The verdict in three sentences
A SaaS UX redesign is justified as soon as more than 30% of free trials never reach the first key action. In Amsterdam in 2026, a serious budget sits between EUR 15,000 and 40,000 excl. VAT, including user research, tested prototypes, a design system and development support. The measurable goal is twofold: lift activation from 25 to 45% and halve onboarding-related support tickets.
Diagnose before you redesign
The product manager of a B2B SaaS vendor notices that 40% of trial accounts never create their first project. The classic mistake is ordering "new screens" from a graphic studio. A UX redesign starts with data: activation funnel in Mixpanel, PostHog or Amplitude, session recordings, analysis of the last 200 support tickets, then 8 to 12 user interviews. This diagnosis almost always reveals 3 or 4 friction points that explain most of the loss.
| Metric (2026 order of magnitude, B2B SaaS) | Before redesign | Target after redesign |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day activation rate | 25% | 40 to 45% |
| Drop-off before first key action | 40% | 15 to 20% |
| Time to first value | 3 days | under 20 minutes |
| Support tickets per 100 accounts | 18 | 8 to 9 |
| Trial to paid conversion | 8% | 12 to 15% |
| SUS usability score | 58 | 75 and above |
What a EUR 15,000 to 40,000 budget covers
The price depends on how many journeys are redesigned and whether a design system already exists. In Amsterdam, a UX studio charges EUR 750 to 1,100 per day excl. VAT; a remote studio delivering the same scope typically charges EUR 550 to 850.
| Work package | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics and heuristic audit | 2,500 to 5,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| User research (8 to 12 interviews, recruitment included) | 3,000 to 7,000 | 2 weeks |
| Information architecture and target journeys | 2,000 to 5,000 | 1 week |
| High-fidelity Figma prototypes and tests (2 iterations) | 4,000 to 11,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Design system (components, tokens, documentation) | 3,000 to 9,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Development support and UX acceptance | 1,500 to 3,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Total | 15,000 to 40,000 | 8 to 14 weeks |
The low end covers onboarding and 2 main journeys on an existing design system. The high end covers a full application with 6 to 8 journeys, a design system built from scratch and post-launch A/B tests.
The method that avoids "pretty but useless"
Three rules protect your investment. First, every redesigned screen is tied to a funnel metric, otherwise it waits. Second, prototypes are tested with 5 real users before any code: 5 tests uncover about 80% of usability problems. Third, delivery happens in 2 to 3 week waves, starting with onboarding, so you measure the impact on activation in the first month instead of waiting for a 6-month "big bang".
A design system is not a luxury: it cuts front-end development time on later features by 20 to 30% and secures baseline WCAG accessibility (contrast, keyboard focus, labels), a criterion that increasingly weighs in enterprise and public-sector procurement, especially with the European Accessibility Act in force since June 2025.
Mini case study
Sanne, product manager of a construction management SaaS in Amsterdam, gets 600 free trials a month with 25% activation and 8% conversion to paid, so 48 new customers at EUR 150 excl. VAT a month. After a EUR 28,000 redesign, activation rises to 40% and conversion to 12%: 72 new customers a month, so 24 extra customers.
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Recurring revenue gain: 24 x 150 = EUR 3,600 of additional MRR every month. After 6 months, cumulative additional MRR reaches EUR 21,600, and revenue collected over the period (with monthly stacking) exceeds EUR 75,000. Support tickets drop from 108 to 54 a month, saving about 27 support hours monthly. The project pays back in under 5 months.
FAQ
Do we need to redesign the whole application?
Rarely. In 70% of cases, onboarding and 2 or 3 key journeys account for most drop-offs. We start there, for EUR 15,000 to 22,000 excl. VAT, then extend if results justify it.
How long before we see the impact on activation?
The first wave (onboarding) is usually live within 6 to 8 weeks. The effect on activation is measurable 3 to 4 weeks later, with at least 300 new trials for a reliable result.
Can our development team implement the new design?
Yes, that is the most common scenario. The design system is delivered as Figma components and tokens usable in React or Vue, with 1 to 2 half-days of support per week during development.
Why interview users if we already have the data?
Data shows where users drop off, interviews show why. 8 to 12 interviews of 45 minutes cost EUR 3,000 to 7,000 excl. VAT and stop you from redesigning the wrong screen.
Can you work remotely with an Amsterdam team?
Yes, workshops run over video with 1 or 2 on-site days if needed. A remote studio usually costs 25 to 40% less than a local agency for the same scope.
Let's scope your project. Share your activation funnel and priority journeys, and we will scope a UX redesign between EUR 15,000 and 40,000 excl. VAT 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.
