The verdict in three sentences
A custom software platform for a hotel or restaurant group consolidating multi-property bookings, scheduling, purchasing and central reporting costs between EUR 45,000 and 80,000 in 2026. An off-the-shelf vertical PMS is cheaper to start but bills per room and turns rigid the moment you steer several brands. Custom is justified when group consolidation and a 20% cut in scheduling time outweigh time-to-market.
What group software costs in 2026
The project revolves around three modules: reservations (with channel manager), HR/scheduling, and consolidated reporting. 2026 order-of-magnitude ranges, international market, excluding third-party subscriptions (external channel manager, OTAs).
| Module | Scope | Range (EUR / USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation engine + channel manager | Multi-property, availability, rates | 12,000 - 25,000 |
| HR / scheduling | Shifts, labor cost, leave | 8,000 - 16,000 |
| Purchasing / stock | Supplier orders, price lists | 6,000 - 12,000 |
| Group reporting | Occupancy, RevPAR, margin per site | 6,000 - 12,000 |
| Integrations + QA | POS, accounting, OTA, testing | 5,000 - 10,000 |
| Typical project total | Multi-site group | 45,000 - 80,000 |
Recurring: hosting and supervision (approx. EUR 300-1,000/month depending on property count), evolutionary maintenance (EUR 500 to 1,500/month) and any third-party subscriptions (channel manager, OTAs).
Custom software vs vertical PMS
An off-the-shelf PMS (Mews, Opera, etc.) starts fast and covers hotel standards, but bills per room and adapts poorly to a multi-brand group with its own processes. Custom costs more to build but removes per-room subscriptions and matches the group's organization exactly.
| Criterion | Custom software | Vertical PMS |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 45,000 - 80,000 | 5,000 - 20,000 |
| Subscription | Hosting only | Per room/month |
| Multi-brand consolidation | Native | Often limited |
| Process customization | Total | Framed by vendor |
| Vendor lock-in | None | High |
| Best for | Group, specific processes | Single property, standard |
Mini case study
Thomas runs a group of 5 hotel-restaurants (about 210 rooms in total) based near Geneva. His property managers build schedules in Excel and consolidate results by hand every month. A EUR 62,000 platform centralizes reservations, scheduling and reporting. Scheduling time drops 20%, about 6 hours/week per property, so 30 hours/week across the group. At EUR 32 per loaded hour, that is nearly EUR 50,000/year, before counting higher occupancy via the channel manager. Payback in about 14 to 18 months, hosting included.
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Why not just take an off-the-shelf PMS?
For a single property with standard processes, a PMS is often the right call (EUR 5,000 to 20,000 setup). For a multi-brand group needing consolidation and its own processes, per-room subscriptions and rigidity end up costing more than custom.
Is the channel manager included?
The OTA connection module (Booking, Expedia) is developed, but some groups keep a third-party channel manager on subscription. The quote states what is built and what stays external.
Can we roll out property by property?
Yes, and it is recommended. We ship a pilot site in 10 to 14 weeks, stabilize it, then deploy the rest, which reduces risk and smooths cash flow.
How is the scheduling gain measured?
By comparing managers' before/after time and labor-cost optimization (avoided overtime). A 20% gain is an observed order of magnitude, to be confirmed on your organization.
What maintenance budget after delivery?
Plan EUR 500 to 1,500/month depending on property count, for enhancements, supervision and support. That is the price of a tool that keeps up with the group's growth.
Let's scope your project. Share your property count, priority modules (reservations, HR, reporting) and a budget between EUR 45,000 and 80,000: we price a pilot then the group rollout. 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.
