The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a vertical suite like Cegid Loop or ACD costs 45 to 90 EUR/month per staff member and covers the essentials, but imposes its own processes and personalisation limits. Custom software (client portal, DMS, tax-return tracking) makes sense the moment a firm wants a collection flow built around its own method: budget 28,000 to 65,000 EUR excl. VAT for the build. The financial break-even sits around a 4-year amortisation, but the real win is reclaimed admin time: 6 to 9 hours/week per person on chasing and filing documents.
Vertical licence or custom build: the 2026 numbers
The debate isn't "cheaper" but "who owns the process". A licence is a recurring cost that never amortises; custom software is an asset the firm owns.
| Criterion | Vertical suite (Cegid/ACD) | Custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 to 3,000 EUR (setup) | 28,000 to 65,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost (15 seats) | ~14,000 EUR/year | Maintenance 12-18% of build/year |
| Time to go live | 2 to 6 weeks | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Workflow personalisation | Limited to vendor options | Total |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Custom client portal | Rarely | Included |
| Data reversibility | Constrained export | Open database |
What a 28,000-65,000 EUR build really covers
Scope drives price. Here is a 2026 order-of-magnitude breakdown for a single-site firm of 15 to 25 staff.
| Module | Range EUR excl. VAT | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Secure client portal + document upload | 8,000 - 15,000 | 3-4 weeks |
| DMS with OCR and auto-filing | 7,000 - 14,000 | 3-4 weeks |
| Tax-return and deadline tracking | 6,000 - 13,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Partner dashboard (engagement margin) | 4,000 - 10,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| API connector to accounting-production tool | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1-3 weeks |
| France hosting + GDPR + acceptance testing | 3,000 - 6,000 | ongoing |
The maintenance contract of 12 to 18% of the build per year covers fixes, regulatory updates and support: on a 45,000 EUR build that is 5,400 to 8,100 EUR/year, against the 14,000 EUR of licences avoided.
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Mini case study
Claire, partner in a Paris accounting firm (18 staff), pays 13,800 EUR/year in licences for a tool that forces her to chase clients manually for their documents. She invests 46,000 EUR excl. VAT in a custom client portal + DMS. On chasing and filing, each staff member reclaims 7 h/week; at an average loaded cost of 38 EUR/h that is 7 × 38 × 45 weeks = 11,970 EUR/year per person in theory, but Claire prudently keeps 2 genuinely re-billable hours per person: 18 × 2 × 38 × 45 = 61,560 EUR/year of billable capacity regained. Adding the 13,800 EUR of avoided licences and deducting 7,000 EUR of maintenance, the build pays for itself in under 10 months.
FAQ
Why not just keep Cegid or ACD? These suites remain excellent for pure accounting production. Custom software doesn't always replace them: often it connects via API to add a client portal and DMS that the vendor charges heavily for or doesn't offer to your standard.
What is a realistic delivery time? Budget 10 to 16 weeks for a first usable scope (portal + DMS), with a phased rollout by client batch. A big-bang across the whole firm is not advisable.
Are GDPR and hosting accounting data a risk? No, if hosting is in France (OVH, Scaleway) with encryption at rest and access logging. Accounting data doesn't fall under health-data certification, but a processing register and a DPA are essential.
What if a key developer leaves? That's the point of owning the code: documentation, Git repository and a contracted maintenance agreement ensure continuity. A vendor licence, by contrast, locks you into the vendor's roadmap.
Can we start small? Yes. Many firms begin with just the client portal at 8,000-15,000 EUR, measure the gain, then add the DMS. That's the approach we recommend to keep the budget under control.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, current production tool and target scope (portal, DMS, return tracking) for an indicative budget between 28,000 and 65,000 EUR excl. VAT. 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.
