The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom partner extranet with multiple roles connected to your ERP costs 30,000 to 70,000 EUR, delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. A SaaS PRM license runs 12 to 25 EUR per partner per month, which tips in favor of custom beyond 40 to 50 active partners. Add hidden costs: security audit 3,000 to 8,000 EUR, fine-grained access control and annual maintenance at 15 % of the build.
What a partner extranet must do
A distributor opening an extranet to its resellers wants to give them one space: personalized pricing, real-time stock, order taking, co-marketing resources. Price depends on the number of roles and the depth of ERP integration.
| Scope | Features | 2026 budget (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase extranet | Pricing, docs, news, contacts | 18,000 - 30,000 | 6 - 9 wks |
| Ordering extranet | + Real-time stock, cart, history | 30,000 - 50,000 | 10 - 12 wks |
| Multi-role + ERP | + Fine roles, ERP connection, co-marketing | 45,000 - 70,000 | 12 - 14 wks |
| Platform extranet | + PRM, partner scoring, public API | 70,000 - 120,000 | 14 - 20 wks |
The most underestimated item is access control: which reseller sees which price, which stock, which discount. On a catalog of thousands of references with segment-based price lists, that easily means 10-18 dev days, i.e. 5,000 to 11,000 EUR.
Build vs Buy: the 4-year math
A SaaS PRM license is billed per partner. While the network is small, it wins. But it becomes a recurring cost that scales with your growth, whereas the build amortizes over 4 years.
| Partners | SaaS PRM at 18 EUR/partner/month (4 yrs) | Custom extranet 50,000 EUR + 15 % maint. |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 17,280 EUR | ~80,000 EUR |
| 40 | 34,560 EUR | ~80,000 EUR |
| 80 | 69,120 EUR | ~80,000 EUR |
| 150 | 129,600 EUR | ~82,000 EUR |
| 300 | 259,200 EUR | ~85,000 EUR |
The tipping point sits around 40 to 50 partners once you factor in the value of an owned, custom asset. Below it, SaaS stays more rational; above it, each new partner is nearly free in custom.
Hidden costs to budget
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An extranet exposes sensitive commercial data (prices, margins, stock). Security and maintenance are not optional.
| Item | 2026 order of magnitude | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| ERP connection (Sage, SAP, Cegid) | 6,000 - 15,000 EUR | Once |
| Security audit (pentest + code) | 3,000 - 8,000 EUR | Annual |
| Access control and roles | 5,000 - 11,000 EUR | Once (build) |
| Maintenance | 15 % of build/year | Annual |
| EU hosting + monitoring | 90 - 300 EUR/month | Monthly |
Mini case study
Thomas, operations director of an electrical-equipment distributor in Lyon, manages 62 resellers by email and Excel price files. A PRM license at 20 EUR/partner/month would cost him 14,880 EUR/year, i.e. 59,520 EUR over 4 years, with no connection to his Sage ERP. Kolonell prices a custom extranet at 52,000 EUR with real-time stock and segment price lists, plus 7,800 EUR/year of maintenance. Four-year TCO: 83,200 EUR. More expensive upfront, but it removes 9 hours/week of order entry on the sales-admin side (about 18,000 EUR/year) and cuts pricing errors, paying back the gap by year three.
FAQ
How long to deliver a partner extranet? From 10 to 14 weeks for a multi-role extranet with ERP connection. A simple showcase extranet ships in 6-9 weeks; a full PRM platform needs 14-20 weeks.
From how many partners is custom worthwhile? Around 40 to 50 active partners. Below that, a PRM license at 12-25 EUR/partner/month stays cheaper; above it, the fixed cost of the build becomes clearly advantageous over 4 years.
Can the extranet connect to our ERP? Yes, it's the heart of the project. A Sage, SAP or Cegid integration is 6,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on API quality and the volume of references and prices to sync.
How do you protect pricing and margins? Through role- and organization-based access control, an annual security audit (3,000 to 8,000 EUR), data encryption and access logs. Each partner sees only its own terms.
What annual maintenance budget should I plan? About 15 % of the build per year, i.e. 7,500 to 10,500 EUR for a 50,000-70,000 EUR extranet. Maintenance covers fixes, catalog evolutions and version upgrades.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your reseller count, your ERP and the level of pricing personalization: we'll frame a Lyon extranet between 30,000 and 70,000 EUR. 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.
