The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai/MENA real estate group wanting to run rentals, sales and collections, custom software costs between 400,000 and 900,000 MAD (around 40,000-90,000 USD) in 2026, delivered in 4 to 7 months. Generic SaaS handles local rent invoicing and regional payment channels poorly. The decisive gain is the collection rate: automated reminders and online payment lift it by 10 to 18 points on our references.
Modules and 2026 costs (in MAD)
The core is the chain mandate -> rent invoicing -> collection -> reporting, with automated reminders and online rent payment.
| Module | Scope | Indicative 2026 cost (MAD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandates & properties | Owners, units, leases | 60,000 - 120,000 | 4-6 wk |
| Rent invoicing | Rent, charges, reconciliation | 70,000 - 140,000 | 4-7 wk |
| Online rent payment | Card, mobile, matching | 80,000 - 160,000 | 5-7 wk |
| Collection & reminders | Scenarios, schedules, alerts | 55,000 - 110,000 | 4-6 wk |
| Reporting & dashboards | Vacancy, arrears, yield | 50,000 - 100,000 | 3-5 wk |
| Core + integrations | Auth, roles, accounting, bank | 85,000 - 170,000 | 5-8 wk |
Add maintenance of 8,000 to 20,000 MAD/month depending on units managed and service level.
Custom or SaaS: 2026 comparison
SaaS starts fast but bills per unit and covers local specifics poorly; custom has a near-fixed cost and fits your collection processes.
| Criterion | Generic SaaS | Custom by Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost (1,000 units) | 240,000 - 600,000 MAD/yr | 400,000 - 700,000 MAD |
| Year 3 cumulative | 720,000 - 1,800,000 MAD | 700,000 - 1,100,000 MAD |
| Marginal cost / unit | 20 - 50 MAD/month | 0 MAD |
| Local online payment | Often absent | Native (card + mobile) |
| Local rent invoicing | Standard | 100% tailored |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
From around 800 to 1,000 units managed, custom becomes competitive over 3 years, and the collection gain often funds the project on its own.
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Mini case study
Karim, director of a Dubai/MENA real estate group managing 1,200 units at an average rent of 4,500 MAD/month, faces a 12% arrears rate. The portfolio theoretically generates 1,200 x 4,500 = 5.4M MAD/month, of which 648,000 MAD is potential arrears. Custom software at 650,000 MAD + 14,000 MAD/month maintenance, by automating reminders and online payment, cuts arrears from 12% to 3%, i.e. +9 points recovered, roughly 486,000 MAD/month secured. The project pays back in under 3 months of collection gains.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget to start? A mandates + rent invoicing core ships at around 200,000 to 320,000 MAD in 2026, in 10 to 14 weeks.
Is online rent payment included? Yes: the module (card + mobile + automatic matching) represents 80,000 to 160,000 MAD and sharply reduces late payments.
How much is maintenance? Budget 8,000 to 20,000 MAD/month, i.e. 96,000 to 240,000 MAD/year, covering support, hosting and evolutions.
How much does collection improve? On our references, automated reminders and online payment gain 10 to 18 points of collection rate.
From how many units does custom win? From around 800 to 1,000 units, since SaaS at 20-50 MAD/unit/month then exceeds 240,000 to 600,000 MAD/year.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your unit count, your collection channels (card, mobile) and an indicative budget: we can scope a core from 200,000 MAD. 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.
