The verdict in three sentences
To pilot off-plan sales, construction tracking and per-project cash flow in a single tool, a vertical licence costs 25 to 70 EUR per user per month but is rarely integrated with your accounting. A custom build means 55,000 to 110,000 EUR, with 1,000 to 2,000 EUR/month of maintenance and native integration to your ERP. Custom pays off when you run more than 3 projects in parallel and investor reporting becomes a time sink.
Vertical licence or custom: 2026 comparison
| Criterion | Vertical licence | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | 25-70 EUR/user/mo | 55,000-110,000 EUR |
| Accounting integration | often paid option | native |
| Per-project cash flow | standardised | modelled on your flows |
| Investor reporting | fixed templates | bespoke, white-label |
| Developer day rate | n/a | 500-700 EUR |
| Monthly maintenance | included | 1,000-2,000 EUR |
| Setup time | 2-6 weeks | 16-22 weeks |
The licence wins on speed and upfront cost. Custom wins on financial-piloting precision and the ability to produce clean, branded investor reporting with no re-keying.
Breaking down a custom budget
| Module | Effort (person-days) | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| Off-plan sales tracking | 18-28 d | 11,000-18,000 EUR |
| Construction tracking + milestones | 15-25 d | 9,000-16,000 EUR |
| Per-project cash flow | 20-32 d | 13,000-21,000 EUR |
| ERP / accounting integration | 12-20 d | 8,000-14,000 EUR |
| Investor reporting | 10-16 d | 6,500-11,000 EUR |
| UAT + rollout | 10-14 d | 6,000-9,000 EUR |
With a developer day rate of 500 to 700 EUR, the total lands between 55,000 and 110,000 EUR over a 16 to 22 week timeline. Accounting integration is the most value-creating item: it removes double entry between piloting and accounting.
Mini case study
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Thomas, CFO of a Dubai developer running 5 simultaneous off-plan projects, spends 12 hours/week consolidating spreadsheets and the ERP for investor reporting. At a loaded cost of 55 EUR/hour, that is 660 EUR/week, about 31,700 EUR/year. A custom build at 82,000 EUR (median) automates this reporting and recovers 10 of the 12 hours. The annual gain reaches 26,400 EUR, plus fewer cash-flow errors. Against the custom premium over the licence (~70,000 EUR in year 1, licence ~4,200 EUR/year for 5 users), payback lands at 28 to 32 months, but with a proprietary asset and flawless piloting.
FAQ
Can the software connect to our ERP? Yes, via API or a dedicated connector. Budget 8,000 to 14,000 EUR depending on the version and the scope of synchronised entries.
How long to deliver? As a 2026 order of magnitude, 16 to 22 weeks for a sales + construction + cash-flow scope, specification included.
Isn't a vertical licence enough? It is enough for one or two simple projects. Beyond 3 parallel projects with demanding investor reporting, custom becomes profitable.
What is the maintenance cost? Maintenance sits between 1,000 and 2,000 EUR/month, fixes and upgrades included, roughly 15 to 22% of development cost per year.
Can we start with one module then expand? Yes, a phased approach (cash flow first, then construction) spreads the investment and secures adoption.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of projects, your accounting software and the priority scope (off-plan, construction, cash flow), and we will frame the integration and timeline. 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.
