n8n vs Make vs custom automation cost in Dublin

The verdict in three sentences

For a distribution SME, Make fits a fast start under 10,000 operations a month, self-hosted n8n becomes the best cost and control trade-off beyond that, and custom development (3,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA, about EUR 4,600 to 12,200) makes sense when the flow is critical and volumes surge. The real cost is not the subscription but maintenance: a scenario with no owner fails silently. Done well, automating orders, invoices and reminders gives the team back about 40 hours a month.

The three options compared

The Make trap: price follows the number of operations. A flow handling 300 orders a day with 8 steps each consumes 72,000 operations a month, which lands on the USD 80 to 120 monthly tier. At that point, n8n on a EUR 23 server is clearly cheaper. In Dublin, a freelance n8n or Make specialist bills EUR 60 to 110 per hour, so the same five flows typically cost EUR 3,000 to 6,000 to configure locally.

Which flows to automate first

For a distribution company (beverages, hygiene products, building materials), three flows hold most of the gain.

Maintenance: the forgotten line in quotes

An API changes, a password expires, a file arrives in an unexpected format: an automation flow breaks on average 2 to 4 times a year. Plan an internal owner or a contract:

• Make: 1 to 2 hours a month of a no-code profile, or about EUR 76 per month outsourced;
• n8n: server updates and backups, EUR 76 to 150 per month outsourced;
• custom: 8 to 15% of the initial cost per year, i.e. EUR 460 to 1,500.

The simple rule: every flow must send a WhatsApp or email alert on failure. Without alerts, an overdue reminder can stay blocked for three weeks without anyone noticing.

Mini case study

Mr Kouassi runs a beverage distribution company in Abidjan handling 250 orders a day with 3 sales reps and 2 admin staff. His two admins spend 40 hours a month on data entry, invoicing and reminders.

• Loaded cost of an admin hour: 3,500 FCFA, so 140,000 FCFA (EUR 213) per month of recoverable time.
• Option chosen: self-hosted n8n, 300,000 FCFA setup and 600,000 FCFA to configure the five flows, then 15,000 FCFA server and 60,000 FCFA maintenance per month.
• Net monthly gain: 140,000 − 75,000 = 65,000 FCFA, before counting faster collections.
• Automated reminders cut receivables over 30 days from 4,200,000 to 2,600,000 FCFA in three months, freeing 1,600,000 FCFA (EUR 2,440) of cash.

The same reasoning applies to a Dublin wholesaler: at EUR 30 per admin hour, 40 hours saved is worth EUR 1,200 a month.

FAQ

Can Make be paid from any country?

Yes, by Visa or Mastercard in USD. Outside the dollar zone, add 2 to 4% of FX bank fees.

Is n8n really free?

The self-hosted version is free for internal use. You pay for the server (about EUR 23 per month) and maintenance time. n8n Cloud starts around EUR 24 per month if you prefer not to host.

When should we move to custom development?

Beyond 100,000 operations a month, when the flow directly handles payments, or when you want a customer portal. Budget: EUR 4,600 to 12,200 with a remote studio, often EUR 15,000 to 40,000 with a Dublin agency.

Can we connect Sage or a local accounting tool?

Yes if the software has an API or an accessible database. Otherwise, automatic file exports work with a 15 to 60 minute delay.

How long before the first results?

The first flow (often reminders) goes live in 1 to 2 weeks. The full 40 hours of savings arrive after 6 to 8 weeks.

Let's scope your project. List your three most repetitive tasks and monthly volumes: we recommend Make, n8n or custom, with a budget of EUR 900 to 12,200 and a timeline of 1 to 12 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.