The verdict in three sentences
For a cosmetics manufacturer in Toronto selling to 600 pharmacies and salons, Shopify Plus is the fastest and cheapest over 3 years as long as B2B rules stay standard. Adobe Commerce makes sense with multiple warehouses, catalogues per network and an in-house tech team, but its USD 25,000 to 60,000 annual licence weighs heavily. Custom (EUR 50,000 to 120,000) becomes the right choice when commercial terms, regulation or the ERP require logic that platforms handle poorly.
Three-year total cost: the 2026 order of magnitude
Integrators charge EUR 600 to 900 per day (roughly USD 650 to 1,000). The figures below use EUR 750 per day and a 400-SKU catalogue.
| Item (3 years) | Shopify Plus | Adobe Commerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence or subscription | USD 2,300 per month, about EUR 76,000 | USD 25,000 to 60,000 per year, EUR 69,000 to 166,000 | EUR 0 |
| Initial integration | 30 to 60 days, EUR 22,500 to 45,000 | 80 to 150 days, EUR 60,000 to 112,500 | EUR 50,000 to 120,000 |
| Apps and extensions | EUR 300 to 1,000 per month, EUR 11,000 to 36,000 | EUR 5,000 to 20,000 | Included |
| Hosting | Included | EUR 600 to 2,000 per month, EUR 22,000 to 72,000 | EUR 300 to 900 per month, EUR 11,000 to 32,000 |
| Maintenance and changes | EUR 15,000 to 30,000 | EUR 40,000 to 80,000 | EUR 22,000 to 54,000 |
| Estimated total | EUR 125,000 to 187,000 | EUR 196,000 to 450,000 | EUR 83,000 to 206,000 |
Shopify Plus also charges transaction fees if you do not use Shopify Payments. Custom has no licence, but requires a partner able to maintain the code over time.
Decision table by B2B need
| Manufacturer need | Shopify Plus | Adobe Commerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prices per customer and network | Native (B2B catalogues) | Native (shared catalogs) | Custom, unlimited |
| Cascading discounts, complex tiers | Limited, via apps | Good | Excellent |
| Quick order, replenishment | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Net 30 or 60 terms, credit limits | Native, simple | Native | Custom |
| Real-time ERP sync | Via middleware | Via connectors | Built for your ERP |
| Batches, serial numbers, cosmetics traceability | Weak | Medium | Excellent |
| Time to launch | 2 to 3 months | 5 to 8 months | 4 to 6 months |
| Vendor lock-in | High | High | Low |
For cosmetics, batch traceability and safety data sheets often weigh in the decision: a pharmacy must be able to trace the delivered batch in case of a recall.
Questions to settle before choosing
How many distinct price lists really exist? Fewer than 10 favour Shopify Plus, more than 50 customer, network and promotion combinations favour custom. Does your ERP (NetSuite, Sage X3, Dynamics) expose a usable API? Do you also run a consumer store? If so, a single platform for B2C and B2B cuts costs, and Shopify Plus becomes very competitive again.
Mini case study
Sophie, sales director at a cosmetics manufacturer in Toronto, 600 accounts and EUR 4.2 million in B2B revenue. She has 6 price networks and a Sage X3 ERP with API. Shopify Plus option: about EUR 140,000 over 3 years. Custom option: EUR 85,000 development plus EUR 30,000 maintenance and hosting, so EUR 115,000, with native batch traceability. If 35% of orders move online and each costs EUR 9 less to process across 15,000 orders a year, savings reach EUR 47,000 a year, and the custom build pays back in just under 3 years before any revenue gain.
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FAQ
Is Shopify Plus really suitable for B2B in 2026?
Yes for standard needs: customer catalogues, payment terms, quick order. Beyond 10 price lists or nested discount rules, third-party apps add EUR 300 to 1,000 per month.
Why is Adobe Commerce so expensive?
The licence depends on online revenue, USD 25,000 to 60,000 a year for a mid-size company, and integration takes 80 to 150 days of specialist developers. It mostly makes sense above EUR 20 million in online revenue.
Is custom risky in the long run?
The risk lies in maintenance: require documented code, automated tests and source code ownership. Budget 15 to 20% of the initial cost per year.
Can we start on Shopify Plus and migrate later?
Yes, a migration costs EUR 20,000 to 50,000 depending on data volume. An architecture that keeps the ERP as the master record limits that cost.
How long to go live before the season?
Allow 2 to 3 months for Shopify Plus, 4 to 6 months for custom and 5 to 8 months for Adobe Commerce, testing included.
Let's scope your project. Send us your price lists, ERP and order volume: we will compare the three options with a priced 3-year cost and a launch schedule. 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.
