The verdict in three sentences
A B2B store still running on Magento 1 in 2026 has had no official security patches since June 2020 and is a direct risk to PCI DSS 4.0 compliance and sales continuity. For a merchant with EUR 4M (about USD 4.3M) in online revenue, replatforming costs EUR 40,000 to 120,000 (USD 43,000 to 130,000) depending on the target, with EUR 0 to 40,000 in annual licences and a 4 to 8 month timeline. The right choice depends less on the platform than on three criteria: B2B pricing complexity, ERP integrations and in-house capacity to maintain code.
The real cost of doing nothing
Staying on Magento 1 is not free. Community patches (OpenMage, Mage One) extend the site's life, but the PHP version, abandoned extensions and lack of third-party audits expose the business. A card skimming incident or customer account takeover quickly costs tens of thousands, not counting lost trust among professional buyers.
| Status quo risk | 2026 likelihood | Estimated impact (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| PCI DSS 4.0 non-compliance flagged by the acquiring bank | High | Penalties of 5,000 to 50,000 a month, or card payments cut off |
| Unpatched extension vulnerability (injection, skimming) | Medium | 30,000 to 150,000 (forensics, breach notification, legal) |
| PHP 7.x incompatibility at the host | High | Legacy dedicated hosting at 400 to 900 a month |
| Last Magento 1 developer leaves | Medium | Development halts, contractor at 750 to 950 a day |
| B2B e-invoicing not supported (EU mandates 2026-2027) | High | Custom work on an obsolete codebase |
| Slow pages and conversion loss | Certain | 5 to 15% fewer orders |
Comparing the four replatforming options
The figures below are 2026 ballparks for a B2B merchant with 5,000 to 20,000 SKUs, 1,500 active customer accounts and a connected ERP. For North America, multiply EUR by about 1.08 for USD.
| Option | Migration (EUR) | Annual licence (EUR) | Timeline | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Commerce (paid Magento 2) | 80,000 to 120,000 | 22,000 to 40,000 | 6 to 8 months | Native B2B features (quotes, company accounts, shared catalogues) | High total cost, scarce developers |
| Magento Open Source 2 | 60,000 to 100,000 | 0 | 5 to 7 months | Logic close to M1 | B2B needs extensions |
| Shopify Plus (native B2B) | 40,000 to 70,000 | 25,000 to 30,000 | 4 to 5 months | Managed hosting, security included | Limited complex pricing rules |
| Sylius (open source PHP Symfony) | 50,000 to 90,000 | 0 to 15,000 (Plus) | 5 to 7 months | Flexibility, low licence cost | Needs a Symfony team |
| Custom (Next.js + API + PIM) | 70,000 to 120,000 | 0 | 6 to 8 months | Tailored journeys, performance | Budget 12,000 to 20,000 a year for maintenance |
Data migration is a separate line: customer accounts, shipping addresses, 3 to 5 years of order history, price lists. Magento 1 passwords (salted MD5 hashes) do not migrate cleanly everywhere, so plan a reset campaign or a compatibility layer.
A 4 to 8 month migration plan
A cautious plan follows five steps: audit of Magento 1 and its extensions (3 to 4 weeks), target choice and specifications (3 weeks), development and ERP connector (8 to 16 weeks), dry-run data migration and acceptance testing (4 weeks), then cutover with a 301 redirect map for every product and category URL. That last step protects organic search, which often accounts for 30 to 50% of a B2B store's traffic.
Mini case study
Emily, e-commerce manager at a professional hygiene supplies company in Chicago, runs USD 4.3M in B2B sales on Magento 1. She is weighing Adobe Commerce against Sylius. Over 3 years, Adobe Commerce means USD 108,000 for migration plus 3 times USD 32,000 in licence and USD 16,000 in annual maintenance, i.e. USD 252,000. Sylius means USD 81,000 for migration plus 3 times USD 16,000 in maintenance, i.e. USD 129,000. If the new platform lifts conversion by 8%, the gross margin gain (at 30%) reaches about USD 103,000 a year. The Sylius option pays back in roughly 15 months, 2026 estimate.
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FAQ
How much does a Magento 1 to new B2B platform migration cost?
The 2026 range runs from EUR 40,000 (USD 43,000) for Shopify Plus with few custom needs to EUR 120,000 (USD 130,000) for Adobe Commerce with heavy integrations. Data migration accounts for 10 to 20% of the budget.
Can we keep customer accounts and order history?
Yes, accounts, addresses and 3 to 5 years of history migrate via scripts. Passwords often require a guided reset, announced to customers 2 weeks before cutover.
Is Magento 1 compatible with PCI DSS 4.0?
Hardly, as the standard has required maintained components and regular patching since March 2025. An M1 store taking card payments risks penalties of EUR 5,000 to 50,000 a month.
How do we preserve SEO during migration?
Map every URL and set 301 redirects, typically 5,000 to 30,000 lines. Done well, organic traffic returns to its previous level within 4 to 8 weeks.
Which option suits a mid-sized merchant?
Sylius or Shopify Plus fit most merchants between EUR 2M and 10M in online sales. Adobe Commerce makes sense above EUR 10M or with very complex B2B rules.
Let's scope your project. Share your Magento 1 URL, extension list and ERP: we will price two migration scenarios between EUR 40,000 and 120,000 with a 4 to 8 month plan. 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.
