The verdict in three sentences
A partner extranet (distributors, resellers) costs between 40,000 and 100,000 EUR in 2026, depending on the number of roles and shared-catalog complexity, over a 4-to-7-month timeline. Maintenance runs 10 to 15 %/year of build. The ROI is clear: -35 % manual data entry and orders placed 24/7 without sales intervention.
What a partner extranet costs in 2026
| Scope | Key features | 2026 budget (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard extranet | Catalog, orders, reseller accounts | 40,000 – 60,000 | 4 – 5 months |
| Advanced extranet | + real-time stock, tiered pricing | 60,000 – 85,000 | 5 – 6 months |
| Premium extranet | + fine-grained permissions, multi-country | 85,000 – 120,000 | 6 – 8 months |
Hosting: 250 to 900 EUR/month depending on traffic and real-time stock. Maintenance: 10 to 15 %/year. Real-time stock connection and per-reseller pricing are the most structuring items.
The ROI of a distributor extranet
2026 order of magnitude for a network of 120 active resellers:
| Item | Before extranet | After extranet | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual order entries / week | 340 | 220 | -35 % |
| Orders outside office hours | 0 % | 28 % | +28 pts |
| Average order processing time | 1.5 days | 3 h | -80 % |
| Pricing errors / month | 40 | 9 | -78 % |
| Sales FTE on data entry | 1.8 | 0.9 | -0.9 FTE |
Saved sales time and fewer errors often exceed 55,000 to 80,000 EUR/year, a 10-to-16-month payback.
Dedicated extranet or a PIM/ERP portal?
| Criterion | Custom extranet | PIM/ERP portal |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 40,000 – 100,000 EUR | 10,000 – 30,000 EUR setup |
| Fine-grained permissions | Total | Often limited |
| Reseller experience | Tailored | Standard |
| Tiered / per-reseller pricing | Flexible | Per vendor |
| Recurring cost | Maintenance 10-15 %/year | License + modules |
| Code ownership | You | Vendor |
The PIM/ERP portal starts cheaper but hits a ceiling on permissions and reseller experience; the custom extranet wins as soon as the network and pricing grow complex.
Mini case study
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Olivier, network director of an electrical equipment manufacturer in Nantes, equips his 120 resellers with an extranet at 78,000 EUR including real-time stock and tiered pricing. After 12 months: manual entries down 35 %, 28 % of orders placed outside office hours, 0.9 sales FTE reallocated to prospecting. Annual gain (time + avoided pricing errors) reaches ~62,000 EUR. ROI in 15 months, even before the added revenue from 24/7 ordering.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget for a credible extranet?
From 40,000 EUR for catalog, orders and reseller accounts. Real-time stock and tiered pricing push toward 60,000-85,000 EUR.
How long to deliver an extranet?
Between 4 and 7 months depending on permission granularity and stock/ERP integrations. The shared catalog and per-reseller pricing are the longest items.
Can stock be connected in real time?
Yes, via API to the ERP or PIM. It is the most expensive item but the one that removes stock-outs and availability errors.
How do we manage per-reseller permissions?
A fine-grained role matrix (visible catalog, pricing, zones) is essential. That is exactly where a custom extranet beats a standard PIM portal.
What maintenance cost should I plan?
Expect 10 to 15 %/year of build, plus hosting (250-900 EUR/month). A 78,000 EUR extranet therefore costs ~8,000 to 12,000 EUR/year to maintain.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your reseller count, pricing logic and ERP and we will quote the extranet, timeline and expected ROI. 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.
