The verdict in three sentences
Custom insurance brokerage software costs between 30,000 and 85,000 EUR in 2026, or 40 to 120 EUR/user/month as a vertical SaaS. It centralizes contracts, clients, claims and multi-carrier commissions, automates renewals and makes commission calculation 99%+ reliable. The payoff: 20 to 30% of admin time saved and better client retention.
The features that make the difference
A broker's core is the portfolio and the commission. A good tool covers:
- Portfolio management: clients, risks, multi-carrier contracts, full history.
- Digital underwriting: compared quotes, e-signature, supporting documents.
- Automated renewals: expiry alerts, follow-ups, endorsements.
- Commission calculation: carrier statements, introducers, retrocessions, reconciliation.
- Claims management: filing, tracking, exchanges with carriers.
| Module | Custom (EUR) | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio CRM core | 9,000 - 16,000 | High |
| Underwriting + compared quotes | 8,000 - 18,000 | High |
| Commission engine | 7,000 - 15,000 | High |
| Automated renewals | 5,000 - 11,000 | Medium |
| Claims management | 6,000 - 14,000 | Medium |
| Client extranet portal | 5,000 - 12,000 | Medium |
A single-user firm can start around 30,000 EUR; a wholesale multi-branch broker targets 85,000 EUR.
Market SaaS or custom?
Brokerage SaaS solutions exist but bill per seat and cap the customization of commission statements, often the friction point.
| Option | Year 1 cost (EUR) | Recurring cost | Commission customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brokerage SaaS per seat | 8,000 - 25,000 | 40 - 120/user/mo | Limited |
| Vendor license software | 20,000 - 45,000 | 6,000 - 15,000/yr | Medium |
| Custom by Kolonell | 30,000 - 85,000 | 12 - 18% maintenance/yr | Total |
Beyond 8 to 10 users, per-seat SaaS becomes pricier than amortized custom software, while remaining less flexible on commission rules.
Mini case study
Sophie runs a 7-employee brokerage in Lyon, 3,200 contracts in portfolio. Manual commission calculation and reconciling carrier statements tied up one half-time person, about 900 h/year at 32 EUR/h loaded = 28,800 EUR/year, with 2 to 3% retrocession errors. Custom software at 58,000 EUR automates 90% of the calculation: 25,000 EUR/year freed and errors nearly eliminated. Payback: about 2.3 years, plus better retention thanks to piloted renewals.
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FAQ
Does the commission engine handle multiple carriers?
Yes: each carrier has its own rate rules, tiers and retrocessions. The engine automatically reconciles received statements against theoretical dues, targeting 99%+ reliability.
Can we integrate e-signature?
Yes, digital underwriting includes e-signature and document collection, cutting the time-to-management from several days to a few hours.
How long for a first deployment?
A CRM + underwriting core ships in 3 to 4 months. The full commission engine follows in increments, for a total of 5 to 7 months.
Is the client portal included?
It is optional (5,000 to 12,000 EUR). It lets the insured view contracts and certificates, cutting inbound calls by 20 to 30%.
What annual maintenance cost?
2026 order of magnitude: 12 to 18% of the initial cost, i.e. 3,600 to 15,300 EUR/year, regulatory updates included.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of users, your partner carriers and your commission rules for a tailored quote. 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.
