The verdict in three sentences
A business platform MVP costs between €25,000 and €45,000 in 2026, a full platform between €60,000 and €140,000, with a full-stack day rate of €500 to €700. Meanwhile, a stack of generic SaaS often costs €1,500 to €4,000/month — €54,000 to €144,000 over 3 years — while never quite fitting your business. For a Dublin director, custom becomes profitable once cumulative SaaS exceeds ~€2,500/month and the process is differentiating.
2026 price grid by module
A platform is built from modules you can phase. Here are 2026 ranges per brick.
| Module | 2026 range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication + roles | €6,000 – 10,000 | 2-3 wk |
| Back-office / admin | €8,000 – 15,000 | 3-4 wk |
| Reporting / dashboards | €7,000 – 14,000 | 3-4 wk |
| Business engine (core) | €12,000 – 30,000 | 4-8 wk |
| API + integrations | €6,000 – 15,000 | 2-5 wk |
| Notifications + emails | €3,000 – 6,000 | 1-2 wk |
| Hosting | €250 – 800/mo | ongoing |
Custom build vs stacked SaaS: the real math
Custom is an amortised investment; SaaS is a perpetual cost that grows with headcount.
| Criterion | Custom platform | Stacked SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | €25,000 – 140,000 | €0 |
| Monthly cost | €250 – 800 (hosting) | €1,500 – 4,000 |
| 3-year cost | €34,000 – 169,000 | €54,000 – 144,000 |
| Business fit | total | partial |
| Cost per added user | ~€0 | linear |
| Code ownership | yes | no |
| Time to launch | 12 – 24 wk | immediate |
Mini case study
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Aoife, director of a 40-person distribution SME in Dublin, currently pays for 5 SaaS (CRM, routing, reporting, scheduling, invoicing) at €2,900/month — €104,400 over 3 years. She commissions a unified platform: €38,000 MVP, €34,000 extension, €500/month hosting. Three-year total: €72,000 + €18,000 = €90,000, and above all a tool that removes the double entry between the 5 old SaaS (estimated at 15 h/week). Net saving over 3 years: ~€14,000, plus the productivity gains.
FAQ
What's the minimum budget to start? A credible MVP starts at €25,000. Below that, you're looking at a prototype or no-code, rarely a robust production platform.
How long for an MVP? Expect 12 to 16 weeks for an MVP, 20 to 24 weeks for a full platform, depending on module count.
When does custom beat SaaS? Once your subscriptions exceed ~€2,500/month or your core process is a competitive edge that generic SaaS constrains.
Can we phase the budget? Yes, it's recommended: MVP first (auth, engine, back-office), then reporting and integrations. Each module is €6,000 to €30,000.
Who owns the code? You do. With custom, the source code is transferred to you — unlike SaaS, where you rent access without ever owning the asset.
Let's scope your project. List your current SaaS and their monthly cost, and we'll price the equivalent unified platform and the tipping point. Indicative MVP budget from €25,000. 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.
