The verdict in three sentences
For a brand with 60 franchisees, a custom portal costs 50,000 to 140,000 EUR with an Amsterdam agency, and 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (about 10,670 to 22,870 EUR) with Kolonell. Its return comes first from automatic royalty tracking at 4 to 6% of revenue, then from time saved by the network support team. A portal franchisees never open is useless: adoption is prepared before development, not after.
Intranet, franchise SaaS or custom portal
Many networks still run on a shared drive, revenue spreadsheets sent by email and a newsletter. Here are the options compared for 60 outlets.
| Option (2026 estimate, Amsterdam) | Upfront cost | Annual cost | Revenue reporting | Royalty calculation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared drive + spreadsheets | 0 EUR | Network team time | Manual, late | Manual |
| Generic intranet (SharePoint, Google Sites) | 4,000 to 12,000 EUR | 3,500 to 7,000 EUR in licences | Manual form | Manual |
| Specialised franchise SaaS | 3,000 to 10,000 EUR | 60 to 160 EUR per outlet per month, i.e. 43,200 to 115,200 EUR | Import or entry | Semi-automatic |
| Custom portal, local agency (market estimate) | 50,000 to 140,000 EUR | 8,000 to 20,000 EUR | POS connector | Automatic |
| Custom portal, Kolonell | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870 EUR) | Maintenance 75,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month + hosting | POS connector | Automatic |
A specialised SaaS remains relevant for a young network that wants to start within 4 weeks. Beyond 40 outlets, the cumulative subscription often exceeds the cost of a custom portal in under two years.
The modules that matter, and their weight in the budget
An effective franchise portal fits in five or six modules. There is no need to launch everything at once.
| Module | Function | Indicative effort |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue reporting | POS connection (API or daily export), dashboard per outlet | 10 to 18 days |
| Royalties and invoicing | Automatic calculation of the 4 to 6% royalty and marketing fee, reminders | 8 to 12 days |
| Marketing library | Visuals, in-store materials, local campaigns customisable per city | 5 to 8 days |
| Training | Video modules, quizzes, tracking per employee and outlet | 8 to 15 days |
| Quality audits | Visit checklists on tablet, action plans, photos | 6 to 10 days |
| Network communication | News, memos with read receipts | 3 to 5 days |
Revenue reporting depends on the POS software. If all franchisees use the same POS with an API, the connector is simple. With three or four different systems, plan one connector per vendor or a standardised file import.
Adoption: what makes the difference
Successful networks set a simple target, for example 80% of franchisees logging in every week after 3 months. Three levers work: make revenue reporting mandatory through the portal only, post useful content every week (promotions, ready-to-use visuals), and show each franchisee their anonymised position versus the network. Involving 4 or 5 pilot franchisees from the mockup stage avoids rejection at launch. On the legal side, the Dutch Franchise Act (Wet franchise) requires sharing financial information and consulting franchisees on major changes: the portal can host these documents with timestamped access.
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Illustrative example: Daan, network director of a quick-service restaurant brand based in Amsterdam, manages 60 franchisees with average revenue of 900,000 EUR each, i.e. 54 million EUR for the network. At a 5% royalty, that is 2.7 million EUR a year. If the POS connection corrects just 1% of reporting gaps, the network recovers 27,000 EUR of royalties per year. The network coordinator also saves 2 days a month of spreadsheet compilation, i.e. 24 days at 450 EUR daily cost, about 10,800 EUR. For a Kolonell portal at 12,000,000 FCFA (about 18,290 EUR), payback comes in about 6 months.
FAQ
How long does it take to launch a franchise portal?
Count 3 to 5 months for a first version with revenue reporting, royalties and a marketing library. Training and audit modules can follow within 6 to 8 additional weeks.
Can franchisees refuse to share their POS data?
The franchise agreement usually requires revenue disclosure, as it is the royalty base. Automatic connection should be written into the agreement or an amendment, and comply with GDPR if customer data is transferred.
Can we integrate several different POS systems?
Yes, with one connector per vendor (5 to 10 days each) or a standardised file import. A 60-outlet network often runs 2 or 3 different POS systems.
Does the portal work on tablets in store?
Yes, a responsive web app works on tablets and phones without app store distribution. Quality audits are done on site, photos included.
What maintenance cost should we plan?
At Kolonell, a portal of this level usually falls under the Standard plan at 75,000 FCFA or Premium at 120,000 FCFA per month. Add hosting, often 50 to 150 EUR per month for 60 outlets.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of franchisees, POS systems and priority modules: we will price a portal within the 7 to 15M FCFA range with a pilot on 5 franchisees. 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.
