The verdict in three sentences
A custom policyholder portal in Toronto costs between 38,000 and 72,000 EUR in 2026 development, delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. Integration with your brokerage software (Neomia, Ageas-type, or a homegrown API) adds 8,000 to 15,000 EUR, and ongoing maintenance runs 12 to 18 % of the build per year. Against an insurtech SaaS at 22-45 EUR per user per month, custom pays off once you pass ~150 active users or your workflows fall outside standard templates.
What development actually costs
Budget depends on the number of screens, integration depth and security requirements (insurance data means strict privacy rules). Here are the ranges seen in 2026 with an agency day rate of 480 to 650 EUR.
| Line item | Scope | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery + UX/UI | Workshops, mockups, policyholder journey | 6,000 - 11,000 |
| Front-end (client space) | Contracts, claims, certificates, docs | 14,000 - 26,000 |
| Back-end + auth | Secure API, SSO, document vault | 10,000 - 20,000 |
| Brokerage software integration | Neomia/Ageas/API connector | 8,000 - 15,000 |
| QA + security | Testing, audit, go-live | 4,000 - 8,000 |
| Total build | Complete portal | 38,000 - 72,000 |
Add maintenance: expect 12 to 18 % of the build cost per year, i.e. 4,500 to 13,000 EUR/year for fixes, minor enhancements and security updates.
Build vs Buy: the real 3-year comparison
An insurtech SaaS typically bills 22 to 45 EUR per user per month. For a firm with 40 staff plus policyholder access, the math shifts fast. Here is a 3-year TCO for a mid-size brokerage.
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom (build 55,000 + maint. 9,000/yr) | 64,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 82,000 |
| SaaS 40 users at 35 EUR/mo | 16,800 | 16,800 | 16,800 | 50,400 |
| SaaS 90 users at 35 EUR/mo | 37,800 | 37,800 | 37,800 | 113,400 |
| SaaS 40 users at 45 EUR/mo | 21,600 | 21,600 | 21,600 | 64,800 |
Reading: below ~50 users, SaaS stays cheaper over 3 years. Beyond ~90 users, or if you want control of your data and brand, custom wins, with the bonus of an asset you own.
Mini case study
Sophie, who runs a Toronto brokerage (18 staff, 4,200 policyholders), spent 11 hours/week on phone requests for certificates. With a custom portal at 51,000 EUR (maintenance 8,500 EUR/year), 68 % of certificate requests became self-service. Gain: ~7 hours/week of back-office work, i.e. ~320 hours/year valued at 35 EUR = 11,200 EUR/year. Payback on the build in ~4.5 years from time savings alone, before counting client retention and premium brand image.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How long to deliver a policyholder portal in Toronto?
Expect 10 to 14 weeks for a full portal with brokerage software integration. An MVP (contracts + certificates only) can ship in 6 to 8 weeks for 22,000-30,000 EUR.
Is integration with my brokerage software always possible?
Yes if the vendor exposes an API or exports. The connector costs 8,000 to 15,000 EUR. Without an API, we use file feeds, slower but workable.
What security and compliance budget should I plan?
Insurance data requires encryption, regional hosting and logging. A security audit costs 3,000 to 6,000 EUR and is strongly recommended before go-live.
Can I spread the payments?
Yes, most projects split into 3-4 milestones (discovery, dev, QA, prod) with per-phase billing, smoothing cash flow across the 10-14 weeks.
What does annual maintenance cost?
Maintenance runs 12 to 18 % of the build per year, i.e. 4,500 to 13,000 EUR depending on the pace of enhancements and support level (business hours or extended).
Let's scope your project. Tell us your flows (number of policyholders, brokerage software, key features) and an indicative budget: we right-size the portal, from a 22,000 EUR MVP to a full custom build. 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.
