The verdict in three sentences
A custom B2B e-commerce platform (customer-specific pricing, recurring orders, multi-user accounts) costs 45,000 to 120,000 EUR in 2026, over a 4 to 9 month timeline. A Shopify Plus setup runs ~2,000 EUR/month plus a 20,000 to 50,000 EUR integration, but hits ceilings fast on complex B2B rules. If your catalog exceeds 5,000 SKUs with per-contract pricing grids and real-time ERP sync, custom pays off from year two.
What a custom B2B platform actually covers
B2B is not B2C with a different tax rate. A wholesaler must handle negotiated per-customer prices, credit limits and outstanding balances, one-click recurring orders, multi-user accounts (buyer, approver, accountant) and real-time stock/ERP sync. Each block adds development and testing.
| Custom line item | 2026 range (EUR) | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, UX and architecture | 6,000 - 12,000 | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Catalog + B2B search engine | 8,000 - 18,000 | 4 - 7 weeks |
| Per-customer pricing engine | 10,000 - 25,000 | 5 - 8 weeks |
| Multi-user accounts + roles | 5,000 - 12,000 | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Recurring orders + reorder | 4,000 - 9,000 | 2 - 4 weeks |
| ERP / real-time stock connection | 12,000 - 35,000 | 6 - 10 weeks |
| QA, security, go-live | 6,000 - 12,000 | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Project total | 45,000 - 120,000 | 4 - 9 months |
SaaS vs custom: the decision table
The choice depends less on budget than on the specificity of your commercial rules and your vendor dependency.
| Criterion | Shopify Plus + integration | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Start-up cost | 20,000 - 50,000 EUR | 45,000 - 120,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | ~2,000 EUR/month (24,000/yr) | 500 - 1,200 EUR/month (hosting + maintenance) |
| Time-to-market | 2 - 4 months | 4 - 9 months |
| Complex pricing rules | Limited (third-party apps) | Unlimited, custom |
| Deep ERP connection | Via paid connectors | Native, owned |
| Vendor lock-in | High | Low (code delivered) |
| 3-year cost (order of magnitude) | 92,000 - 122,000 EUR | 63,000 - 163,000 EUR |
At modest volume with standard rules, SaaS wins. Once volume discounts, framework contracts and credit limits become central, custom amortizes its cost.
Mini case study
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Thomas, CEO of an industrial supplies wholesaler in Lille, processes 320 orders/day, 55% of them by phone. Each call ties up a salesperson for ~8 minutes, roughly 23 team-hours/day. He invests 78,000 EUR in a custom platform (6-month timeline, 900 EUR/month maintenance).
After 4 months live, 50% of phone orders move online: ~11 hours/day freed, about 2,300 hours/year. At a loaded cost of 32 EUR/h, annual savings reach ~73,600 EUR. Combined with a 9% rise in average basket (easier reordering), the investment is absorbed in about 13 months.
FAQ
Why is custom more expensive upfront? Because you build your exact commercial rules rather than bending a generic product. The initial premium (25,000 to 70,000 EUR over SaaS) pays back via avoided subscriptions and rules impossible elsewhere.
How long to go live? Plan 4 to 6 months for a controlled scope, 7 to 9 with heavy ERP integration. A first working release (catalog + ordering) can ship in 10 to 12 weeks.
Can we start on Shopify and migrate later? Yes, a common strategy: start on Shopify Plus (~2,000 EUR/month) to validate the market, then move to custom once volume exceeds 4,000 to 5,000 orders/month.
What maintenance budget should we plan? Between 500 and 1,200 EUR/month depending on criticality. Also budget 10 to 15% of project cost per year for new features.
Do I own the code? With custom, yes: source code is delivered, with no license fee or vendor lock-in, unlike a proprietary SaaS.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your order volume, current ERP and pricing rules, and we'll quote the custom scope or the SaaS + integration option. 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.