The verdict in three sentences
For a firm under 5 lawyers, a market legal SaaS (Secib, Kleos, Jarvis) stays the rational choice at 40-100 EUR per user per month. Above 8-10 users, or if your processes fall outside the standard, a custom tool at 35,000-90,000 EUR pays back over 4 to 5 years through recovered billable time. The real cost is not the license: it is unbilled time and missed deadlines.
Market SaaS: real 2026 pricing
Vendors charge per user, with feature tiers. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Vendor / plan | 2026 indicative price | Target | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secib néo (entry) | 55 EUR/user/mo | SMB firms | Matters, calendar, billing |
| Kleos (Wolters Kluwer) | 70 EUR/user/mo | Firms 3-20 | DMS, e-filing, accounting |
| Jarvis Legal | 45 EUR/user/mo | Small firms | Cloud, time tracking, billing |
| Clio / equivalent | 60 EUR/user/mo | Mid firms | Trust accounting, portal |
| Custom (reference) | 35,000-90,000 EUR | 8+ users | Exact firm scope |
Add a setup fee of 500 to 3,000 EUR, data migration and training.
5-year TCO: SaaS versus custom
Total cost of ownership often reverses intuition. Basis: 8 users, SaaS at 70 EUR/user/mo.
| Line item | SaaS (8 users) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| License / initial build | — | 60,000 EUR |
| Annual subscription | 6,720 EUR | — |
| Subscription 5 years | 33,600 EUR | — |
| Maintenance 5 years | included | 15,000 EUR |
| Migration + training | 3,000 EUR | 5,000 EUR |
| 5-year total | 36,600 EUR | 80,000 EUR |
| 5-year total (16 users) | 70,200 EUR | 85,000 EUR |
At 8 users, SaaS wins comfortably. At 16 users the gap narrows sharply and custom becomes relevant if the functional gain is real.
Mini case study
Mr. Laurent, managing partner of a 12-lawyer business firm in London, finds each lawyer loses about 35 minutes a day re-keying data between calendar, matters and billing. At an average rate of 180 EUR and 210 working days, that is ≈ 22,000 EUR of lost billable time per lawyer per year. A custom tool at 75,000 EUR that recovers even half that time pays back in under 8 months firm-wide. The license is never the decisive line.
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FAQ
Is a legal SaaS compliant with attorney-client confidentiality?
Yes if hosting is in the EU and at-rest encryption is on. Check data location and demand a reinforced confidentiality clause: this is a non-negotiable ethics point.
How long to deploy a custom tool?
Allow 3 to 6 months for a full scope (matters, time tracking, billing, deadlines). An MVP focused on one clear pain can ship in 6 to 8 weeks.
Can we migrate from an old system without loss?
Yes, via structured export and controlled migration. Budget 3,000 to 8,000 EUR depending on volume and historical data quality.
Can e-filing and trust accounting be integrated in custom builds?
E-filing connectors are simpler through certified vendors; in custom work we prioritise trust-accounting integration and keep e-filing vendor-side where needed.
What truly triggers going custom?
Atypical processes (complex fixed-fee billing, specific client reporting, multi-office) that SaaS forces you to work around with spreadsheets. Once the workaround costs hours, custom pays off.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, current tools and the 3 tasks costing you the most billable time, and we will price SaaS vs custom. 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.
