The verdict in three sentences
A custom client portal where your clients track orders, invoices and tickets costs between 35,000 and 105,000 EUR excl. VAT in London in 2026, over a 3 to 6 month timeline. SSO (single sign-on), ERP integration and data migration often account for 30 to 40 % of the budget. Below 25 active users, a SaaS block at 20-80 EUR/user/month stays cheaper for the first two years; beyond that, custom pays off.
What a client portal costs in 2026
The budget depends on the number of modules, the level of integration and security requirements. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude on the London market, at day rates of 500 to 780 EUR.
| Scope | Features included | Price EUR excl. VAT | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential portal | Login, order tracking, PDF invoices | 35,000 - 50,000 | 3 months |
| Standard portal | + support tickets, SSO, notifications | 50,000 - 72,000 | 4-5 months |
| Advanced portal | + ERP integration, payment, exports | 72,000 - 105,000 | 5-6 months |
| Complex custom | + multilingual, approval workflow, API | 105,000 - 150,000 | 6-9 months |
On top of that come recurring costs to budget from day one.
| Recurring item | 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Maintenance (support) | 8 to 15 % of project cost / year |
| Cloud hosting | 110 to 450 EUR / month |
| SSL / SSO certificate | included to 650 EUR / year |
| Annual enhancements | 5,500 to 16,000 EUR |
Custom or SaaS block?
SaaS client-portal platforms bill per seat or per user. The maths tips over based on your volume and integration needs.
| Criterion | Custom portal | SaaS block |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 35,000 - 105,000 EUR | 0 - 3,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost | 110 - 450 EUR hosting | 20 - 80 EUR / user |
| Customisation | Total | Limited to options |
| ERP integration | Native, bespoke | Standard connectors |
| Code ownership | You | The vendor |
| 3-year cost, 40 users | ~120,000 EUR | ~140,000 EUR |
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The break-even point usually sits around 30 to 40 active users with strong integration needs.
Mini case study
Sarah, CFO of an industrial SME in London (55 staff, 380 B2B clients) wants to eliminate the 20 hours a week her team spends emailing invoices and order statuses. A standard portal at 65,000 EUR excl. VAT, with maintenance at 12 % (6,900 EUR/year), replaces that manual work. Valuing an admin hour at 32 EUR, she saves 20 h x 32 EUR x 46 weeks = 29,440 EUR/year. Payback in 27 months excluding commercial gains, with measurable client satisfaction from the first quarter.
FAQ
What is the cheapest client portal? An essential portal (login, order tracking, invoices) starts at 35,000 EUR excl. VAT over 3 months. Below that, you are on a configured SaaS block, not a custom build.
How long to go live? Expect 3 to 6 months depending on scope: 3 months for an essential portal, up to 6 with ERP integration and SSO. A usable MVP often lands around week 8.
Is SSO essential? For B2B use with over 50 clients, yes: SSO cuts password tickets by 60 to 70 % and secures access. Budget 3,000 to 9,000 EUR for integration.
What maintenance budget should I plan? Maintenance runs 8 to 15 % of the project cost per year, i.e. 5,600 to 15,750 EUR for a 70,000 EUR project. It covers fixes, security updates and small enhancements.
Can we start small then extend? Yes, and it is recommended: an essential portal at 40,000 EUR delivered in 3 months, then enhancement lots at 9,000-16,000 EUR each. This smooths cash flow and validates adoption.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target modules, ERP and user volume for a precise quote. 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.
