The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom business platform that replaces several scattered tools costs between 80 000 and 300 000 EUR, delivered in 6 to 12 months. The price is driven not by the number of screens but by architecture: a modular monolith to ship fast, or a scalable multi-tenant core if you target multiple subsidiaries. The real trade-off is not the build cost but the total cost of ownership over five years.
How much a business platform costs in 2026
Read the budget by level of ambition. A platform unifying 2-3 processes (quoting, scheduling, invoicing) stays under 120 000 EUR; a multi-service core platform quickly passes 180 000 EUR.
| Level | Scope | 2026 price (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unified platform | 2-3 processes, single tenant | 80 000 - 120 000 | 4-6 months |
| Business platform | 4-6 modules, roles, reporting | 120 000 - 200 000 | 6-9 months |
| Scalable platform | Multi-tenant, public API, SLA | 200 000 - 300 000 | 9-12 months |
| Legacy rebuild | Migration + data recovery | +35 000 - 75 000 | +3-4 months |
These ranges are a 2026 order of magnitude for a senior team, excluding third-party licences and hosting.
Modular monolith or microservices: the real trade-off
Initial build is usually cheaper as a monolith, but ownership cost flips from the second year of changes onward.
| Criterion | Modular monolith | Microservices architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 80 000 - 140 000 EUR | 150 000 - 300 000 EUR |
| First version | 4-6 months | 8-12 months |
| Yearly evolution cost | 30 000 - 50 000 EUR | 20 000 - 38 000 EUR |
| Scaling | Vertical (server) | Horizontal (per service) |
| Native multi-tenant | No | Yes |
| Lock-in risk at 3 years | High | Low |
| 5-year TCO (estimate) | 260 000 - 360 000 EUR | 280 000 - 430 000 EUR |
The rule: monolith when scope is stable and single-entity, microservices as soon as you anticipate subsidiaries, reselling a module as SaaS, or load spikes.
Mini case study
Mark, COO of an industrial maintenance mid-cap in Manchester (140 staff), juggles a spreadsheet planner, a CRM, a quoting tool and an accounting package. He invests 160 000 EUR in a modular platform (scheduling, jobs, quotes, invoicing) delivered in 8 months. By dropping 3 subscriptions (16 000 EUR/yr) and saving 1.5 FTE of re-keying (about 65 000 EUR/yr loaded), he recovers the investment in around 20 months, before even counting fewer invoicing errors.
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FAQ
Why such a price gap between two platforms?
The gap comes from architecture, number of roles and multi-tenant needs. A single-entity platform costs 80 000 to 120 000 EUR; a multi-subsidiary platform with a public API exceeds 220 000 EUR.
Can we ship in phases to spread the budget?
Yes, it is recommended. A first core module in 3-4 months (40 000-60 000 EUR) validates usage before committing the rest, cutting budget risk.
What yearly maintenance budget should I plan?
Budget 15 to 20 % of build per year, i.e. 20 000 to 50 000 EUR depending on complexity, covering fixes, evolutions and security updates.
Should I start custom or no-code?
Below a 50 000 EUR need with no complex business logic, no-code can suffice. Beyond that, custom becomes more profitable over five years thanks to control over code and data.
How long until a usable first version?
A core scope is usable in 4 to 6 months. The full platform, with all modules and reporting, lands between 9 and 12 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the processes to unify, your user count and an indicative budget: we frame the architecture (monolith or microservices) and a phased delivery 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.
