The verdict in three sentences
A group of practices wanting to run 6 sites from a shared tool weighs a multi-site healthcare SaaS (55 to 155 USD/user/month) against a custom build (80,000 to 210,000 USD). SaaS natively handles the shared calendar and teleconsultation; custom gives you consolidated statistics at exactly your granularity plus code ownership. Budget 5 to 8 months and maintenance of 12 to 18 % of the build per year.
Multi-site healthcare SaaS vs custom
A group's core question is not per-user price but the ability to consolidate 6 sites without re-keying. 2026 orders of magnitude for a group of 40 practitioners and staff across 6 practices.
| Criterion | Multi-site SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 to 11,000 USD | 80,000 to 210,000 USD |
| Recurring cost | 55 to 155 USD/user/month | 12 to 18 % of build/year |
| Timeline | 6 to 12 weeks | 5 to 8 months |
| Shared calendar 6 sites | Standard | Custom |
| Teleconsultation | Module included | To develop |
| Consolidated statistics | Fixed reports | Dedicated dashboards |
| 3-year cost (40 users) | 79,000 to 223,000 USD | 105,000 to 323,000 USD |
At 40 users, SaaS is often cheaper over three years, but every specific report or billed integration quickly flips the maths.
Budget breakdown of a custom project
A serious custom quote splits by work package. Here is a typical split for a 145,000 USD project.
| Package | Share of budget | Amount (base 145,000 USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and multi-site UX | 12 % | 17,400 USD |
| Shared calendar and booking | 22 % | 31,900 USD |
| Shared patient records | 20 % | 29,000 USD |
| Teleconsultation | 14 % | 20,300 USD |
| Consolidated statistics | 12 % | 17,400 USD |
| Billing and exports | 10 % | 14,500 USD |
| Data migration + training | 10 % | 14,500 USD |
This grid helps challenge a quote: if one line far exceeds these shares, ask for justification. Annual maintenance (17,400 to 26,100 USD here) is added from go-live.
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Mini case study
Ms Rousseau coordinates a group of 6 practices in Toronto, 40 users, each losing about 35 minutes a day to re-keying and inter-site calls. At a loaded cost of 31 USD/hour, that is 40 x 0.58 h x 31 x 220 days = 158,300 USD per year of admin time. A shared tool removes 60 % of this friction, or 95,000 USD saved per year. With a custom build at 145,000 USD and 22,000 USD/year of maintenance, the return is reached in about 18 months, shared calendar and teleconsultation as a bonus.
FAQ
How much does multi-site software cost in 2026? With a multi-site healthcare SaaS, budget 55 to 155 USD per user per month; custom, 80,000 to 210,000 USD depending on modules and sites.
What timeline for a group custom project? Allow 5 to 8 months; coordinating 6 sites and migrating histories lengthens the deployment phase.
Is teleconsultation included? In SaaS it is often native; in custom it must be developed, roughly 12 to 16 % of the total budget.
What maintenance budget should I plan? Annual maintenance is 12 to 18 % of the build cost, i.e. 9,600 to 37,800 USD per year in this price range.
From how many sites is custom worthwhile? From the second or third practice, when consolidated statistics and a shared calendar save hours of re-keying each week.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of sites, users, your shared-calendar, teleconsultation and consolidated-statistics needs, with an indicative budget. 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.
