The verdict in three sentences
A custom employee intranet for a multi-site group costs USD 28,000 to 78,000 in 2026, SSO and directory included. Against a subscription solution (SharePoint, Jostle at USD 9-16/user/month), custom becomes worthwhile above 500 users over a three-year horizon. Expect a 12-to-16-week timeline and USD 450-900/month maintenance.
What a custom intranet funds
An HR director equipping 800 employees has concrete needs: find a colleague, read the news, reach HR documents. The budget follows those uses.
| Module | 2026 range (USD) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Employee directory | 3,500 - 7,000 | Search, org chart |
| Internal news feed | 4,500 - 9,000 | Top-down communication |
| HR document area | 4,500 - 10,000 | Contracts, memos, procedures |
| SSO (single sign-on) | 4,000 - 8,000 | Login via AD/Azure |
| Internal search engine | 3,500 - 7,000 | Document + page indexing |
| Multi-site + per-site rights | 4,500 - 11,000 | Entity-level partitioning |
A group of 800 people across 6 sites typically lands near USD 50,000. SSO and per-site rights are the two items that separate a real corporate intranet from a plain internal site.
Custom vs SharePoint / Jostle
The HR director's decision: build or subscribe? The math depends directly on user count.
| Criterion | Custom intranet | SharePoint / Jostle |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | USD 28,000 - 78,000 | USD 2,500 - 7,000 (setup) |
| Monthly cost (800 users) | USD 450 - 900 (maint.) | USD 7,200 - 12,800/mo |
| 3-year cost (800 users) | USD 44,200 - 110,400 | USD 261,000 - 468,000 |
| Customization | Total | Limited |
| Marginal cost per user | USD 0 | USD 9 - 16/mo |
| Break-even | ~500 users | — |
Over three years, for 800 users, custom costs 5 to 6 times less than subscription. Below 200 users, SaaS stays more rational because the per-seat cost is low in absolute terms.
Mini case study
Mark, HR director of an 800-employee industrial group across 6 sites near Amsterdam, must replace an aging intranet. Jostle quote: USD 13/user/month, i.e. USD 10,400/month, USD 124,800/year. The chosen custom intranet costs USD 52,000 + USD 700/month maintenance, i.e. USD 60,400 in year one, then USD 8,400/year. In the first year alone the saving tops USD 64,000. Over three years the group saves more than USD 220,000, while keeping full control of its HR data, a sensitive point for the legal department.
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FAQ
Above how many users is custom worthwhile?
Around 500 users over three years. Below that, subscription (USD 9-16/user/month) stays cheaper. Above, the gap becomes massive because custom has zero marginal cost per seat.
Is SSO essential?
For 800 employees, yes: without single sign-on via Active Directory or Azure, adoption drops. Budget USD 4,000-8,000, one of the highest-ROI items in time saved.
Can access be partitioned per site?
Yes, via entity-level rights: each site sees its own news and documents. That is the multi-site module, USD 4,500-11,000 depending on granularity.
What is the deployment timeline?
Between 12 and 16 weeks in 2026. SSO integration and migrating the existing directory weigh most on the schedule.
Who keeps control of HR data?
With custom, the group hosts and controls its data, unlike SaaS where it passes through the vendor. A decisive argument for compliance and legal.
Let's scope your project. Give us your user count, number of sites and SSO needs: we frame a budget between USD 28,000 and 78,000. 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.
