The verdict in three sentences
For a commercial furniture manufacturer selling to both dealers and public agencies, Shopify Plus (from about USD 2,300 a month, plus USD 22,000 to 55,000 of integration) is the right choice as long as pricing stays readable: price lists by customer type, a few discounts, card or bank transfer payment. A custom platform (USD 65,000 to 140,000) is justified once configured quotes, fixed-price government contracts, e-invoicing to public buyers and net 30 to 60 terms become the core of the flow. Over 5 years, both options often land in the same price range: decide on pricing complexity, not on the initial quote.
What Shopify Plus B2B does well, and where it stops
Since B2B became native, Shopify Plus handles company profiles with multiple ship-to locations, catalogues and price lists per customer, payment terms (net 30 or net 60), minimum quantities and an ordering portal. For a catalogue of 300 to 800 SKUs and around ten price lists, it is fast to set up and robust.
The limits show up with a manufacturer: configurable products (dimensions, colours, finishes, bases) priced by combination, project quotes with internal approval, prices fixed by a multi-year government contract, and electronic invoicing to public buyers.
| Manufacturer need | Shopify Plus B2B | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Price lists per dealer | native | native |
| Net 30 or net 60 terms | native (payment terms) | to be built |
| Configurator with combination pricing | third-party app, variant limits | fully tailored |
| Project quotes with approval workflow | app or custom development | native to the project |
| Contract prices per public buyer | workaround with dedicated catalogues | dedicated rules |
| E-invoicing to public agencies | external connector or ERP | built into the API |
| Code ownership | no | yes |
2026 cost comparison
Ballpark 2026 figures, excluding tax, for a manufacturer with USD 9 million in revenue, aiming for USD 2 to 3 million online.
| Cost line | Shopify Plus | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Licence or hosting | about USD 2,300 a month | USD 350 to 800 a month |
| Theme and ERP integration | USD 22,000 to 55,000 | included |
| Initial development | custom work USD 11,000 to 33,000 | USD 65,000 to 140,000 |
| Third-party apps (configurator, quotes) | USD 350 to 1,000 a month | none |
| Maintenance and enhancements | USD 900 to 1,700 a month | USD 1,300 to 2,800 a month |
| Time to go live | 3 to 5 months | 6 to 9 months |
| 5-year total cost (median scenario) | USD 210,000 to 285,000 | USD 195,000 to 305,000 |
Decision grid based on pricing complexity
Score one point per true statement. From 0 to 2 points, Shopify Plus is the rational choice. From 3 to 4 points, a hybrid approach (Shopify for the standard catalogue, a custom portal for projects and public contracts) is worth costing. At 5 points or more, custom becomes cheaper over 5 years.
| Criterion | Point if true |
|---|---|
| Over 30% of revenue comes from configurable products | 1 |
| Over 20 price lists or customer-negotiated prices | 1 |
| Over 15% of revenue comes from public buyers | 1 |
| Project quotes go through internal approval | 1 |
| Public contract prices are fixed for 2 to 4 years | 1 |
| Two or more ERPs, or an ERP without a Shopify connector | 1 |
| You want to own the platform | 1 |
For US public buyers, terms are usually net 30 under prompt payment rules, but actual collection by cities, school districts and agencies often runs 45 to 60 days, with purchase orders and vendor registration required. The platform must therefore manage customer credit and automated reminders, whatever the technical choice.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Julian, CEO of an office furniture manufacturer in New York State (illustrative scenario), scores 5 points on the grid: 40% configurable products, 25% public revenue, quotes approved by the design office.
Shopify Plus option over 5 years: integration USD 38,000, workaround development USD 27,000, licence and apps USD 3,050 a month or USD 183,000, maintenance USD 1,100 a month or USD 66,000. Total: USD 314,000. Custom option: USD 120,000 of development, USD 550 hosting and USD 1,950 maintenance a month, or USD 150,000 over 5 years. Total: USD 270,000, with code ownership. Gap: USD 44,000 in favour of custom, even though the initial quote looked twice as high.
FAQ
Does Shopify Plus really handle B2B in 2026?
Yes, for standard cases: company price lists, payment terms, minimum quantities. Beyond 2 or 3 nested pricing rules, you need apps at USD 350 to 1,000 a month or custom development.
Can we start on Shopify and migrate later?
Yes, it is a common strategy. A later migration typically costs USD 33,000 to 65,000, best anticipated by keeping product data in your ERP or a PIM.
How do we invoice public agencies from the platform?
Many agencies require invoices through their procurement or e-invoicing portal. A direct API integration costs about USD 5,500 to 13,000, or goes through your ERP if it already has the connector.
How long does a 3D configurator take?
A 2D configurator with dynamic pricing takes 6 to 10 weeks; a realistic 3D configurator adds 8 to 12 weeks and USD 27,000 to 65,000 of modelling.
Is custom riskier?
The main risk is dependency on the vendor. It is managed with documented code, a Git repository in your name and a clear maintenance contract, which is still less constraining than dependency on a SaaS publisher.
Let's scope your project. Share your catalogue, your price lists and your share of public sales: we will apply the decision grid and cost both options with an indicative budget 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.
