The verdict in three sentences
A paint manufacturer managing 85 distributors over WhatsApp loses dozens of sales hours each week resending price lists, technical sheets and visuals, often in an outdated version. In London, a custom partner extranet costs GBP 25,000 to 70,000 in 2026, delivered in 3 to 5 months, with maintenance at GBP 400 to 1,200 per month. Custom is justified when you need distributor-specific pricing, fine-grained permissions and order analytics; otherwise, a SaaS portal at GBP 4 to 12 per user is enough to start.
What distributors actually ask for
Before pricing, count the requests. The table below describes a network of 85 distributors in the UK (2026 estimate over a typical quarter).
| Distributor request | Volume per week | Sales time | Answer in the extranet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current price list | 120 | 5 min | Price list per distributor |
| Technical and safety data sheets | 90 | 4 min | Versioned library |
| Visuals, POS material, catalogues | 60 | 8 min | Downloadable media library |
| Order status | 110 | 6 min | Online tracking |
| Colour charts and references | 40 | 6 min | Colour search engine |
| Claims | 15 | 20 min | Form with tracking |
In total, about 435 requests and 47 sales hours per week, more than one full-time person spent resending information.
Custom or SaaS portal: the 2026 comparison
| Criterion (2026 market estimate) | Custom extranet in London | Off-the-shelf SaaS portal |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | GBP 25,000-70,000 | GBP 0-5,000 setup |
| Recurring cost | Maintenance GBP 400-1,200 per month | GBP 4-12 per user per month |
| Timeline | 3-5 months | 2-6 weeks |
| Distributor-specific pricing | Native | Limited or add-on |
| Permissions | Per distributor, role, product range | Per group, often rigid |
| ERP connection | Custom | Rarely included |
| Data hosting | Your choice, UK possible | Vendor's region |
| Billing | Fixed project, GBP | Per seat, grows with network |
The last point matters as your network grows: per-seat pricing scales linearly, while a custom extranet's running cost stays roughly flat.
For comparison, Kolonell's 11/10/2026 grid places a medium-complexity application at 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (EUR 6,100-10,670) and a complex one at 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and up (EUR 10,670-22,870 and up), with maintenance from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month. Kolonell works remotely and invoices in FCFA or EUR.
A realistic first release
| Module | Release 1 (3 months) | Release 2 | Indicative release 1 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distributor accounts, roles, range permissions | Yes | GBP 6,000-14,000 | |
| Custom pricing and technical documents | Yes | GBP 5,000-12,000 | |
| Marketing media library | Yes | GBP 2,500-6,000 | |
| Online orders and tracking | Tracking only | Ordering | GBP 3,500-11,000 |
| Order analytics per distributor | Simple dashboard | Targets, incentives | GBP 3,500-9,500 |
| Mobile app | PWA | Native if needed | Included |
A well-scoped release 1 lands around GBP 30,000 and solves 80 % of WhatsApp requests.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Illustrative scenario: Karim, sales director of a paint manufacturer near London, manages 85 distributors, about 250 users.
- SaaS portal: 250 x GBP 8 = GBP 2,000 per month, GBP 24,000 per year, without distributor pricing.
- Custom extranet: GBP 42,000, plus maintenance at GBP 700 per month, GBP 50,400 in year one then GBP 8,400 per year.
- Over 3 years: SaaS GBP 72,000, custom GBP 67,200.
- Time saved: 47 sales hours per week, 35 of them recovered, the equivalent of one sales rep redeployed to prospecting.
FAQ
How much does a partner extranet cost in London in 2026?
Between GBP 25,000 and 70,000 depending on modules and ERP connection. A first release focused on pricing, documents and visuals starts around GBP 30,000.
How long does delivery take?
Plan 3 to 5 months overall, and about 3 months for release 1. Gathering price lists and technical sheets often takes 3 to 4 weeks on its own.
What maintenance cost should we plan?
Maintenance costs GBP 400 to 1,200 per month in London depending on service level. It covers fixes, security updates and small improvements.
Isn't a SaaS portal enough?
For fewer than 30 distributors with uniform pricing, yes: GBP 4 to 12 per user per month. Beyond that, custom pricing and per-seat costs often tip the balance towards custom.
Will distributors actually use it?
Adoption exceeds 70 % within 6 months when sales reps stop resending documents on WhatsApp and point to the extranet. A 30-minute onboarding per distributor is usually enough.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of distributors, the documents to share and your ERP, and we will price a realistic release 1. Detailed quote within 48 h via our quote page. 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.
