The verdict in three sentences
A 12-person London insurance broker managing 4,000 policies typically pays 60 to 170 GBP per user per month for standard broking software, around 8,600 to 24,500 GBP a year, without covering its own comparison and renewal logic. A fully custom broker platform built by a London software house costs 50,000 to 120,000 GBP, whereas Kolonell builds a renewal and comparison module for 4 to 7 million FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), with FCA Consumer Duty evidence built in. The real prize is avoiding around 15% of lapses through managed renewal workflows, as a 2026 order of magnitude.
What the FCA expects from your systems
Under the Insurance Distribution rules in ICOBS, PROD and the Consumer Duty, a UK broker must be able to show the FCA that it captured the customer's demands and needs, assessed fair value, delivered the IPID, monitored outcomes and handled complaints within 8 weeks. Since the FCA's pricing practices rules, renewal communications must also show the previous year's premium. In many brokers, this evidence sits in scattered emails and PDFs.
| FCA obligation | Common practice | What a dedicated module adds |
|---|---|---|
| Demands and needs statement | Word template, signed or not | Guided form, time-stamped, filed to the client record |
| Fair value and product governance (PROD) | Spreadsheets per insurer | Target market and value notes per policy |
| IPID and renewal notice with last year's premium | Email, no read receipt | Tracked delivery, e-signature |
| Consumer Duty outcome monitoring | Annual manual review | Dashboard of retention, claims and complaints |
| Complaints within 8 weeks | Shared inbox | Register with deadlines and reminders |
| Staff competence (T&C) | Separate HR sheet | Per-person CPD tracker with alerts |
| FCA file review | 2 to 5 days of collation | Client file export in minutes |
Market software, London build or Kolonell module
UK broking platforms handle policy admin, documents and commission well. They fall short on niche rating tools (fleet, construction liability, group health), proactive renewal logic and management dashboards. The figures below are 2026 market estimates, except the last row.
| Option | Upfront cost | Recurring cost (12 users) | Timeline | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard broker SaaS | 2,000 to 5,000 GBP data migration | 8,600 to 24,500 GBP a year | 1 to 3 months | Little room for your niches |
| Insurer portals only | 0 GBP | Re-keying time | Immediate | No consolidated view |
| London software house, custom module | 20,000 to 45,000 GBP | 550 to 850 GBP per day | 4 to 6 months | High budget |
| Full custom broker platform | 50,000 to 120,000 GBP | 15 to 20% a year | 8 to 12 months | Heavy for 12 people |
| Kolonell module (comparison and renewal) | 4 to 7 M FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | Maintenance 114 or 183 EUR a month | 2 to 4 months | Sits on top of your existing system |
Replacing the whole broking system moves the project into our "complex application" tier: 7 to 15 million FCFA (10,670 to 22,870 EUR). For a 12-person firm, a module connected through API or scheduled imports is almost always the best balance of cost and risk.
The renewal module, where margin is won or lost
On 4,000 policies with a 12% annual lapse rate, a broker loses about 480 policies. Part of that is avoidable: client not contacted before expiry, premium increase not explained, alternative not offered in time. A typical module flags at-risk policies at day 90 before renewal (increase above 8%, recent claim, single-policy client), prepares a two or three insurer comparison at day 60 and tracks the decision to day 15, all logged as Consumer Duty evidence. Hosting in the UK or EU, UK GDPR compliant, with encryption and daily backups.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: James, managing director of a 12-person broker in London, 4,000 policies, average commission of 160 GBP per policy per year.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Current lapses: 12% x 4,000 = 480 policies, or 76,800 GBP in lost commission a year.
- Assumption: the module saves 15% of those, 72 policies and 11,520 GBP of commission retained a year.
- Compliance time saved: 3 hours a week, about 5,500 GBP a year at 35 GBP per hour.
- Investment: about 7,700 GBP (9,000 EUR) plus 183 EUR a month maintenance. Payback in under 6 months.
FAQ
Can a custom module connect to our current broking system?
Yes, through the vendor's API where one exists, otherwise via a nightly CSV import. The connector typically represents 900 to 2,200 GBP of the budget.
Does the module cover every FCA requirement?
It covers advice traceability, document delivery, CPD tracking and the complaints register. Compliance remains the firm's responsibility: the software makes evidence easy, it does not replace your compliance officer.
Where is client data hosted?
In the UK or the EU, with encryption and daily backups. Expect 35 to 100 GBP a month in hosting for 12 users.
How long until it is live?
Between 2 and 4 months: 2 weeks of scoping, 6 to 10 weeks of build, 2 weeks of user testing with two account handlers. A first useful release (renewal alerts) can ship in 6 weeks.
Who owns the code?
The brokerage owns the code and data. Kolonell maintenance is optional, from 53 to 183 EUR a month depending on service level.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your current system, policy count and main lines of business, and we will price your renewal module between 6,100 and 10,670 EUR, delivered in 2 to 4 months. 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.
