The verdict in three sentences
For a non-technical founder who needs a product live in 8 to 14 weeks before a raise, an agency at EUR 50,000 to 120,000 remains the safest option on timing, because it brings a full team from week one. Freelancers at EUR 650 to 900 per day cost less but put coordination and churn risk on the founder. A salaried CTO at EUR 85,000 to 110,000 gross per year plus equity is essential after the round, but hiring one before the MVP often delays launch by 2 to 4 months.
Three options compared on a 12-week MVP
The typical scope of a B2B SaaS MVP in 2026: authentication, account and role management, 2 or 3 core features, Stripe billing, a simple dashboard and an admin back office. That is roughly 120 to 160 days of work across all skills.
| Criterion | Agency | Freelancers | Salaried CTO |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP cost | EUR 50,000 to 120,000 | EUR 45,000 to 80,000 | EUR 38,000 to 50,000 (4 months loaded salary) |
| Realistic timeline | 8 to 14 weeks | 10 to 16 weeks | 16 to 26 weeks (hiring included) |
| Skills covered | Product, design, front, back, QA | Depends on who you find | One person, often back-end |
| Founder coordination | Low | High | Medium |
| Main risk | Vendor dependency | Mid-project departure | Bad hire, 3 to 6 months lost |
| Dilution | None | None | 2 to 10% in options |
| Code ownership | Contractual, must be required | Contractual, must be required | Automatic |
A salaried CTO really costs EUR 115,000 to 145,000 a year loaded in Amsterdam. Hiring takes 2 to 4 months, and a lone CTO rarely ships design, front and back in 12 weeks.
What an MVP costs by scope
| MVP type | Example | Agency budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validation MVP | Form, dashboard, payment | EUR 50,000 to 65,000 | 8 weeks |
| Simple vertical SaaS | Case management, 3 roles, exports | EUR 65,000 to 85,000 | 10 to 12 weeks |
| SaaS with integrations | Connection to 2 or 3 third-party APIs | EUR 80,000 to 100,000 | 12 weeks |
| Two-sided platform | Clients and providers, matching | EUR 90,000 to 120,000 | 12 to 14 weeks |
| AI component | Document analysis, domain assistant | +EUR 10,000 to 25,000 | +2 to 3 weeks |
| Post-launch maintenance | Fixes, small changes | EUR 1,500 to 4,000 / month | Ongoing |
Funding the MVP without burning the round
In the Netherlands, several non-dilutive schemes stack. The WBSO R&D tax credit reduces payroll tax on eligible development hours, worth roughly a third of eligible in-house R&D wage costs, with a higher rate for starters (estimate, rates are set yearly). The Innovatiekrediet from RVO funds up to 25 to 45% of development costs as a loan for promising projects. Vroegefasefinanciering (early-stage financing) provides up to EUR 350,000 for feasibility work. Amsterdam also has accelerator programmes such as Rockstart offering EUR 50,000 to 250,000 against equity. Well structured, non-dilutive support often covers 25 to 40% of a EUR 85,000 MVP.
Mini case study
Sophie, founder of an Amsterdam start-up for energy audit management and a former consultant with no technical background, must show a production product to her angels in 12 weeks. Agency option: EUR 82,000 for a vertical SaaS in 11 weeks. Funding: WBSO credit of about EUR 12,000 on in-house product hours, a Vroegefasefinanciering loan of EUR 40,000. Remaining equity spend: about EUR 30,000 on the MVP. In-house CTO option: 4 months to hire, then 5 months of development at EUR 11,000 loaded per month, EUR 55,000, with a demo ready in month 9 instead of month 3 and 5% equity granted. Sophie picks the agency, then hires her CTO after the round, with documented code to take over.
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FAQ
Can an agency really deliver in 12 weeks?
Yes, if scope is frozen by week 2. Allow a 10 to 15% timeline buffer for user testing feedback.
How do we avoid agency lock-in?
Require IP assignment, a Git repository in your name from day one and documentation. A new CTO can then take over in 2 to 4 weeks.
Is no-code an alternative?
To test an idea, yes, with a EUR 7,000 to 20,000 budget. Beyond 500 users or complex integrations, a rewrite often costs EUR 40,000 or more.
What equity for a first CTO?
In 2026, a CTO joining before seed typically gets 3 to 10% of the company, versus 0.5 to 2% after a Series A.
Do investors accept an agency-built MVP?
Yes, with a credible technical hiring plan after the round. They look at traction more than at who wrote the code.
Let's scope your project. Send us your scope and funding date: we will price an MVP between EUR 50,000 and 120,000, delivered in 8 to 14 weeks. 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.
