The verdict in three sentences
A custom business platform costs EUR 60,000 to 200,000 in 2026 in Amsterdam, delivered in 5 to 10 months, with annual maintenance of 12 to 18% of the project budget. Custom only makes sense if your process is a competitive advantage or too specific for an off-the-shelf suite. Otherwise, a vertical SaaS at EUR 30-80/user/month will be faster and less risky.
What makes up a business platform budget
Cost depends on the number of modules, integrations (ERP, accounting, EDI) and the level of automation. A platform typically replaces 3 to 6 spreadsheets and 1 to 2 poorly integrated SaaS tools. The budget reads by module as much as by phase.
| Module type | 2026 range (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation (auth, roles, admin) | 12,000 - 25,000 | 4-6 wks |
| Business data management | 15,000 - 40,000 | 6-10 wks |
| Workflows & automation | 12,000 - 35,000 | 4-8 wks |
| Reporting & dashboards | 8,000 - 25,000 | 3-6 wks |
| Integrations (ERP, accounting) | 8,000 - 40,000 | 3-8 wks |
| Testing & deployment | 5,000 - 20,000 | 3-5 wks |
| Total | 60,000 - 200,000 | 5-10 months |
On top comes managed hosting: EUR 150 to 600/month depending on data volume, redundancy and availability requirements. Team day rates sit between EUR 450 and 700 in 2026 for this type of project.
Custom build or off-the-shelf vertical suite
Many operations directors overestimate their specificity. The question isn't "can everything be customised" but "what's the total cost over 3 years", including integration and process adaptation.
| Criteria | Custom build | Vertical SaaS suite |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 60,000 - 200,000 | EUR 0 - 15,000 (setup) |
| Recurring cost | Maintenance 12-18%/yr + hosting | EUR 30 - 80/user/month |
| Time to deploy | 5 - 10 months | 1 - 3 months |
| Process fit | Total | Partial (adaptation needed) |
| Code ownership | You | The vendor |
| Cost at 20 users over 3 yrs | ~EUR 120,000 - 260,000 | ~EUR 40,000 - 70,000 |
Read: below 20-30 users with standard needs, the suite almost always wins. Custom becomes worthwhile when the process is a differentiator, when licences turn prohibitive at scale, or when no suite covers the trade.
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Mini case study
Claire, operations director of a logistics SME in Amsterdam, runs 14 staff across 5 shared spreadsheets. She estimates 6 hours lost per person per week to re-keying and corrections, i.e. 84 hrs/week total. At a loaded cost of EUR 28/hr, that's ~EUR 113,000/year of unproductive time. A custom platform at EUR 135,000 plus EUR 22,000/yr maintenance and hosting removes 60% of those losses, i.e. ~EUR 68,000/yr recovered. Payback is estimated between year 2 and year 3.
FAQ
What does a business platform really cost in 2026? Between EUR 60,000 and 200,000 depending on modules and integrations. The median for SME projects lands around EUR 100,000-130,000.
What timeline should I plan for? 5 to 10 months from scoping to deployment. A first usable module can ship in 2-3 months if you split the project into lots.
What is maintenance and how much does it cost? Application maintenance covers fixes and enhancements: budget 12 to 18% of the project cost per year, i.e. EUR 15,000 to 30,000/yr for a EUR 100,000 platform.
Can Excel be replaced gradually? Yes, and it's recommended. You migrate module by module to limit risk and spread the investment across several quarters.
Is custom always pricier than SaaS? Upfront yes, but not at scale: beyond 40-50 users, SaaS licences can exceed the total cost of custom over 3-4 years.
Let's scope your project. List your current spreadsheets, your user count and your target integrations, and we'll cost a platform split into lots with a first profitable module. 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.
