The verdict in three sentences
A custom field-service management platform costs EUR 45,000 to EUR 110,000 in 2026 and ships in 4 to 7 months. It combines a field mobile app (offline mode, photos, signature) with a scheduling back-office. Custom pays off as soon as your processes fall outside the boxes of a generic FSM SaaS.
Typical scope and cost ranges
| Module | Content | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Technician mobile app | Route, checklist, photos, offline | EUR 15,000 - 30,000 |
| Scheduling back-office | Drag-and-drop, assignment, map | EUR 12,000 - 25,000 |
| Reports & signature | Auto PDF, client signature, send | EUR 6,000 - 14,000 |
| Invoicing / export | Quote-invoice generation, accounting export | EUR 5,000 - 12,000 |
| Integrations | ERP, CMMS, mapping | EUR 7,000 - 20,000 |
| Testing & rollout | QA, training, data migration | EUR 6,000 - 15,000 |
Offline mode (deferred sync) is the most underestimated item: it often justifies 15 to 20% of the budget.
Custom build vs market FSM SaaS
| Criterion | FSM SaaS (Praxedo/Kizeo type) | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | EUR 0 - 5,000 setup | EUR 45,000 - 110,000 |
| Recurring cost | EUR 25 - 45/technician/month | Hosting EUR 150-500/month |
| Process fit | Limited to options | Total |
| Ownership | Tenant | Code owner |
| Timeline | 4 - 8 weeks | 4 - 7 months |
| Pays off if | < 15 technicians, standard process | Specific process, >15 technicians |
At 40 technicians, a EUR 35/month SaaS costs ~EUR 16,800/year, i.e. ~EUR 84,000 over 5 years: at that level, the build amortises and you keep control of the product.
Cost per technician, the deciding metric
| Field headcount | SaaS 5-year cost (EUR 35/mo) | Build + hosting 5-year |
|---|---|---|
| 10 technicians | ~EUR 21,000 | ~EUR 85,000 |
| 25 technicians | ~EUR 52,500 | ~EUR 95,000 |
| 40 technicians | ~EUR 84,000 | ~EUR 100,000 |
| 70 technicians | ~EUR 147,000 | ~EUR 115,000 |
The tipping point usually sits between 35 and 45 technicians. Beyond that, custom becomes the cheapest option, before counting productivity gains.
Mini case study
Sophie, director of an HVAC maintenance firm in Dublin, manages 32 technicians. She invests EUR 72,000 in a platform delivered in 5 months. Thanks to optimised scheduling and the offline app, each technician completes 2 more interventions per week, billed at EUR 95 on average. Across 32 technicians and 46 weeks: 32 × 2 × 46 × 95 = ~EUR 279,000 of potential additional annual revenue. Even capturing only a third of that gain, the investment is repaid in under 10 months.
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FAQ
Is offline mode essential?
Yes for any field activity: technicians often work in basements or dead zones. Without deferred sync, reports are lost and adoption collapses.
How long to roll out in the field?
Expect 4 to 7 months of development, then 3 to 6 weeks of change management (training, data migration, parallel-run period).
Can we start on SaaS then migrate?
Yes, it's a prudent strategy: validate processes on SaaS, then switch to custom when volume and specifics justify it.
What annual maintenance cost?
Expect 15 to 20% of build cost per year for evolutions, fixes and managed hosting, i.e. ~EUR 11,000 to 22,000 for a EUR 72,000 platform.
Does the client signature hold legal value?
A simple electronic signature on a tablet suffices for a work order. For strong contractual stakes, add a qualified signature provider.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your technician count, your ERP/CMMS integrations and offline constraints, and we'll price your platform. 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.
