The verdict in three sentences
A hotel or restaurant group running several venues loses substantial margin each year without a consolidated view of bookings, F&B stock and per-site profitability. A custom business platform — PMS, F&B management, multi-site reporting, POS integration — costs between 60,000 and 150,000 EUR and ships in 6 to 11 months. The return comes from optimised occupancy and a sharp drop in food waste.
Why custom rather than an off-the-shelf PMS
Standard PMS tools (Mews, Opera, Cloudbeds) work well for a single hotel, but the moment a group combines accommodation, several restaurants and bars with central buying and consolidated reporting, stacked licences become costly and rigid. Custom software aligns a single data core across bookings, stock and tills.
| Module | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR) | Multi-site | Main gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMS & booking engine | 15,000 - 32,000 | Yes, per site + central | -OTA commissions |
| F&B & stock management | 12,000 - 28,000 | Purchasing consolidation | -20 to 30 % waste |
| Till & POS integration | 8,000 - 18,000 | Multi outlet | Unified takings |
| Consolidated reporting | 10,000 - 24,000 | Real-time group view | Margin steering |
| Guest & loyalty portal | 7,000 - 16,000 | Cross-venue | +direct bookings |
| Accounting/payroll integration | 8,000 - 22,000 | Multi-entity export | -admin time |
Timeline, hosting and 3-year total cost
Beyond the build, budget for hosting, maintenance and evolutions. Here is the order of magnitude for a total cost of ownership for a group of 3 to 6 venues.
| Item | Year 1 (EUR) | Years 2-3 (EUR/yr) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform build | 60,000 - 150,000 | - | By modules |
| Cloud hosting & backups | 4,800 - 12,000 | 4,800 - 12,000 | High availability |
| Maintenance & support | 9,000 - 22,500 | 9,000 - 22,500 | 15 % of build |
| Evolutions (new sites) | 6,000 - 18,000 | 6,000 - 18,000 | Add venue |
| Team training | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1,500 - 4,000 | Staff onboarding |
Mini case study
Mark, managing director of a 4-venue group in London (2 four-star hotels, 2 restaurants), estimates annual F&B waste at 180,000 EUR and average occupancy at 68 %. He invests 95,000 EUR in a custom platform delivered in 8 months. Purchasing consolidation and shelf-life tracking cut waste by 25 %, saving 45,000 EUR. The direct booking engine and loyalty scheme add 5 occupancy points, about 62,000 EUR in extra revenue. Year 1 total: 107,000 EUR of gains against 95,000 EUR invested. Payback in under 12 months.
FAQ
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How much does custom software for a hotel-restaurant group cost?
Between 60,000 and 150,000 EUR in 2026 depending on modules and number of venues. A PMS + F&B + reporting scope for 3 sites sits around 90,000 EUR.
How long to deploy the platform?
Expect 6 to 11 months. A PMS and booking core can ship in 4 months, with F&B and consolidated reporting modules added in later batches.
Can we keep our existing tills and OTAs?
Yes. POS integration and channel manager connections (Booking, Expedia) are handled via API. Custom software orchestrates the flows without discarding what works.
What real gain on F&B waste?
Stock, shelf-life and inventory-variance tracking typically cut waste by 20 to 30 %, tens of thousands of euros a year for a mid-sized group.
What annual maintenance budget should we plan?
About 15 % of the build cost per year, i.e. 9,000 to 22,500 EUR, covering support, fixes and small evolutions.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of venues, current till systems and target budget (60,000 to 150,000 EUR) and we will map the priority modules. 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.
