The verdict in three sentences
An operator running 2 coworking spaces (180 desks) who loses 15% of revenue to double bookings and missed invoices can fund a platform in under a year. A custom solution costs EUR 15,000 to 40,000 with an Amsterdam agency in 2026, or EUR 6,000 to 15,000 with a nearshore team, delivered in 10 weeks. Nexudus, at around EUR 150 per site per month, is a solid base; custom makes sense when you need your own pricing logic, deep integrations or a product you can resell.
What the platform must handle
A coworking space sells several products at once: hot desks, private offices, meeting rooms by the hour, virtual office. Double bookings almost always come from a shared spreadsheet or a group chat where two staff members confirm the same room to two clients.
| Module | Features | 2026 budget, Amsterdam agency (estimate) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time booking | calendar per room and desk, anti-double-booking lock | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | 3 weeks |
| Memberships and passes | day pass, 10-day pass, monthly, meeting-room credits | EUR 3,000 to 7,000 | 2 weeks |
| Payments (iDEAL, cards, SEPA) | Mollie or Stripe, confirmation webhooks, dunning | EUR 2,500 to 6,000 | 2 weeks |
| Invoicing and 21% VAT | automatic invoices, credit notes, accounting export | EUR 2,000 to 6,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Member area and PWA | bookings, invoices, QR access badge | EUR 2,500 to 7,000 | 2 weeks |
| Operator dashboard | occupancy rate, revenue per desk, unpaid invoices | EUR 1,000 to 5,000 | 1 week |
| Total | 2 sites, 180 desks | EUR 15,000 to 40,000 | 10 weeks |
A nearshore team delivers the same scope for roughly EUR 6,000 to 15,000 (equivalent to the 4 to 10 million FCFA charged for the same platform in Dakar). Modules can run in parallel, which is why total lead time is 10 weeks rather than the sum of each line.
Custom build or Nexudus: 3-year comparison
| Criterion | Custom platform (agency) | Nexudus (2 sites) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | EUR 15,000 to 40,000 | EUR 500 to 1,500 configuration |
| Subscription | EUR 0 | about EUR 300/month for 2 sites |
| Hosting and maintenance | EUR 300 to 600/month | included |
| 3-year cost (mid-range) | about EUR 43,700 | about EUR 11,800 |
| iDEAL and SEPA direct debit | native | supported via payment partners |
| Custom pricing and access rules | unlimited | within configuration limits |
| Data and code ownership | full | data exportable, code not |
Over 3 years, Nexudus is cheaper on cash out, and for many single-brand operators it is the right answer. Custom is justified when the operator wants pricing rules the SaaS cannot express, deep integration with building systems, a third site with a different model, or a platform to license to other spaces.
Mini case study
Mr de Vries runs two coworking spaces, in De Pijp and Amsterdam-Noord, with 180 desks and 6 meeting rooms. Monthly revenue reaches EUR 60,000, of which 15% is lost to refunded double bookings, unbilled room hours and expired memberships nobody chased, i.e. EUR 9,000 a month. He picks a platform at EUR 28,000 plus EUR 450 a month in maintenance. If the platform recovers 80% of the leak, i.e. EUR 7,200 a month, the net gain is EUR 6,750 a month: payback in a little over 4 months. Real-time occupancy data also lets him adjust room prices during off-peak hours.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How long to launch the platform across two sites?
About 10 weeks for the full version. A first lot with booking + payments can go live in 5 weeks to stop double bookings quickly.
Which payment fees should we expect?
iDEAL through Mollie or Stripe costs around EUR 0.29 to 0.35 per transaction, cards about 1.5% to 1.8% + EUR 0.25. On EUR 60,000 a month, that is typically EUR 300 to 700.
Can the platform handle physical access?
Yes, through a QR badge in the member app or a smart-lock integration. Budget EUR 2,000 to 6,000 extra depending on the hardware.
Can we migrate existing members from a spreadsheet?
Yes, importing members, active memberships and credit balances takes 2 to 3 working days and is included in most quotes above EUR 20,000.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of sites, desks and rooms: we cost your booking platform with an indicative budget of EUR 15,000 to 40,000 (or EUR 6,000 to 15,000 nearshore) and a 10-week delivery. 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.
