The verdict in three sentences
A vertical SaaS for construction, healthcare or transport launches with an MVP of 40,000 to 90,000 EUR (roughly 43,000 to 97,000 USD), hosting at 200 to 800 EUR a month and 15,000 to 40,000 EUR of acquisition spend to land the first 20 customers. With subscriptions at 80 to 400 EUR a month, break-even usually arrives between month 18 and month 30. The domain experts who succeed fund customer acquisition as seriously as development, because that is where year one usually breaks.
Why vertical is a good bet for a domain expert
Horizontal software (CRM, accounting, project management) is crowded. Vertical software solves one precise problem for one industry: punch list tracking for site managers, visit scheduling for home care nurses, consignment notes for freight carriers. The expert's edge is knowing the first 20 customers by name, the vocabulary and the compliance rules. The expert's risk is trying to build everything in version 1.
A good MVP does one thing better than the customer's current spreadsheet: 3 to 5 core screens, clean authentication, online subscription billing and exports. Native mobile apps, multiple integrations and AI features wait until 20 paying customers have confirmed demand.
Year-one budget, line by line
| Line item | 2026 range (excl. VAT) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and wireframes | 4,000 to 10,000 EUR | 3 to 5 weeks, tested with 5 prospects |
| MVP development | 36,000 to 80,000 EUR | 3 to 6 months, responsive web, multi-tenant |
| Hosting, monitoring, backups | 200 to 800 EUR a month, 2,400 to 9,600 EUR a year | Depends on volume and compliance (HIPAA, HDS) |
| SaaS tooling (email, billing, support) | 150 to 400 EUR a month | Stripe charges about 1.5 % + 0.25 EUR per European card |
| Legal (terms, GDPR, license agreement) | 2,000 to 6,000 EUR | More with health data |
| Acquiring the first 20 customers | 15,000 to 40,000 EUR | Trade shows, outbound, content, demos |
| Maintenance and iterations | 15 to 20 % of MVP cost per year | Fixes, customer requests, security |
Realistic year-one total: 70,000 to 160,000 EUR. The low end assumes a founder who sells and a very tight scope; the high end fits regulated sectors like healthcare, where certified hosting and compliance add up.
Subscription price and break-even
Price follows the value created per user and the size of the customer. A small contractor pays 80 to 150 EUR a month; a clinic or a 50-truck carrier accepts 300 to 400 EUR, more with several sites.
| Scenario | Average subscription | Customers at 12 months | MRR at 12 months | Estimated break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro businesses, founder-led sales | 90 EUR | 40 | 3,600 EUR | Month 28 to 30 |
| SMEs, founder-led sales | 180 EUR | 30 | 5,400 EUR | Month 22 to 26 |
| SMEs, with one sales rep | 250 EUR | 45 | 11,250 EUR | Month 20 to 24 |
| Mid-market or multi-site networks | 400 EUR | 25 | 10,000 EUR | Month 18 to 22 |
| Healthcare, heavy compliance | 350 EUR | 20 | 7,000 EUR | Month 26 to 30 |
Two metrics matter more than revenue: monthly churn, which should stay under 2 %, and customer acquisition cost, which should be recovered in under 12 months of subscription.
How Kolonell helps
We build the MVP, subscription billing and admin back office, then stay on for maintenance. For international founders, the budget is set in the quote after a scoping workshop. See also our article on software due diligence, useful the day an investor reviews your code.
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Mini case study
Emma, a former construction site manager in Manchester, launches a punch list SaaS. Year-one budget: MVP 55,000 EUR, hosting 4,800 EUR, tools 3,000 EUR, legal 3,000 EUR, acquisition 25,000 EUR, for a total of 90,800 EUR. She targets finishing trades contractors at 150 EUR a month. At month 12, 35 customers bring 5,250 EUR a month. Recurring costs (hosting, tools, maintenance, ongoing acquisition) sit near 2,800 EUR a month, leaving 2,450 EUR of margin. Adding 3 customers a month, she recovers the initial investment around month 26, right inside the 18 to 30 month range.
FAQ
How much does a vertical SaaS MVP cost in 2026?
Between 40,000 and 90,000 EUR for a multi-tenant web MVP with online billing. The low end means 3 to 5 core screens, the high end complex or regulated business rules.
Do we need a mobile app from day one?
Rarely: a responsive web app covers 80 to 90 % of year-one usage. A native app comes once 20 paying customers ask for it, under a separate budget.
What budget should go to the first customers?
Plan 15,000 to 40,000 EUR for the first 20, across trade shows, outbound and demos. A founder who sells halves this line but spends 50 % of their time on it.
When does a vertical SaaS break even?
Usually between month 18 and month 30, provided churn stays under 2 % a month. A subscription of 250 EUR or more shortens the timeline noticeably.
Can health data sit on standard cloud hosting?
Not without safeguards: in France health data requires HDS-certified hosting, and in the US HIPAA demands a signed BAA. Expect a 30 to 100 % hosting premium.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your industry, the problem your software solves and your first 5 target customers, and we will scope an MVP deliverable in 3 to 6 months. 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.
