The verdict in three sentences
A Dublin construction trade federation with 600 member companies still runs subscriptions, documents and public tender monitoring across spreadsheets, emails and WhatsApp groups. A custom member extranet costs, as a 2026 estimate, 35,000 to 60,000 EUR for a simple version, or 60,000 to 110,000 EUR with online subscription payments and tender alerts, plus 600 to 1,500 EUR per month of maintenance. With annual subscriptions of 1,000 to 8,000 EUR, recovering 5 % of arrears often covers the project.
What members expect from their federation
The owner of a groundworks firm in Swords or an engineering consultancy in Sandyford joins for three reasons: early notice of tenders, access to useful documents (sector agreements, contract templates, rate guides, tax notes) and collective weight with public clients. If they do not see that value, they pay late, or do not renew.
The extranet makes the value visible: a personal space per company, an organised document library, public tender monitoring filtered by trade and county, a member directory and subscription payment by card or direct debit.
| Module | Simple app (35k to 60k EUR) | Mid-size app (60k to 110k EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Member area and company profile | Yes | Yes, with several users per company |
| Document library | Yes, filed by theme | Yes, rights per member category |
| Subscriptions | Status tracking, email reminders | Card and SEPA payment, automatic receipts |
| Tender monitoring | Manual posting by staff | Alerts filtered by trade and county, SMS or email |
| Member directory | Simple public list | Search by specialty, certifications, references |
| Events and training | Calendar | Online registration and payment |
| Secretariat dashboard | Basic indicators | Collection rate, engagement, accounting exports |
Timelines range from 8 to 10 weeks for a simple app to 12 to 16 weeks for a mid-size app, data migration included.
Custom extranet or off-the-shelf association platform
SaaS association platforms exist and cover the basics (memberships, directory, events), but rarely integrate Irish public tender feeds such as eTenders or a fine-grained subscription scale by company size.
| Criterion | Association SaaS platform | Custom extranet |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 3,000 EUR setup | 35,000 to 110,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost for 600 members | 400 to 1,200 EUR per month (estimate) | Maintenance 600 to 1,500 EUR per month plus hosting |
| Card and SEPA payments | Usually included | Included |
| Scales by turnover or category | Limited | Free-form, automatic calculation |
| Local tender monitoring | Absent | Built in, filtered by trade |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With the federation |
Over five years, SaaS at 900 EUR a month comes to 54,000 EUR without tender monitoring; a mid-size extranet at 75,000 EUR plus 1,000 EUR a month comes to about 135,000 EUR, justified only if tender alerts and custom scales drive retention and new members. Smaller federations should start with SaaS.
Subscriptions: the financial lever
With subscriptions from 1,000 EUR for a small firm to 8,000 EUR for a large contractor, a 600-member base represents roughly 1.5 to 2 million EUR a year. Federations often see 10 to 20 % late or unpaid subscriptions, due to unstructured reminders and clunky payment. One-click payment from an email link with an automatic receipt cuts that rate sharply.
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Siobhan, chief executive of a construction federation in Dublin (illustrative scenario), manages 600 members with an average subscription of 3,000 EUR, 1,800,000 EUR expected. Arrears at year end reach 15 %, or 270,000 EUR.
With a mid-size extranet at 75,000 EUR, automatic reminders and online payment, she targets 9 % arrears. The 6-point gain recovers 108,000 EUR a year. She also saves about 40 hours a month of data entry and chasing, and tender alerts become a recruitment argument for new members. The project pays for itself within the first subscription campaign.
FAQ
How much does a member extranet for a federation cost in Dublin?
As an estimate, a simple app costs 35,000 to 60,000 EUR and a mid-size app 60,000 to 110,000 EUR. Maintenance usually runs 600 to 1,500 EUR per month.
Can members pay subscriptions online?
Yes, card and SEPA payments are built into the mid-size version, with automatic receipts and member status updates. Card fees typically run 1.5 % to 2.5 %.
How does tender monitoring work?
Staff post or import tender notices, which the extranet classifies by trade and county. Each member receives a targeted alert by email or SMS.
How long does rollout take?
Allow 8 to 10 weeks for a simple app and 12 to 16 weeks for a mid-size app. Migrating the 600-member file usually takes one to two weeks.
Who owns the member data?
With a custom extranet, the federation owns the database and the hosting. Processing must comply with GDPR and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.
Let's scope your project. Member extranet, online subscriptions and tender monitoring: we define the scope, an indicative budget and a rollout before your next renewal campaign. 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.
