The verdict in three sentences
A physiotherapist founder targeting a national market should resist building the full product: a three-feature MVP (scheduling, assessments, simple billing) ships in 12 to 16 weeks and is enough to win 50 pilot clinics. The unavoidable cost is health-grade hosting, roughly 300 to 900 EUR a month, which must be designed in from the first line of code. For development, Kolonell sits between 2,500,000 and 15,000,000+ FCFA (3,810 to 22,870+ EUR) depending on complexity, with a three-release roadmap priced in the quote.
The scope that fits in 16 weeks
Incumbents are often legacy desktop tools, alongside a few cloud players. A founder from the profession wins on experience: a calendar built for back-to-back 30-minute sessions, an initial assessment captured in 5 minutes on a tablet, readable invoicing. Everything else waits for release 2.
Insurer and public payer integration is the feature every clinician asks for and the heaviest to build: in the UK it means insurer portals and NHS contracts, in France SESAM-Vitale certification, in the US claims clearing houses. For the MVP, the realistic path is to produce invoices and exports compatible with the claims tool the clinic already uses, then integrate an approved provider in release 2 or 3.
| Release | Content | Indicative timing | Business goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 MVP | Multi-practitioner calendar, SMS reminders, assessments and session notes, simple billing | 12 to 16 weeks | 50 active pilot clinics |
| V2 | Online patient booking, exercise programmes, analytics | 3 to 4 months after V1 | Move to paid, 150 clinics |
| V3 | Claims integration via an approved provider, locum management, multi-site | 4 to 6 months after V2 | 500+ clinics |
| Out of initial scope | Full accounting, native patient app | Depending on traction | Avoid dilution |
The real budget of a health SaaS
Three blocks make up the budget. MVP development first: on the Kolonell grid, a simple application sits between 2,500,000 and 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR), a medium one between 4,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), a complex one between 7,000,000 and 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR). A multi-clinic MVP with calendar, structured assessments and billing usually lands at medium.
Health-grade hosting next: certified hosting for health data (HDS in France, NHS DSPT-aligned providers in the UK, HIPAA-eligible services in the US) costs roughly 300 to 900 EUR a month depending on redundancy and volume, 2026 order of magnitude. It is not optional: storing patient assessments with an uncertified host is a major legal exposure. Then recurring costs: Kolonell maintenance at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA a month (53, 114 or 183 EUR), reminder SMS, support.
| Item | Amount | Frequency | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP development (medium level) | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | One-off | Exact scope in the quote |
| Health-grade hosting | 300 to 900 EUR | Monthly | 2026 order of magnitude |
| Application maintenance | 35,000 / 75,000 / 120,000 FCFA (53 / 114 / 183 EUR) | Monthly | By service level |
| Reminder SMS | 0.04 to 0.08 EUR per SMS | Usage-based | 2026 order of magnitude |
| GDPR risk analysis and documentation | Included in scoping or quoted | One-off | Records, DPIA, contracts |
| Target selling price | 49 to 89 EUR per practitioner (about 45 to 79 GBP or 55 to 99 USD) | Monthly | Depending on V1 or V2 offer |
The 50 pilot clinics validate two things: that clinicians open the tool every day, and that they agree to pay when the free period ends. A 40 to 60% pilot-to-paid conversion is a solid signal for fundraising or for funding V2 from revenue.
Mini case study
Emma, a physiotherapist in Manchester, recruits 50 pilot clinics averaging 1.6 practitioners, 80 practitioners in total. After three free months, 50% convert at 69 EUR: 40 practitioners, 2,760 EUR of monthly revenue.
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Her monthly costs: hosting at 600 EUR, maintenance at 114 EUR, SMS around 150 EUR, 864 EUR in total. Monthly margin reaches 1,896 EUR. With an MVP at the top of the medium level, 10,670 EUR, development is covered in just under 6 months of billing. At 300 paying practitioners, the V2 target, monthly revenue climbs to 20,700 EUR.
FAQ
Do we need claims integration in the MVP?
No, it is the heaviest workstream, with certification and approved components. An export compatible with the clinic's current tool is enough for 50 pilots, with integration arriving in V3.
Is health-grade hosting mandatory for an MVP?
Yes, as soon as an assessment or any health data is stored on behalf of a clinician. Budget 300 to 900 EUR a month depending on redundancy.
How long before first revenue?
Typically 6 to 7 months: 12 to 16 weeks of development then a 3-month free pilot. Some founders charge a reduced pilot price, for example 29 EUR.
Who owns the SaaS code?
The founder. The delivered code and database belong to her, which matters for fundraising or an exit.
What price should we target?
Between 49 and 89 EUR per practitioner per month in 2026, depending on whether online booking and exercise programmes are included. A clinic tier for 3+ practitioners makes selling easier.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your three priority features and your pilot calendar, and we will scope an MVP deliverable in 12 to 16 weeks with its roadmap. 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.
