The verdict in three sentences
For a group with 5 subsidiaries, a custom BI dashboard costs between USD 60,000 and 150,000 in New York, depending on the number of data sources and the complexity of consolidation adjustments (in Dakar, the same scope runs 6,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA). Power BI is a serious alternative at USD 10-20 per user per month, but it does not fix the real problem: heterogeneous data, different charts of accounts and bank statements keyed in by hand. Well scoped, the project brings the monthly close down from 8 to 3 days and pays back in under 18 months.
Data sources: where the budget goes
In a group dashboard, the screens are only 25 to 30% of the cost. The rest is connectors, data cleaning and consolidation rules.
| Data source | Typical difficulty | Connector cost (USD) | Refresh frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main ERP (NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP Business One) | Different charts of accounts across subsidiaries | 12,000 - 30,000 | Daily |
| Banks (Chase, Citi, regional banks) | Different file formats (BAI2, MT940, CSV) | 8,000 - 20,000 | Daily |
| Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, card acquirers) | Fee reconciliation, payout timing | 5,000 - 12,000 | Daily |
| Payroll (ADP, Gusto) | Headcount cost by entity and cost center | 4,000 - 10,000 | Monthly |
| Subsidiary Excel files | Changing layouts, input errors | 6,000 - 15,000 | Weekly |
| Budget and forecasts | Multiple versions, management sign-off | 5,000 - 13,000 | Monthly |
A group with one shared ERP and two banks stays around USD 60,000 to 80,000. With three different ERPs, four banks and foreign subsidiaries, expect USD 120,000 to 150,000. These are 2026 ballpark figures.
Custom build or Power BI: an honest comparison
| Criterion | Power BI with a consultancy | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Licences | USD 10 to 20 per user per month, i.e. USD 6,000 - 12,000/year for 50 Pro/Premium users | No per-user licence |
| Setup | USD 30,000 - 80,000 of data modelling | USD 60,000 - 150,000 all in |
| Bank and processor connectors | Must be built anyway | Included in scope |
| Mobile access | Good, heavier app | Lightweight mobile-first interface |
| Consolidation rules (intercompany, FX) | Modelled in DAX | Coded in the database |
| Dependency | Vendor plus scarce senior DAX skills | Source code you own |
| Annual maintenance | USD 10,000 - 25,000 | USD 12,000 - 25,000 |
Power BI suits a group that already has a data team and a clean data warehouse. A custom build makes sense when the main job is automated feeds from poorly standardised sources, which is still the case for many mid-size groups.
A typical project timeline
Allow 10 to 16 weeks: 2 weeks to define KPIs (revenue, margin, cash, working capital, payables), 4 to 6 weeks of connectors, 3 to 5 weeks of consolidation logic and screens, then 2 weeks of user acceptance alongside a real close. Start with 15 to 25 KPIs, not 80: an overloaded dashboard stops being opened after three months.
Mini case study
Rachel, CFO of a distribution group in New York (5 subsidiaries, USD 180M revenue), ties up 4 financial analysts for 8 days at every close. At a loaded cost of USD 11,000 per analyst per month, consolidation costs about USD 16,000 a month, or USD 192,000 a year. After the project (USD 110,000 plus USD 18,000 of annual maintenance), the close drops to 3 days: the cost falls to USD 72,000 a year. Net savings reach USD 102,000 a year after maintenance, and the project pays back in about 13 months, not counting cash decisions taken 5 days earlier.
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FAQ
Can we connect our banks directly?
Most large US banks offer file feeds (BAI2) or APIs, but access often requires a treasury agreement. Automated import with matching costs USD 8,000 to 20,000 depending on the number of banks.
Do we need to replace our ERP first?
No. The dashboard reads data from existing ERPs and applies a chart-of-accounts mapping table. That mapping often represents 15 to 20% of the budget.
Where is the data hosted?
On a US cloud region (AWS, Azure or Google Cloud) with SOC 2 compliant services. Hosting costs USD 100 to 400 a month.
How many users can access the dashboard?
There is no licence limit. Most groups open access to 20 to 60 people, with rights by subsidiary and seniority level.
How fast can we see a first result?
A first version with 8 to 10 key KPIs can be live in 6 weeks, with the rest delivered in monthly increments.
Let's scope your project. List your subsidiaries, ERPs and banks: we will price a consolidated dashboard between USD 60,000 and 150,000, delivered in 10 to 16 weeks. 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.
