The verdict in three sentences
A SaaS MVP costs between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR in 2026, delivered in 10 to 16 weeks on a modern stack (Next.js, Supabase, Stripe). An innovation tax credit can refund up to 20% of eligible spend (up to 400,000 EUR of spend/year), meaningfully cutting the net cost. The key to a successful MVP isn't the budget but discipline: one core feature, shipped fast, tested with real paying users.
MVP vs V1 scope
The first source of budget overrun is confusing MVP with a finished product. Here's the boundary.
| Element | MVP (ship fast) | V1 (after traction) |
|---|---|---|
| Core feature | one, excellent | 3-5 features |
| Authentication | Email + Google | + SSO, advanced roles |
| Billing | Simple Stripe subscription | + coupons, tiers, multi-country VAT |
| Onboarding | Manual / minimal | Automated, guides |
| Analytics | Basic | Full dashboard |
| Indicative budget | 30,000 - 50,000 EUR | +40,000 - 100,000 EUR |
An MVP that tries to do everything is expensive and ships late. A disciplined MVP validates the market before you invest in V1.
MVP budget allocation (example 45,000 EUR)
Where does the money go in a SaaS MVP? Typical 2026 allocation.
| Line item | % budget | Amount (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| UX/UI design + design system | 15% | 6,750 |
| Frontend development | 30% | 13,500 |
| Backend development + DB | 30% | 13,500 |
| Stripe billing + trial | 10% | 4,500 |
| Infra, CI/CD, deployment | 8% | 3,600 |
| UAT, tests, fixes | 7% | 3,150 |
Hosting at launch stays modest (Supabase + Vercel: 40 to 150 EUR/month up to the first few thousand users).
Mini case study
Sarah, founder of a B2B SaaS project in Amsterdam (compliance tracking tool for SMEs), was torn between bootstrapping and raising. She scoped her MVP at 44,000 EUR: one core feature (compliance checklists + reminders), Stripe subscription, 14-day trial.
Thanks to an innovation tax credit (20% of ~40,000 EUR eligible spend), she recovers about 8,000 EUR, bringing net cost to ~36,000 EUR. Target: 40 clients at 49 EUR/month = 1,960 EUR MRR to validate traction before raising. At that pace the MVP pays back in ~18 months — and crucially, she raises with real metrics, not a slide.
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FAQ
Which stack for a SaaS MVP in 2026?
Next.js (frontend + API), Supabase (database, auth, storage) and Stripe (billing) form a proven trio, fast to ship and cheap at MVP scale. It avoids reinventing infrastructure.
How do innovation tax credits work?
They typically refund 20% of eligible new-product design spend for SMEs, capped at 400,000 EUR of spend/year (i.e. up to 80,000 EUR of credit). Have eligibility validated by an accountant during scoping.
Are there other grants?
Yes: public investment banks (seed loans, tech grants), digitization support programs and regional schemes. They often stack with the innovation tax credit.
How long before the first paying customer?
With a disciplined MVP, expect 3 to 4 months from decision to launch, then first payers within weeks if you pre-sold or built a waitlist during the build.
Should we code it ourselves or outsource?
If you're technical, a developer co-founder accelerates everything. Otherwise an agency delivers a clean, documented MVP in 10-16 weeks; the key is keeping code ownership and a standard stack so you can take over later.
Let's scope your project. Share your core feature, target market and indicative budget: we'll scope an MVP shippable in 10-16 weeks and optimize tax-credit eligibility. 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.