The verdict in three sentences
For an electric cargo bike maker selling to tradespeople, last mile couriers, councils and families, the line that justifies the quote is the bike configurator, because a EUR 6,000 to 10,000 bike does not sell from a plain product page. Munich quotes range from EUR 30,000 to 85,000 (2026 ballpark), and the spread comes mostly from the public buyer journey and from financing, especially business leasing. A sound quote lists every line in days and prices recurring costs from day one.
The maker's context
The illustrative company assembles four models in an industrial unit north of Munich: a two wheel front loader, a three wheeler, a longtail and a refrigerated delivery trike. Each comes with battery, box, cover, trailer hitch and branding options. Buyers include electricians and plumbers replacing a van in the city centre, courier firms, Bavarian municipalities and public utilities, and families.
Public buyers do not pay by card: they request a quote, issue a purchase order and pay on invoice, and German federal and state authorities expect structured e-invoices in the XRechnung format. Many businesses prefer leasing, often through employer bike leasing schemes (Dienstradleasing), while families want a test ride at a partner dealer before they buy.
The itemised quote, line by line
The quote uses a EUR 750 day rate, a 2026 ballpark for an experienced e-commerce team in Munich.
| Line | Scope | Days | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and journeys | Buyer profiles, pricing rules, financing | 6 | EUR 4,500 |
| Design and catalogue | Brand, model pages, trade landing pages | 14 | EUR 10,500 |
| Configurator | Model, battery, box, options, live price and visual | 18 | EUR 13,500 |
| Leasing and instalments | Financing partner integration, monthly rate calculator | 9 | EUR 6,750 |
| Business area and public orders | PDF quotes, purchase orders, XRechnung invoices | 15 | EUR 11,250 |
| Dealer test ride booking | Dealer map, slots, confirmations | 8 | EUR 6,000 |
| Performance, technical SEO and QA | Speed, markup, mobile testing | 6 | EUR 4,500 |
| Launch and onboarding | Configuration, team handover | 3 | EUR 2,250 |
| Total | 79 | EUR 59,250 |
At EUR 13,500 the configurator sits inside the EUR 6,000 to 20,000 market range. A EUR 6,000 configurator usually means option lists with no visual and no compatibility rules; beyond EUR 20,000 you are paying for interactive 3D, rarely needed for a utility bike.
Recurring costs
| Recurring item | Scope | 2026 ballpark |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting or platform plan | Depending on WooCommerce, Shopify or other | EUR 60 to 450 a month |
| Maintenance | Updates, fixes, backups | EUR 400 to 1,100 a month |
| Card and wallet fees | Per transaction | 1.2 % to 2.5 % |
| Instalment provider fee | Paid by the merchant, per contract | 2 % to 5 % of financed amount |
| Apps and extensions | Quotes, booking, reviews | EUR 40 to 220 a month |
| Changes | New models and options | 3 to 10 days a year |
As a nearshore benchmark, Kolonell's prices for an online store fall under the Premium tier, 3,050 to 5,340 EUR (2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA), e-commerce or booking included, delivered in 21 to 30 working days, with options such as booking at 340 EUR (225,000 FCFA) and a customer area at 230 EUR (150,000 FCFA). The configurator and public invoicing integrations are quoted separately as application work.
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Illustrative example: Tobias, managing director of the Munich maker, has three quotes on his desk: EUR 34,000, EUR 59,250 and EUR 82,000. The cheapest has no configurator and no public order flow; the most expensive adds a 3D configurator. He sells 14 bikes a month online at an average EUR 6,800. With the configurator, leasing and public orders he targets 3 extra sales a month, EUR 244,800 a year, at a 25 % margin: EUR 61,200. After EUR 9,600 of yearly recurring costs, the net gain of EUR 51,600 pays back the EUR 59,250 quote in about 14 months.
FAQ
How much does an online store for a cargo bike maker cost in Munich?
The 2026 ballpark is EUR 30,000 to 85,000. A quote near EUR 59,000 includes a configurator, leasing, public orders and dealer test ride booking.
Is a configurator really needed?
For EUR 6,000 to 10,000 bikes with battery and box choices, yes. Budget EUR 6,000 to 20,000 depending on compatibility rules and visuals.
How do we sell to councils online?
The store issues a PDF quote, accepts a purchase order and sends an XRechnung e-invoice. That flow takes 12 to 18 days of work.
Can we offer business leasing?
Yes, through a financing partner built into the cart, with a monthly rate calculator. Integration takes 6 to 10 days depending on the partner API.
How long does the project take?
Plan 10 to 18 weeks. Launching before spring, the test ride season, leaves time to fine tune the configurator.
Let's scope your project. Send us your models, buyer profiles and indicative budget, and we will quote the store line by line with a realistic timeline. 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.
