The verdict in three sentences
A bespoke partner extranet costs 25,000 to 60,000 EUR in 2026 and ships in 12 to 18 weeks, whereas an off-the-shelf B2B e-commerce portal launches faster but handles per-client price lists poorly. Custom wins the moment each reseller must see their catalogue, their prices and their permissions, with a real-time stock API. The ROI comes from cutting order-processing time and slashing sales-admin entry errors.
Dedicated extranet or B2B e-commerce portal?
A B2B e-commerce platform (Shopify B2B, BigCommerce) handles catalogue and payment, but struggles with a distributor's business rules: negotiated per-reseller prices, credit limits, quotas, restricted catalogues. A dedicated extranet encodes your exact rules.
| Criterion | Standard B2B e-commerce | Dedicated extranet |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 8,000-20,000 EUR | 25,000-60,000 EUR |
| Per-client price lists | Basic | Unlimited, per contract |
| Restricted catalogue per reseller | Hard | Native |
| Rights/roles management | Standard | Fine-grained, bespoke |
| Real-time stock API | Plan-dependent | Bespoke |
| Monthly subscription | 200-2,000 EUR/month | Maintenance 450-1,000 EUR/month |
| Timeline | 4-8 weeks | 12-18 weeks |
For a distributor with 40-300 resellers and negotiated prices, a dedicated extranet avoids the manual workarounds standard platforms force on you.
The spec that keeps the budget on track
A clear specification drives the budget. Here is the 2026 skeleton with orders of magnitude.
| Spec section | What it defines | Estimate EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts & rights | Reseller roles, quotas, approval | 3,500-7,000 |
| Price lists | Per-client prices, discounts, tiers | 5,000-11,000 |
| Restricted catalogue | Products visible per reseller | 3,000-7,000 |
| Order & cart | Multi-address, quick reorder | 4,500-10,000 |
| Stock & ERP API | Real-time availability, order sync | 5,000-12,000 |
| Reseller reporting | History, outstanding balance, invoices | 3,000-8,000 |
The core (accounts, price lists, catalogue, ordering) sits around 25,000-35,000 EUR; adding the stock/ERP API and reporting pushes toward 55,000-60,000 EUR.
Mini case study
Sophie, sales director of a technical-supplies distributor in Berlin, runs 90 resellers. Her four-person sales-admin team keys in about 220 orders/week received by email and fax, with ~7 % errors (prices, references) costing time and credit notes. She invests 42,000 EUR in an extranet (per-client price lists, restricted catalogue, stock API) plus 750 EUR/month maintenance. Resellers now key their own orders: sales-admin processing time drops by roughly 50 %, freeing ~2 part-time FTEs for business development, and errors fall below 1 %. Estimated saving: ~48,000 EUR/year in admin time and avoided credit notes. Payback: ~1 year.
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FAQ
What budget for a partner extranet in 2026?
Between 25,000 and 60,000 EUR. The core (accounts, price lists, restricted catalogue, ordering) sits around 25,000-35,000 EUR; the stock/ERP API and reporting climb toward 55,000-60,000 EUR.
Can it handle different prices per reseller?
Yes, that is exactly the strength of bespoke: per-contract price lists, tiered discounts, negotiated net prices. Budget 5,000-11,000 EUR for this pricing module.
How long to go live?
12 to 18 weeks depending on integration complexity. The stock/ERP API is often the item that stretches the timeline; line up your ERP's technical documentation early.
Is connecting the ERP mandatory?
No, but without sync the displayed stock may be wrong. A real-time API (5,000-12,000 EUR) prevents stock-outs and unfulfillable orders.
How does it differ from a standard e-commerce portal?
A standard portal handles a distributor's business rules poorly (credit limits, quotas, restricted catalogue). A dedicated extranet encodes your exact rules, without manual workarounds.
Let's scope your project. Send us your reseller count, your ERP and your pricing rules, and we will turn them into a spec costed by package. 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.
