The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a vertical solution costs 55 to 140 EUR per user per month, deploys in weeks but imposes its own logic; a custom build costs 50,000 to 110,000 EUR, fits your processes but takes 5 to 7 months. The choice hinges on three axes: firm size, process specificity and amortisation horizon. At 20 users, the 5-year TCO comparison gives a clear gap that should guide the decision more than the entry price.
Vertical vs custom: the decision grid
A vertical is a finished product built for a sector; a custom is built for you. Each wins on different criteria.
| Criterion | Vertical solution | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | low (setup 2-6k EUR) | high (50-110k EUR) |
| Per user / month | 55 - 140 EUR | 0 (included) |
| Delay | 2 - 6 weeks | 5 - 7 months |
| Fit to processes | limited | total |
| Regulatory updates | vendor-carried | your cost (maintenance) |
| Vendor lock-in | strong | none (you own it) |
| Ideal if | < 20-25 users, standard | > 25 users, specific |
The vertical wins on speed and regulatory carry; custom wins on fit and independence. The tipping point sits around 25 users and/or a genuinely atypical process.
5-year TCO for 20 users
Let's compare total cost of ownership over 5 years for a 20-person firm, vertical at 95 EUR/user/month against an 85,000 EUR build plus 12% maintenance.
| Year | Vertical (cumulative) | Custom (cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 22,800 EUR | 95,200 EUR |
| Year 2 | 45,600 EUR | 105,400 EUR |
| Year 3 | 68,400 EUR | 115,600 EUR |
| Year 4 | 91,200 EUR | 125,800 EUR |
| Year 5 | 114,000 EUR | 136,000 EUR |
At 20 users, the vertical stays cheaper over 5 years (114,000 vs 136,000 EUR). But the 22,000 EUR gap closes once the firm reaches 25-30 staff, or if the vertical charges add-on modules (review, final accounts, portal) that inflate its real cost.
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Mini case study
Aoife, an accountant in Dublin 2, runs a 22-person firm with a very particular review process inherited from her agri-food clientele. A vertical would cost 22 x 100 EUR = 2,200 EUR/month, but would force her to bend her procedures to the tool, losing 15 to 20 internal working days a year to workarounds. A custom build at 90,000 EUR + 12% maintenance fits her process exactly. Over 5 years, vertical = 132,000 EUR, custom = 144,000 EUR. The 12,000 EUR gap is erased by the 18 days/year of workarounds avoided (at 450 EUR/day, i.e. 8,100 EUR/year): custom becomes profitable from year 2.
FAQ
When is the vertical clearly the right choice? When the firm has fewer than 20-25 staff, standard processes and wants to start fast without tying up cash. Vendor-carried regulatory updates are then a real comfort.
Does custom lock me into the developer? No if the contract provides source-code ownership, documentation and reversibility. You can switch maintenance providers without starting over.
Can we combine both? Yes: keep the vertical for the regulatory core and build a client portal or custom dashboards around it. A common, economical hybrid.
How are regulatory updates handled in custom? They're part of maintenance: a well-drafted contract guarantees compliance within legal deadlines, budgeted yearly.
Is the 5-7 month delay unavoidable? A first functional batch can ship in 3 months, then iterate, reducing risk and spreading the load.
Let's scope your project. Give us your headcount, process specificity and horizon: we'll deliver a costed vertical-vs-custom decision grid. 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.
