The verdict in three sentences
A founder coming from transport, healthcare or construction can test a vertical SaaS with 10 pilot customers through an MVP delivered in 12 weeks, provided the scope is limited to a single business workflow. From a French agency, the market budget sits between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR excl. VAT for a team of 2 to 3 people at a day rate of 500 to 750 EUR; London agencies usually quote 20 to 40 % more. In France, the Bourse French Tech grant from Bpifrance, up to 30,000 EUR, can fund a large share of this phase (UK founders typically look at SEIS and Innovate UK instead).
The realistic scope of a 12-week vertical MVP
The classic mistake is to build the entire dream product in version 1. A successful vertical MVP solves one costly problem for one user profile: route planning for a haulier, appointments and reminders for an allied health practice, progress billing for a construction contractor.
| In the MVP | Pushed to version 2 |
|---|---|
| Core business workflow end to end | Secondary modules (stock, HR, fleet) |
| User accounts, simple roles | Fine-grained permissions and SSO |
| Online subscription (Stripe) and invoicing | Usage-based billing and multi-currency |
| Minimal dashboard (3 to 5 metrics) | Custom reports |
| CSV import of existing data | API connectors to third-party software |
| Responsive web version | Native mobile apps |
Budget, team and recurring costs
| Item | 2026 range (order of magnitude) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Agency team (2 to 3 people, 12 weeks) | 30,000 to 80,000 EUR excl. VAT | Day rate 500 to 750 EUR depending on city and seniority |
| Product design and clickable prototype | 4,000 to 10,000 EUR | Validate with 5 customers before coding |
| Hosting, database, email | 50 to 300 EUR a month | Managed cloud, gradual scaling |
| Tools (Stripe, monitoring, analytics) | 50 to 200 EUR a month | Stripe 1.5 % + 0.25 EUR per European card transaction |
| Post-launch maintenance and iterations | 1,500 to 5,000 EUR a month | Fixes and pilot feedback |
| Bourse French Tech (Bpifrance) | Up to 30,000 EUR | Grant, 4 to 8 week application |
Kolonell builds MVPs on its 2026 grid: medium application 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), complex application from 7,000,000 FCFA (10,670 EUR). Maintenance runs from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month (50 to 180 EUR). The gap with European agency rates comes from a Dakar-based team working on GMT, one hour from London.
Typical 12-week plan
| Weeks | Stage | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Scoping, interviews with 5 pilot customers | Prioritised user stories, success criteria |
| 3 to 4 | Product design, clickable prototype | Mock-ups validated by pilots |
| 5 to 10 | Development in 2-week sprints | Demo at the end of each sprint |
| 11 | Testing, security, GDPR, Stripe subscription | Release candidate |
| 12 | Onboarding of the 10 pilot customers | MVP in production, usage tracking board |
Set the criteria that will decide what happens next before writing code: for example 7 out of 10 pilots active every week after one month and 3 pilots ready to pay 99 EUR a month.
Mini case study
Illustrative scenario: Julien, a former transport operations manager in Nantes, launches a route planning SaaS for regional hauliers with 10 to 50 vehicles. His MVP costs 52,000 EUR excl. VAT from a French agency, 30,000 EUR of which is covered by the Bourse French Tech, leaving 22,000 EUR to fund. At 149 EUR a month per customer, 10 converted pilots bring in 17,880 EUR a year. The remaining cost is covered in about 15 months, and each additional batch of 10 customers adds nearly 18,000 EUR of annual recurring revenue.
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FAQ
What budget for a vertical SaaS MVP in 2026?
From a French agency, 30,000 to 80,000 EUR excl. VAT for 12 weeks. At Kolonell, the 2026 grid for a medium application runs from 6,100 to 10,670 EUR.
Can it really be delivered in 12 weeks?
Yes if the scope is limited to one workflow and pilots are available to validate mock-ups in week 4. Each added module pushes delivery back 2 to 4 weeks.
How do you get the Bourse French Tech?
It targets companies less than one year old at the time of application, through Bpifrance, for up to 30,000 EUR. The application requires a prototype or proof of customer interest.
Is a mobile app needed in the MVP?
Rarely. A responsive web version covers 80 % of B2B cases. A native app adds 15,000 to 40,000 EUR and 6 to 10 weeks.
Who owns the code?
The founder, with an assignment of rights in the contract. Require access to the Git repository from week one.
Let's scope your project. Describe your industry, the workflow to automate and your first pilot customers, and we will price an MVP between 4,000,000 and 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), deliverable in 12 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.
