The verdict in three sentences
If your Montreal SME already runs Odoo and serves 400 business customers with fewer than 3,000 SKUs, the Odoo eCommerce module customized for 15,000 to 45,000 CAD (about 10,000 to 30,000 EUR) is almost always the right first move. A custom B2B store connected to Odoo, at 60,000 to 135,000 CAD, makes sense when the catalogue is heavy, the buyer experience becomes a sales argument, or pricing rules exceed what the price list engine handles cleanly. The deciding metric is cost per online order over three years, not the upfront price.
What the Odoo module does well, and its limits
The eCommerce module shares the ERP database: stock, price lists, customers, invoices and deliveries are in sync by design. For an owner, that is the main asset: no connector to maintain and no re-keying.
The limits appear with growth:
- Performance: beyond 10,000 to 20,000 products with variants, category pages and search slow down without optimization or caching work.
- Buyer UX: quick order by SKU, CSV cart import and shared purchase lists need third-party modules or development.
- Theme and front end: the website builder is fine for a clean store, much less for a differentiating interface.
- Version upgrades: every heavy customization is paid again at the annual migration.
| Criterion | Customized Odoo eCommerce | Custom store connected to Odoo |
|---|---|---|
| Project cost | 15,000 - 45,000 CAD | 60,000 - 135,000 CAD |
| Licence or base | Included, about 35 - 60 CAD / user / month | Hosting 200 - 900 CAD / month |
| Timeline | 6 - 12 weeks | 4 - 6 months |
| ERP sync | Native | API connector to maintain |
| Comfortable catalogue size | Up to 10,000 SKUs | 100,000 SKUs and more |
| Typical mobile load time | 2.5 - 4 s | 1 - 2 s |
| Annual migration cost | 3,000 - 12,000 CAD | Low on front end, connector to test |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude observed among Odoo partners and ecommerce agencies in Quebec, not official rates. Bill 96 also requires French to be at least as prominent as English on your Quebec storefront, which adds translation work to either option.
The three-year calculation
Take a trading SME with 10 Odoo users, 400 customers and 9,000 B2B orders per year, 50 % online at maturity.
| Three-year item | Customized Odoo | Custom + Odoo |
|---|---|---|
| Initial project | 33,000 CAD | 97,000 CAD |
| Third-party modules or hosting | 5,400 CAD | 21,600 CAD |
| Migrations and changes | 22,000 CAD | 27,000 CAD |
| Connector and monitoring | 0 CAD | 13,500 CAD |
| Total | 60,400 CAD | 159,100 CAD |
| Cumulative online orders (assumption) | 11,000 | 13,500 |
| Cost per online order | 5.50 CAD | 11.80 CAD |
The custom option stays more expensive per order unless its better ergonomics generate extra sales. With a 950 CAD average basket and 3 % net margin, you need about 3,500 additional orders to close the 98,700 CAD gap. That is reachable for a fast-growing distributor, rarely for a stable SME.
Signals that should make you switch
Go custom if at least two of these are true: more than 20,000 active SKUs, more than 30 % of orders from a phone on site or in store, contract pricing rules your Odoo price lists only handle with workarounds, a need for punchout into large accounts' procurement systems, or a store that must also serve consumers with a strong brand image. Otherwise, invest in the native module first, measure adoption for 12 months, then decide with real numbers.
Mini case study
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Marc, owner of an industrial supplies SME in Montreal (illustrative persona), runs Odoo with 12 users and 2,800 SKUs. His 400 customers place 750 orders per month, all by email. Each order takes 10 minutes of entry at 48 CAD per loaded hour.
- Customized Odoo eCommerce project: 36,000 CAD.
- Target 50 % online: 375 orders x 10 min = 62.5 hours per month.
- Savings: 62.5 x 48 CAD = 3,000 CAD per month, 36,000 CAD per year.
Payback in about 12 months. Marc keeps the custom option for the day his catalogue passes 15,000 SKUs.
FAQ
Is the eCommerce module included in the Odoo licence?
Yes, in the Standard and Custom plans, around 35 to 60 CAD per user per month in 2026. The real cost is customization, 15,000 to 45,000 CAD for B2B use.
Does Odoo handle per-customer B2B pricing?
Yes, through price lists by customer, quantity and period. Beyond ten or so combined rules per customer, maintenance gets heavy and a dedicated pricing engine is worth discussing.
What does a custom store connected to Odoo cost?
Budget 60,000 to 135,000 CAD, plus 200 to 900 CAD per month for hosting. The API connector must be tested at every Odoo upgrade.
How long to launch the Odoo store?
Six to 12 weeks, including price list and customer account migration. A custom build takes 4 to 6 months.
Can we start on Odoo and migrate later?
Yes, that is often the wisest path. Data stays in Odoo, only the front end changes, and you lose at most 15,000 to 30,000 CAD of theme customization.
Let's scope your project. Share your Odoo version, SKU count and number of business customers, and we will tell you which option fits, with an indicative budget and timeline. 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.
