The verdict in three sentences
A SaaS tool covers 80 % of firms for 40 to 90 EUR per user per month, with no upfront investment. Custom development, between 45,000 and 110,000 EUR, is justified when your processes (time-based billing, document workflows, accounting integration) fall outside the standard mould. In both cases, the real return comes from the 5 to 10 hours saved per lawyer per month reclaimed from admin tasks.
What law firm software covers in 2026
A complete tool combines case management, time-based billing, a shared calendar with procedural deadlines, a document vault and payment tracking. The differentiator remains time-based billing: a lawyer who fails to log billable work loses 15 to 20 % of their billable revenue on average.
| Module | Vendor SaaS | Custom-built |
|---|---|---|
| Case management | Included | 100 % configurable |
| Time-based billing | Included, standard formats | Custom rate rules |
| Calendar + deadlines | Included | Custom per jurisdiction |
| Document vault | Included (quota) | Unlimited, encrypted |
| Accounting integration | Limited connectors | Dedicated API |
| Customisation | Low | Full |
SaaS licence or custom development
The choice depends on user count and level of specificity. A 6-lawyer firm on SaaS at 70 EUR pays 5,040 EUR per year, roughly 25,000 EUR over five years. Custom at 70,000 EUR amortises more slowly but eliminates the per-seat rent and makes you the code owner.
| Criterion | SaaS | Custom-built |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 EUR | 45,000-110,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost | 40-90 EUR/user | Hosting 150-500 EUR |
| Time to launch | 2-6 weeks | 3-6 months |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| 5-year cost (8 users) | ~40,000 EUR | ~85,000 EUR |
| Scalability | Bounded | Unlimited |
Mini case study
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Ms Fontaine, managing partner of an 8-lawyer firm in Bordeaux, is undecided. On SaaS at 75 EUR per user, she pays 7,200 EUR per year. Over five years: 36,000 EUR, before price rises. Custom at 78,000 EUR plus 3,600 EUR annual hosting comes to 96,000 EUR over five years. SaaS wins on paper. But the time savings are identical: if each lawyer reclaims 8 hours per month valued at 120 EUR, the firm unlocks an extra 92,160 EUR of billable capacity per year. The decision hinges on process specificity, not software price.
FAQ
How much does SaaS law firm software cost in 2026? Expect 40 to 90 EUR per user per month depending on modules. A 5-person firm sits around 3,000 to 5,400 EUR per year.
Is custom worth it for a small firm? Below 5 users, rarely: the 45,000 EUR minimum ticket takes over five years to amortise against SaaS.
What real time savings can I expect? Equipped firms reclaim 5 to 10 hours per lawyer per month on logging, billing and document search.
Can I migrate existing case files? Yes, a data migration typically costs 3,000 to 8,000 EUR depending on volume and source format.
Is the document vault compliant? An encrypted vault with timestamping and access logs meets the profession's confidentiality requirements; custom builds allow dedicated encryption.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your lawyer count, priority modules and indicative budget, and we'll cost SaaS against 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.
