The verdict in three sentences
A custom BI dashboard for an SME runs between 15,000 and 35,000 EUR in 2026 depending on the number of connectors and KPIs. It consolidates sales, cash flow and stock into one real-time view, where your teams currently spend hours cross-checking Excel exports. The real decision is not technical: it is choosing between a cheap generic tool and a dashboard glued to your business.
What makes up the budget
Cost mainly depends on the data sources to connect (ERP, CRM, accounting software, e-commerce) and the required freshness. Daily refresh is simple; real time demands sturdier architecture.
| Line item | 2026 range (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| KPI scoping & mockups | 2,000 - 4,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| ERP/CRM/accounting connectors | 5,000 - 12,000 | 3-6 weeks |
| Data warehouse & model | 3,000 - 8,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Dashboard UI & filters | 4,000 - 9,000 | 3-5 weeks |
| Access rights & exports | 1,000 - 2,000 | 1 week |
| Total project | 15,000 - 35,000 | 2-4 months |
Power BI / Metabase vs custom dashboard
A tool like Power BI or Metabase is excellent for exploring data. A custom dashboard wins when you need specific business logic, automated alerts and a simplified experience for non-analyst executives.
| Criterion | Power BI / Metabase | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 2,000 - 8,000 EUR (setup) | 15,000 - 35,000 EUR |
| Recurring licenses | 10 - 20 EUR/user/mo | 0 (hosting only) |
| Specific business logic | Limited | Unlimited |
| Executive adoption | Medium | High (tailored) |
| Alerts & workflows | Basic | Full |
| Timeline | 3-6 weeks | 2-4 months |
Mini case study
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Sophie, CFO of a 60-person distribution SME in Amsterdam, spends every Monday 4 hours consolidating sales, receipts and stock levels from three exports. With her controller, that is 6 hours/week at a 55 EUR loaded cost, i.e. 330 EUR/week or 15,840 EUR/year. A 24,000 EUR dashboard removes 90% of that time: a 14,000 EUR/year saving, ROI in about 20 months, before counting earlier decisions thanks to cash-flow alerts.
FAQ
What is the difference between BI and plain Excel reporting? Excel is static and stale the moment you export. A BI dashboard connects to sources and updates automatically, with history and alerts. The gain is measured in hours: 4 to 8 hours/week recovered in a typical SME.
Do we need a data warehouse? Not always. For 2-3 sources, a light consolidation layer is enough (3,000 to 5,000 EUR). Beyond 4-5 sources or for real time, a warehouse pays off.
Can you connect our accounting software? Yes, most (Sage, Cegid, Pennylane, QuickBooks) expose an API or exports. Plan 2,000 to 4,000 EUR per non-standard connector.
How long for a first useful version? A first dashboard on a focused scope (e.g. sales) can ship in 3 to 4 weeks for 6,000 to 10,000 EUR, then grow through iterations.
How much is maintenance? About 12 to 18% of build cost per year, i.e. 2,000 to 6,000 EUR, covering hosting, connector updates and KPI changes.
Let's scope your project. List your data sources and the 8 to 12 priority KPIs: we will scope a dashboard between 15,000 and 35,000 EUR. 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.
