The verdict in three sentences
Shopify or PrestaShop + apps covers most needs for 300 to 2,500 EUR/month, as long as your pricing rules stay standard. A custom replatform (45,000 to 140,000 EUR) becomes rational when functional limits cost you in stacked apps (400 to 1,800 EUR/month) and manual workarounds. The switch threshold isn't about absolute size but pricing complexity × order volume: that's where you compute your break-even.
Packaged SaaS + apps vs custom: the real cost
A packaged solution looks cheaper upfront. Over 3 years, stacked apps and limits often flip the verdict. Compare.
| Criterion | SaaS + apps | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | 300 – 2,500 EUR/month | 12 – 16 %/yr maintenance |
| Stacked third-party apps | 400 – 1,800 EUR/month | Built in |
| Initial build | Low | 45,000 – 140,000 EUR |
| Lead time | 4 – 10 weeks | 14 – 24 weeks |
| Complex pricing rules | Limited / hacked | Native |
| Quote workflow + ERP | Apps + connectors | Custom |
Over 3 years, a packaged stack at 1,500 EUR/month is 54,000 EUR recurring. A custom build at 80,000 EUR + 11,000 EUR/year maintenance totals ~113,000 EUR: the gap narrows fast once apps pile up and manual workarounds cost time.
The 6 signals it's time to replatform
Custom is only justified if packaged truly holds you back. Here are the concrete triggers to watch.
| Signal | Symptom | Packaged hidden cost |
|---|---|---|
| Crossed tiered pricing rules | App hacks | 200 – 600 EUR/month |
| Structured quote workflow | Process off-platform | Sales time |
| Real-time ERP sync | Limited connector | 300 – 900 EUR/month |
| Multi-approver accounts | Not native | Order errors |
| Catalog > 20,000 SKUs | Degraded performance | Conversion loss |
| Stacked apps > 1,500 EUR/month | High recurring cost | 18,000 EUR/year |
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Mini case study
Marc, e-commerce director of a B2B distributor in Miami, runs PrestaShop + 7 apps at 1,650 EUR/month (19,800 EUR/year) plus two part-timers covering gaps (quotes, pricing). A custom replatform at 92,000 EUR + 13,000 EUR/year maintenance removes 5 apps and 0.6 FTE (~22,000 EUR/year). Cumulative recurring savings: ~14,000 EUR/year on apps plus internal time. Break-even around year 4, with an asset the company owns.
FAQ
When to stay on Shopify/PrestaShop? As long as your pricing fits standard rules and stacked apps stay under ~1,000 EUR/month. Below that threshold, packaged is cheaper and faster (4 to 10 weeks).
What does a custom replatform cost? From 45,000 to 140,000 EUR in 2026, over 14 to 24 weeks, with 12–16 %/year maintenance. Price hinges mainly on pricing complexity and ERP integrations.
How to compute break-even? Add packaged recurring + apps + cost of manual workarounds, then compare to build + maintenance over 3–5 years. Custom often wins once apps exceed ~1,500 EUR/month.
Does the day rate move the quote much? Yes: at a 470–650 EUR day rate, a 90,000 EUR build is 140–190 person-days. A well-scoped perimeter cuts that volume more reliably than rate haggling.
Can we replatform gradually? Yes, by modules (catalog, then quotes, then payment), to smooth the investment. It lengthens the overall timeline but reduces risk and validates ROI step by step.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current stack, app total and pricing rules: we'll compute your packaged-vs-custom break-even. 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.