The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, an internal web management app built in Dublin costs 35,000 to 80,000 EUR for delivery in 3 to 4 months, with workflow, roles and a dashboard. It replaces a stack of fragile Excel spreadsheets with a reliable, auditable, multi-user tool. The return comes from freed hours (15 to 25 h/month) and the drop in data-entry errors (up to -60 %).
What an internal app budget covers
Unlike a commercial SaaS, an internal app needs no billing or marketing: the budget concentrates on business workflows, roles and data reliability.
| Item | Scope | 2026 estimate (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery & data modeling | Workshops, schema | 4,000 - 9,000 |
| Auth & internal roles | Teams, permissions | 4,500 - 9,000 |
| Business workflow | Steps, approvals, statuses | 12,000 - 30,000 |
| Dashboard | KPIs, filters, exports | 5,000 - 12,000 |
| Imports / Excel migration | Legacy data takeover | 4,000 - 9,000 |
| Training & documentation | Team onboarding | 3,500 - 7,000 |
| Total | 35,000 - 80,000 |
The going day rate in Dublin sits between 500 and 850 EUR in 2026, and evolutive maintenance between 350 and 700 EUR/month depending on usage intensity.
The ROI versus Excel spreadsheets
The real cost of spreadsheets is invisible: consolidation time, duplicates, conflicting versions, formula errors. An internal app turns these hidden costs into measurable gains.
| Criterion | Excel spreadsheets | Custom web app |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous multi-user entry | Version conflicts | Real time |
| Data-entry errors | Baseline | -60 % |
| Monthly consolidation time | 15 - 25 h | ~2 h |
| Traceability / history | Near zero | Complete |
| Role-based access rights | Impossible | Granular |
| Upfront cost | 0 EUR | 35,000 - 80,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost | Lost time | 350 - 700 EUR maintenance |
At 50 EUR fully loaded hourly cost, 20 h saved per month is 1,000 EUR/month, or 12,000 EUR/year: a 50,000 EUR app pays back in about 4 years on time alone, before counting fewer errors.
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Mini case study
Sarah, COO of a logistics SME in Dublin, runs her routes and stock on five shared Excel workbooks. Frequent stock errors, two people tied up 3 days a month to consolidate. She commissions an internal app: route management, stock tracking, approval workflow, real-time dashboard. Quote: 55,000 EUR, delivered in 3.5 months, maintenance at 550 EUR/month.
Gains: 22 h/month freed (about 1,100 EUR/month at 50 EUR/h) and -60 % stock errors, which cost roughly 1,500 EUR/month in re-shipments. Total: about 2,600 EUR of monthly gains against 550 EUR maintenance, i.e. 2,050 EUR net/month. The app is amortized in about 27 months, then generates a durable net gain.
FAQ
Why not stay on Excel? Excel hits its ceiling fast with multiple users: version conflicts, untracked formula errors and no role-based rights. Beyond 3-4 regular users, the hidden cost exceeds that of an app.
How long to deploy? 3 to 4 months for a standard internal app, Excel migration included. A scope reduced to a single workflow can ship in 6-8 weeks.
Can we bring over our existing Excel data? Yes. Data takeover (import and cleanup) is a dedicated line in the quote, usually 4,000 to 9,000 EUR depending on volume and file quality.
What maintenance budget should we plan? Plan 350 to 700 EUR/month for fixes, adjustments and small evolutions. This is what keeps the tool from degrading over time.
Do we need special hosting? European cloud hosting with automatic backups suits most SMEs. If your data is sensitive, we can target a certified host and reinforced isolation.
Let's scope your project. List your current Excel workflows, the number of users and an indicative budget: we quote an internal app that gives you back 15 to 25 hours a month. 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.
