The verdict in three sentences
A broker and agent extranet for an insurance company costs roughly USD 25,000 to 50,000 (EUR 23,000 to 46,000) when built by a nearshore team, delivered in 5 to 7 months, with maintenance at USD 650 to 1,300 per month. London agencies typically quote 2 to 3 times more for the same scope. For a network of 80 agents and brokers, it removes contract re-keying, secures certificate issuance and ends the commission disputes that sour the relationship with the network. The deciding factor is the quality of the integration with your policy administration system and regulatory compliance built in from day one.
What an underwriting extranet includes and what it costs
The typical scope covers online motor and health underwriting, issuance of certificates and policy documents, premium collection tracking, commission calculation and a dashboard per intermediary. Each module is priced separately, so you can ship motor first and extend later.
| Module | 2026 range (USD) | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, business workshops and wireframes | 2,500 to 4,000 | 4 weeks |
| Motor underwriting (rating engine, quote, policy) | 6,500 to 12,500 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Health underwriting (plans, beneficiaries, questionnaire) | 5,000 to 10,000 | 5 to 7 weeks |
| Certificate issuance and signed PDF documents | 2,500 to 5,000 | 3 weeks |
| Commissions, statements and premium reconciliation | 3,300 to 7,500 | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Per-broker and management dashboards | 2,500 to 5,000 | 3 weeks |
| Policy system integration and security (SSO, audit logs) | 2,700 to 6,000 | 4 weeks |
| Total | 25,000 to 50,000 | 5 to 7 months |
Order of magnitude for 2026 for a mid-sized non-life insurer. Maintenance at USD 650 to 1,300 per month covers hosting, fixes, rating updates and support for intermediaries.
Compliance and security: the non-negotiables
Insurance regulators (FCA in the UK, CIMA in francophone Africa) govern how intermediaries distribute policies, how premiums are handled and how records are kept. The extranet must trace every operation and protect personal data under GDPR or the applicable local law.
| Requirement | How it translates into the extranet | Cost if missed at the start |
|---|---|---|
| Premium collected before cover (cash before cover) | Certificate blocked until payment is confirmed | Funnel rebuild, USD 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Traceability of authorized intermediaries | Broker profile with registration number and expiry | Regulatory sanction risk |
| Protected health data | Encryption, restricted access, access logs | New data protection filing, audit |
| Remittance of collected premiums | Automatic statements with remittance due dates | Disputes and cash delays |
| Archiving of policies and endorsements | Timestamped storage, 10-year retention | Costly data migration |
| Strong authentication | Two-factor via SMS or authenticator app | Certificate fraud |
Premium payment by card, open banking or, in West Africa, Wave and Orange Money plugs into the same module: the certificate is generated only after the payment provider's webhook confirms.
Custom build or vendor portal?
Policy administration vendors often offer an intermediary portal, but it rarely fits local practice: mobile payment, specific motor certificates, brokers working mostly on smartphones. Custom makes sense when the network exceeds 40 to 50 intermediaries and the core system exposes an API or an accessible database.
| Criterion | Vendor portal | Custom extranet |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | Licence USD 13,000 to 33,000 plus configuration | USD 25,000 to 50,000 |
| Annual cost | Maintenance 18 to 22% of the licence | USD 7,800 to 15,600 |
| Local and mobile payment methods | Rarely native | Built into phase 1 |
| Mobile use by agents | Often desktop-first | Mobile-first by design |
| Product changes | Depends on the vendor roadmap | At the insurer's pace |
| Code ownership | No | Yes, documented |
Mini case study
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James, CTO of a non-life insurer in London, works with 80 intermediaries who email around 1,200 new risks per month. Each file needs 20 minutes of re-keying, so 400 back-office hours per month; even at a conservative USD 6 per hour for an outsourced team, that is USD 2,400 per month or USD 28,800 per year. Faster issuance targets 5% more production on USD 3 million of motor premiums, i.e. USD 150,000 of premiums and about USD 22,500 of technical margin at 15%. Total annual gain: USD 51,300, minus USD 12,000 of maintenance, i.e. USD 39,300. An extranet at USD 36,000 pays back in about 11 months.
FAQ
Can we start with motor insurance only?
Yes, it is the recommended path. A first motor phase with certificates and commissions costs USD 15,000 to 25,000 and ships in 3 to 4 months, with health added on the same foundation.
Will agents without a computer be able to use it?
The extranet is designed for smartphones, with short forms and low data usage. On our projects, more than 70% of agent submissions are made on mobile.
How are commissions calculated?
Rates per product, per intermediary and per tier are configured in the tool. Monthly statements are generated automatically and reconciled against collected premiums, cutting disputes by 80 to 90%.
Do we need to replace our policy administration system?
No. The extranet connects to the existing system via API or scheduled file exchange. Integration budget ranges from USD 2,700 to 6,000 depending on how open the software is.
Where is the data hosted?
Hosting can run on a cloud region of your choice (UK, EU or Africa) depending on your policy and your compliance team. The cost is included in maintenance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your intermediary network, products and policy system: we will quote an extranet between USD 25,000 and 50,000 with a phased 5 to 7 month 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.
