The verdict in three sentences
A B2B spare parts marketplace solves a real problem: a maintenance manager loses hours hunting for a part across ten suppliers while a production line is down. The project costs EUR 80,000 to 180,000 excl. VAT custom-built, or more than EUR 100,000 a year in a Mirakl-type licence, with a realistic 6 to 8 month timeline. The model works if the 8% to 15% commission applies to enough volume: aim for at least EUR 10M to 15M of annual gross merchandise volume to cover platform costs.
Licence or custom: the numbers
| Criterion | Licensed solution (Mirakl-type) | Custom (open source + development) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch cost | EUR 60,000 to 150,000 integration | EUR 80,000 to 180,000 |
| Annual cost | EUR 100,000 to 250,000 licence, often indexed on volume | EUR 15,000 to 35,000 (hosting, maintenance, evolutions) |
| Time to launch | 4 to 6 months | 6 to 8 months |
| Handling a 300,000-SKU catalogue | native, proven | to be designed (search engine, imports) |
| Specific business logic (equivalents, machine compatibility) | limited to the tool's framework | unlimited |
| Ownership of code and data | no | yes |
| Best fit | industrial group with budget and need for speed | entrepreneur or mid-size firm wanting to control margin |
Over 5 years, the licence totals EUR 560,000 to 1,400,000, against EUR 155,000 to 355,000 for custom. The gap easily funds the sales team that will recruit suppliers.
The business model: where margin is made
| Revenue source | 2026 parameter (ballpark) | Example on EUR 15M annual GMV |
|---|---|---|
| Sales commission | 8% (bearings, belts) to 15% (rare, obsolete parts) | 10% average = EUR 1,500,000 |
| Supplier subscription | EUR 0 to 250/month depending on visibility | 60 paying suppliers x EUR 150 x 12 = EUR 108,000 |
| Sponsored placement | 1% to 3% of participating sellers' volume | EUR 90,000 |
| Services (logistics, 60-day payment terms) | 1% to 2% of financed amount | EUR 75,000 |
| Split payment cost | 0.8% to 1.5% of volume | - EUR 180,000 |
| Fraud, disputes, bad debt | 0.2% to 0.5% | - EUR 50,000 |
Split payment is the core technical piece: the buyer pays once for a multi-vendor cart, the platform takes its commission and automatically pays each supplier. In Europe this runs through a licensed provider (Stripe Connect, Mangopay, Lemonway) to stay PSD2-compliant without becoming a payment institution. Industrial buyers also expect 30 or 60-day invoice terms, covered by a financing partner.
The real challenge: the catalogue
With 300,000 SKUs from 150 suppliers, the same bearing appears under 12 different names. You need a product master (manufacturer codes, standards, equivalents), automated file or API imports, and search that tolerates typos and partial part numbers. This workstream represents 25% to 35% of the development budget and directly drives conversion.
Mini case study
Frédéric, a former maintenance manager in the food industry, launches a marketplace in Lille with 150 suppliers and 2,000 buyers. Custom budget: EUR 140,000, delivered in 7 months. Year-three assumption: 2,000 buyers x EUR 6,000 annual purchases = EUR 12M GMV, average 10% commission, i.e. EUR 1.2M commission revenue. After 1.2% payment cost (EUR 144,000) and EUR 30,000 maintenance, platform gross margin reaches about EUR 1,026,000, before sales and marketing. With Mirakl at EUR 150,000 a year, he would have paid EUR 450,000 of licence over 3 years instead of EUR 90,000 of maintenance.
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FAQ
What commission suits industrial parts?
Between 8% on highly competitive standard consumables and 15% on rare or obsolete parts. A per-category grid is fairer than a single rate.
Do we need to become a payment institution?
No. A licensed split-payment provider handles third-party funds for 0.8% to 1.5% of volume. Becoming a payment institution costs several hundred thousand euros and about 12 months of procedures.
How do we attract the first 150 suppliers?
Offer 6 months without subscription, free catalogue import and real orders from launch. Target 30 anchor suppliers covering 70% of common needs before opening to buyers.
How long until profitability?
Typically 24 to 36 months. Break-even depends mostly on GMV: below EUR 5M a year, commission rarely covers the platform and the team.
Can we launch a cheaper first version?
Yes, an EUR 80,000 MVP with 20 suppliers, a 50,000-SKU catalogue and split payment validates the model in 4 to 5 months before further investment.
Let's scope your project. Describe your supplier network, catalogue and commission model: we will quote a B2B marketplace between EUR 80,000 and 180,000 with a 6 to 8 month launch plan. 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.
