The verdict in three sentences
For a sublet marketplace between event equipment rental companies in Amsterdam, a custom MVP costs EUR 35,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT and ships in 12 weeks, versus EUR 300 to 500 per month for Sharetribe before customisation. Custom development pays off once the multi-depot availability calendar and deposit handling become the core of the product, which is the case in equipment rental. With a target commission of 8 to 12%, the platform breaks even around 900 rentals per month, a target to validate with 80 rental companies before pitching event agencies.
What the MVP must do, and what can wait
An Amsterdam rental company's need is easy to state: find 40 cocktail tables or a 2 kW sound system it no longer has in stock within two hours for a trade fair at the RAI, and sublet its own idle stock for the rest of the week. The MVP must therefore cover search by date and radius, booking with stock locking, deposits, payment and commission. Everything else (native mobile app, integrated logistics, advanced ratings) can wait for version 2.
| Module | In the MVP | Estimated effort | Indicative cost excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor catalogue and equipment listings | Yes | 12 to 18 days | EUR 6,000 to 9,000 |
| Availability calendar per depot | Yes | 15 to 25 days | EUR 7,500 to 12,500 |
| Booking, quotes and stock locking | Yes | 12 to 20 days | EUR 6,000 to 10,000 |
| Payment, commission and deposit (Stripe Connect) | Yes | 10 to 16 days | EUR 5,000 to 8,000 |
| Admin back office and simple disputes | Yes | 8 to 12 days | EUR 4,000 to 6,000 |
| UX design and testing | Yes | 10 to 15 days | EUR 5,000 to 7,500 |
| Native mobile app | No (a PWA is enough) | 30 to 45 days | EUR 15,000 to 22,000 |
The MVP scope totals EUR 33,500 to 53,000 excl. VAT, plus project management and acceptance testing, hence the EUR 35,000 to 60,000 range. This is a 2026 order of magnitude for a European or Franco-Senegalese team at EUR 450 to 550 per day.
Sharetribe or custom: the real comparison
Sharetribe is an excellent tool to test an idea in four weeks. Its model, however, relies on booking one unit per time slot, whereas a rental company manages quantities (120 chairs, 30 already booked) spread across several depots, with preparation and return times. Deposits, often 20 to 30% of the equipment value, are hard to handle without specific development.
| Criterion | Sharetribe + customisation | Custom MVP |
|---|---|---|
| Platform subscription | EUR 300 to 500 per month | EUR 0 |
| Initial customisation | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 excl. VAT | Included |
| Total first-year cost | EUR 11,600 to 26,000 excl. VAT | EUR 35,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT + EUR 150 to 300 monthly hosting |
| Quantities and multi-depot | Workarounds, fragile | Native |
| Deposits and pre-authorisations | Limited | Full, with automatic release |
| Time to launch | 4 to 6 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Code ownership and valuation | No | Yes, a valuable asset |
Our recommendation: if no rental company has committed yet, test with Sharetribe for 3 months. If 30 companies have already signed a letter of intent, go custom: you will avoid a EUR 25,000 migration a year later.
Commission, volume and break-even
The business model relies on a commission taken on each rental, possibly topped up with a premium subscription for vendors who want extra visibility. The average basket in B2B event equipment sublets is around EUR 180 to 260 excl. VAT.
| Assumption | Cautious | Target | Ambitious |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average basket excl. VAT | EUR 180 | EUR 220 | EUR 260 |
| Commission | 8% | 10% | 12% |
| Revenue per rental | EUR 14.40 | EUR 22 | EUR 31.20 |
| Monthly fixed costs | EUR 19,000 | EUR 19,000 | EUR 19,000 |
| Break-even | 1,320 rentals | 864 rentals | 610 rentals |
| Rentals per active vendor (80) | 16.5 per month | 10.8 per month | 7.6 per month |
Fixed costs include two employees (founder and sales), hosting, non-recharged payment fees and the MVP amortised over 24 months. The target scenario gives a break-even close to 900 rentals per month, about 11 rentals per active vendor.
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Mini case study
Daan, founder of an event equipment rental marketplace in Amsterdam, has gathered 34 letters of intent among the region's 80 rental companies. He picks a custom MVP at EUR 48,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 12 weeks. Amortised over 24 months, the MVP costs EUR 2,000 per month. With a EUR 220 average basket and a 10% commission, he earns EUR 22 per rental. At 500 rentals per month in month six, he collects EUR 11,000 in commissions and covers 58% of his costs. At 900 rentals, reached in month twelve if each active vendor goes from 6 to 11 rentals, he earns EUR 19,800 and passes break-even. He can then pitch event agencies with a catalogue of more than 6,000 items.
FAQ
How much does an equipment rental marketplace MVP cost in 2026?
Budget EUR 35,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT for a custom MVP with a multi-depot calendar, deposits and commission. Standard delivery is 12 weeks, with hosting at EUR 150 to 300 per month.
Should we start with Sharetribe?
Yes if no vendor has committed yet: EUR 300 to 500 per month lets you validate demand in 4 to 6 weeks. Beyond 30 committed vendors, quantity management justifies custom development.
What commission should apply between rental companies?
The usual range is 8 to 12% of the rental amount excl. VAT. Below 8%, break-even exceeds 1,300 rentals per month with EUR 19,000 in fixed costs.
How should deposits be handled?
A card pre-authorisation of 20 to 30% of the equipment value, released automatically 48 to 72 hours after return, covers most cases. Stripe Connect handles this without holding funds on your account.
When should the platform open to event agencies?
When the catalogue exceeds roughly 5,000 available items and vendor response rate is above 80% within 2 hours.
Let's scope your project. We scope your B2B marketplace MVP (features, a EUR 35,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT budget, 12-week delivery) based on your letters of intent. 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.
