 6-month target | Revenue assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Active property managers | 40 | Subscription EUR 90 to 190/month |
| Verified contractors | 300 | Free, then EUR 29/month optional visibility |
| Jobs posted per month | 250 to 400 | Core of the value proposition |
| Response rate within 24 h | At least 70% | Key metric for managers |
| Target monthly recurring revenue | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | 2026 order of magnitude |
| Early-stage grant | Up to about EUR 30,000 | Application takes 4 to 8 weeks |
Greater Dublin has several hundred property management agents and thousands of building trade firms: 40 managers is a modest share but enough to prove retention before a pre-seed round.
Mini case study
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Aoife and Conor, two former block managers in Dublin, choose an MVP at EUR 48,000 delivered in 14 weeks. They secure EUR 30,000 in grant funding and put in EUR 18,000 of their own money. After 6 months, 40 managers pay an average of EUR 140/month, or EUR 5,600 of monthly revenue. Recurring costs (hosting EUR 250, maintenance EUR 1,200, verifications EUR 150) total EUR 1,600/month. The monthly gross margin of about EUR 4,000 recovers their personal contribution in under 5 months and gives them a solid case for fundraising.
FAQ
Can a marketplace MVP be launched for under EUR 35,000?
Yes with a no-code tool (Bubble, Softr) for EUR 10,000 to 20,000, but contractor verification and fine-grained permissions for managers, owners and contractors quickly become limiting. Rebuilding later often costs another EUR 40,000.
How do you verify insurance certificates automatically?
Company registration and tax status can be checked by API for EUR 0.50 to 2 per request. Insurance certificates go through document upload with OCR and expiry-date checks, with an alert 30 days before expiry.
Do we need a native mobile app from day one?
No: an installable responsive web app (PWA) is enough for contractors on site. A native app adds EUR 15,000 to 30,000 and 6 to 8 weeks.
Which business model should we start with?
A manager subscription (EUR 90 to 190/month) validates value faster than a 5 to 10% commission on works, which requires integrated payment and escrow.
Does GDPR add specific constraints?
Yes: photos of private units and residents' contact details are personal data. Budget EUR 2,000 to 4,000 for the register, retention periods and privacy notices.
Let's scope your project. Send us your target manager and contractor journeys and we will price an MVP between EUR 35,000 and 65,000 with a 12 to 16 week plan. 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.
