The verdict in three sentences
Uncaptured time is lost revenue : in a law firm, 5-10 % of hours worked are never billed for lack of a reliable tool. Legal SaaS (EUR 30-80/user/month) fixes the basics ; custom (EUR 35,000-95,000) goes further by matching your rates, matters and professional-secrecy constraints. The +15 % collection-rate gain is the true financial argument, well ahead of usability.
SaaS or custom : the costed comparison
| Criterion | Legal SaaS | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 0-2,500 | EUR 35,000-95,000 |
| Recurring cost | EUR 30-80/user/month | Maintenance EUR 500-1,200/month |
| Timeline | 2 to 5 weeks | 4 to 6 months |
| Time capture | Standard | Tailored to your rates/practice |
| Conflict-of-interest checks | Basic | Custom (matter database) |
| GDPR & professional secrecy | Shared | Dedicated hosting possible |
| Data ownership | With vendor | With you |
For an 8-lawyer firm, SaaS at EUR 55/user/month costs EUR 5,280/year recurring. Custom pays off once the collection gain exceeds that — which happens fast.
The collection effect, in figures
| Indicator | Before | After (custom) |
|---|---|---|
| Hours captured / billable | 88 % | 97 % |
| Invoice issuance delay | 25 days | 7 days |
| Collection rate | 82 % | 94 % |
| Client billing disputes | frequent | rare |
| Billed revenue (base EUR 1.6M) | EUR 1.6M | +EUR 240k potential |
Mobile time capture (as meetings happen), automated billing and matter/time reconciliation are the three levers. GDPR and professional secrecy require EU hosting and access traceability — native in a custom build.
Mini case study
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Ms Diop, partner at a business-law firm in Berlin (8 lawyers, EUR 1.6M in fees). The firm bills only 88 % of hours actually worked. Moving to 97 % through reliable time capture recovers 9 points on EUR 1.6M, i.e. ~EUR 144,000/year of extra revenue, before any collection effect.
Project cost : EUR 68,000 plus maintenance of EUR 900/month (EUR 10,800/year). Payback in 6 to 7 months. Here custom becomes a profit centre, not a cost.
FAQ
What does law-firm time-billing software cost in 2026 ? SaaS : EUR 30-80/user/month. Custom : EUR 35,000-95,000 depending on scope (time, matters, conflicts, accounting).
How does custom improve collection ? It makes time capture reliable (mobile, real-time) and automates invoicing, cutting omissions and delays. Typical gain : +15 % collection rate.
How do you handle professional secrecy and GDPR ? EU hosting, encryption, access logging and matter partitioning. A dedicated project allows isolated hosting, unlike shared SaaS.
What is the rollout timeline ? 4 to 6 months for full scope. A standalone time-capture module can ship in 8-10 weeks.
What maintenance cost ? Maintenance of EUR 500-1,200/month depending on users and integrations. 2026 ballpark.
Let's scope your project. Give us your lawyer count, current collection rate and accounting integrations and we will price a scope between EUR 35,000 and 95,000. 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.
