How Much Does a Custom SaaS Really Cost? Amsterdam Benchmarks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

The cost of a custom SaaS depends first on its maturity tier: MVP EUR 45,000-90,000, market-ready v1 EUR 100,000-180,000, full multi-tenant platform EUR 180,000-300,000. The day rate sits between EUR 500 and 750 and maintenance costs ~15% of the build per year. Three factors can double the quote: multi-tenancy, subscription billing and the granularity of role management.

The three cost tiers (2026)

Do not confuse an MVP with a finished product. An MVP validates a hypothesis with a single core feature; a v1 sells; a multi-tenant platform industrialises.

The MVP -> v1 jump is the most underestimated: it is not "adding screens" but industrialising (tests, security, billing, support), which explains the near-doubling of the budget.

Line items and what doubles the quote

A credible SaaS quote details each line item. Here is the typical breakdown of a v1 and the variation factors.

On the recurring side: scalable hosting EUR 300-1,500/month depending on traffic, and maintenance ~15% of build/year. A EUR 150,000 SaaS therefore costs about EUR 22,500/year in maintenance, excluding hosting. These are 2026 ballparks to refine by stack and load.

Mini case study

Daan, founder of a B2B startup in Amsterdam, is torn between raising funds and self-financing. Goal: a compliance-management SaaS. v1 quote: discovery EUR 18,000, frontend EUR 35,000, backend + API EUR 42,000, Stripe billing EUR 15,000, RBAC EUR 12,000, tests/security EUR 18,000, DevOps EUR 10,000 = EUR 150,000, delivered in 5 months. Year-1 recurring cost: hosting EUR 600/month + maintenance EUR 22,500 = ~EUR 30,000/year. With a target subscription of EUR 79/month, he breaks even on recurring cost at 32 active customers; recovering the build depends on his acquisition speed.

FAQ

What is the cost difference between MVP and v1?

An MVP (EUR 45,000-90,000) validates a hypothesis; a v1 (EUR 100,000-180,000) sells. The transition nearly doubles the budget because you must industrialise tests, security, billing and support.

Why is multi-tenancy so expensive?

Because you must isolate each customer's data, manage roles per organisation and a cross-cutting admin. It is structural: it impacts backend, security and testing, hence a budget of EUR 180,000-300,000.

What day rate should I expect in 2026?

Between EUR 500 and 750 depending on seniority and team location. A very low day rate often hides missing tests or security that you pay for later in maintenance.

How much for post-launch?

A ballpark of 15% of the build per year in maintenance, plus EUR 300-1,500/month hosting. About EUR 30,000/year for a EUR 150,000 SaaS.

Do I need to raise funds for a custom SaaS?

Not necessarily. An MVP at EUR 45,000-90,000 is self-financeable by many SMEs. Raising mainly makes sense to accelerate acquisition after validating product-market fit.

Let's scope your project. Specify your target tier (MVP, v1, multi-tenant), your integrations and your subscription model: we price the line items and the recurring cost. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.