The verdict in three sentences
A French staffing agency handling 150 to 500 temps a week loses the equivalent of 1 to 2 FTEs re-keying timesheets between the client company, payroll and invoicing. Custom software at EUR 40,000 to 110,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 4 to 6 months, connects digital assignment contracts, mobile timesheets, DPAE declarations and payroll export. Equipped agencies see payroll errors cut fivefold and an invoicing cycle shortened by a week.
Where time and money go in a staffing agency
The weekly cycle never changes: client order, assignment contract, DPAE pre-hire declaration, signed timesheet, temp payroll, client invoice. Every break between these steps creates re-keying, then an error, then an advance payment or a correction.
| Weekly task (300 temps) | Paper or Excel process | With integrated software | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timesheet entry | 300 timesheets x 4 min = 20 h | Timesheets approved on mobile, 2 h of checks | 18 h |
| Drafting and signing assignment contracts | 25 h | Generation and e-signature, 4 h | 21 h |
| DPAE declarations | 3 h | Automatic filing with URSSAF, 0.5 h | 2.5 h |
| Preparing payroll variables | 8 h | Automatic export to payroll software, 1 h | 7 h |
| Client invoicing | 10 h | Invoices generated from approved hours, 2 h | 8 h |
| Payroll error rate | 4 to 6% of payslips | 0.8 to 1.2% | Cut fivefold |
| Average invoicing delay | 8 to 10 days | 1 to 3 days | 1 week of cash flow |
With 56 hours saved per week, an agency frees up about 1.5 FTEs of branch assistant time, roughly EUR 45,000 to 55,000 fully loaded per year in Toulouse or Lyon.
What custom costs compared with staffing packages
Industry packages (Tempo, Pixid on the client side, Anael, Mytemp, Side for digital flows) cover the essentials, but with per-branch licences, paid modules and little room for your specifics: multi-branch setups, construction with travel allowances, multiple collective agreements.
| Criterion (2026 order of magnitude) | Staffing package | Custom, core scope | Custom, full multi-branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | EUR 8,000 to 25,000 setup | EUR 40,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT | EUR 75,000 to 110,000 excl. VAT |
| Annual licence | EUR 12,000 to 36,000 | EUR 0, hosting EUR 3,000 to 6,000 | EUR 0, hosting EUR 6,000 to 12,000 |
| Annual maintenance | Included | EUR 6,000 to 9,000 | EUR 11,000 to 16,000 |
| Mobile timesheets for temp and client | Optional module | Included | Included with site geolocation |
| Digital contracts and amendments | Yes | Yes | Yes, multi-signatory |
| DPAE and payroll export (Silae, Sage, Cegid) | Vendor-dependent | File export | API with consistency checks |
| Time to go live | 2 to 3 months | 4 months | 6 months |
Over 5 years, a package at EUR 24,000 a year plus EUR 15,000 setup comes to about EUR 135,000. A core custom build at EUR 55,000 plus EUR 12,000 a year in maintenance and hosting comes to EUR 115,000, and you own the tool.
Mini case study
Thomas, director of an independent staffing agency in Toulouse focused on construction and logistics, places 320 temps a week across 2 branches. His 6-person team spends 60 hours a week re-keying. Payroll corrections cost about EUR 2,400 a month (advances, bank fees, handling time), or EUR 28,800 a year.
The project is quoted at EUR 78,000 excl. VAT for a full scope in 5 months. Estimated annual gains: 1.5 FTEs redeployed to business development (EUR 50,000), corrections down 80% (EUR 23,000), and one week of invoicing delay saved on EUR 450,000 monthly revenue, about EUR 3,000 of factoring fees avoided per year. Total: EUR 76,000 a year. With EUR 14,000 in recurring costs, payback comes in about 15 months.
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FAQ
Can the software produce assignment contracts compliant with French labour law?
Yes, mandatory clauses (reason for use, end date, reference pay, trial period) are generated from the client order and checked before signature. E-signature costs about EUR 0.50 to 1.50 per contract.
How do temps submit their hours?
Through a mobile web app, no install needed, with client manager approval by SMS or email. The share of timesheets received before Monday noon usually rises from 60% to over 90%.
Do we need to change payroll software?
No: the tool exports variables to Silae, Sage or Cegid in the expected format. The connector takes 5 to 10 days to build depending on the software.
What budget for an agency with 150 temps a week?
Budget EUR 40,000 to 55,000 excl. VAT for contracts, timesheets, DPAE and payroll export. Maintenance then runs around 15% a year.
Is the data hosted in France?
Yes, we host with a European provider, with daily backups and access logging. Cost is EUR 250 to 500 a month depending on volume.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your weekly temp volume, payroll software and branches: we will return a scope, an indicative budget between EUR 40,000 and 110,000 excl. VAT and a 4 to 6 month plan. 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.
