The verdict in three sentences
For a network of 4 coworking spaces, 650 members and 38 rooms, a custom booking platform costs between EUR 60,000 and 110,000 in Amsterdam in 2026, for a delivery time of about 4 months. It replaces EUR 1,900 a month in licences and manual re-invoicing of meeting rooms, with application support of EUR 700 to 1,100 a month. Payback is slower than in Lille, at 3 to 4 years, so the case rests on growth plans, iDEAL payments and owning the member experience, not only on licence savings.
The scope of a coworking booking platform
The network has three needs: members book a desk or room themselves from their phone, access follows the subscription automatically, and every room hour beyond the included credits is invoiced without re-keying.
| Module | Purpose | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member area and plans | Flex, fixed desk, private office, multi-seat company accounts | 10,000 to 18,000 | 3 weeks |
| Room and desk booking | Calendar per site, hourly and half-day rates, cancellation | 12,000 to 22,000 | 3 weeks |
| Monthly credits | Room hours per plan, rollover, real-time balance | 7,000 to 12,000 | 2 weeks |
| Badges and access control | Automatic activation and deactivation by plan, reader API | 9,000 to 18,000 | 3 weeks |
| Automatic invoicing | Subscription plus overage, iDEAL, SEPA direct debit and card, compliant invoices | 10,000 to 18,000 | 3 weeks |
| Public booking | Room rental to non-members with online payment | 5,000 to 10,000 | 2 weeks |
| Network dashboard | Occupancy per room and site, revenue per square metre | 7,000 to 12,000 | 2 weeks |
The core (members, booking, credits, invoicing) starts around EUR 60,000 at Amsterdam rates of EUR 750 to 950 a day. With badges, public booking and dashboard, it reaches EUR 110,000. The same scope built in Lille costs EUR 35,000 to 55,000.
Current licences against an in-house platform
| Criterion | Licensed coworking software | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 0 to 3,000 setup | EUR 60,000 to 110,000 |
| Monthly cost | EUR 1,900 for 650 members, rising with members | EUR 700 to 1,100 support, hosting included |
| 3-year cost | EUR 68,000 to 72,000 | EUR 85,000 to 150,000 |
| 5-year cost (estimate) | EUR 114,000 to 125,000 | EUR 102,000 to 176,000 |
| Room re-invoicing | Often export then manual bookkeeping | Automatic, included in the monthly invoice |
| Badge reader integration | Depends on vendor partners | On your existing hardware |
| Adding a 5th site | Licence increase of 20 to 25% | Configuration, 1 to 2 days |
At Amsterdam rates, the licence remains cheaper over 5 years unless the network grows. With two new sites planned, the licence rises towards EUR 2,800 a month and the custom platform breaks even in year 4.
Mini case study
Daan, founder of a 4-site coworking network in Amsterdam, has 650 members and 38 rooms. His community manager spends 6 hours a week reconciling room bookings and re-invoicing overage, 276 hours a year at EUR 45 loaded: EUR 12,420 a year. He selects a platform at EUR 80,000 with EUR 900 a month of support. Licence savings net of support: 22,800 − 10,800 = EUR 12,000 a year. Adding the full invoicing time recovered, the annual gain reaches EUR 24,420, and the investment is paid back in about 39 months. Room overage that slipped through invoicing, estimated at 3 to 5% of room revenue, is not counted, nor are iDEAL's lower fees compared with cards.
FAQ
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How much does a coworking booking platform cost in Amsterdam in 2026?
Between EUR 60,000 and 110,000 depending on access control, public booking and dashboard. Support runs EUR 700 to 1,100 a month.
Why does iDEAL matter?
iDEAL is the dominant online payment method in the Netherlands, with transaction fees of around EUR 0.25 to 0.40, far below card fees. Offering it for room bookings and day passes usually lifts conversion for Dutch customers.
Can the platform drive our current badge system?
Yes if your reader has an API or export, as most recent systems do. Allow EUR 9,000 to 18,000 for the integration and a week of on-site testing.
How do we migrate 650 members without disruption?
Members, plans and history are imported, then both tools run in parallel for 2 to 4 weeks. The switch happens at the start of a month, just before invoicing.
Can we sell room rentals to outsiders?
Yes, a public booking module with iDEAL and card payment lets you rent free rooms to non-members. With 38 rooms, a few hours sold each week often cover the support contract.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sites, plans, room count and badge system, and we will price a platform at Amsterdam rates or with a nearshore team from EUR 35,000, with a 4-month 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.
