The verdict in three sentences
Custom wholesale software costs between 35,000 and 100,000 EUR (excl. VAT) in 2026 depending on the number of modules and the volume of SKUs. The core value is multi-customer pricing (per-customer grids, volume discounts, contractual net prices) combined with real-time stock and EDI with your suppliers. Budget 5 to 8 months of project time and a payback in 12 to 18 months from avoided stock-outs and eliminated data entry.
What custom wholesale software covers
A generic package (Sage, Cegid) imposes its data model; custom software fits your real commercial rules — where wholesale margins are won or lost. Modules are assembled by priority.
| Module | Key function | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue & master data | Product records, variants, sales units | 5,000 - 12,000 | 3-5 wks |
| Multi-customer pricing | Per-customer grids, volume discounts, net prices | 8,000 - 20,000 | 4-7 wks |
| Order management | Order entry, back-order, remainders | 6,000 - 15,000 | 3-6 wks |
| Real-time stock | Multi-warehouse, thresholds, valuation | 7,000 - 18,000 | 4-7 wks |
| Supplier/customer EDI | EDIFACT, order/invoice exchange | 6,000 - 16,000 | 4-8 wks |
| B2B order portal | Customer space with negotiated prices | 8,000 - 22,000 | 5-8 wks |
Scope and budget comparison
Price depends mostly on functional scope and the number of integrations. Here are three typical profiles we regularly quote.
| Profile | SKUs | Modules | Integrations | 2026 budget (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-site wholesaler | < 3,000 | Catalogue, pricing, orders | Accounting | 35,000 - 50,000 |
| Regional distributor | 3,000 - 15,000 | + multi-warehouse stock, EDI | ERP, carrier | 55,000 - 80,000 |
| Multi-site wholesaler | > 15,000 | + B2B portal, full EDI | ERP, WMS, BI | 85,000 - 100,000+ |
On top of these figures, budget annual maintenance of 15 to 20 % of the development cost, covering regulatory updates, monitoring and support. Also plan for hosting (150 to 600 EUR/month depending on transaction volume).
Mini case study
Thomas, sales director of an electrical equipment wholesaler in Nantes, manages 8,000 SKUs and 400 professional customers with case-by-case negotiated prices in Excel files. His reps spend on average 6 hours a week re-entering orders and checking prices, roughly 3 partly mobilised FTEs. Custom software at 68,000 EUR (excl. VAT) with multi-customer pricing and an order portal automates 70 % of data entry. Estimated saving: 9 cumulative hours/day across the team, about 90,000 EUR/year of reallocated sales time, plus a 25 % drop in invoicing errors. ROI reached in under 12 months.
FAQ
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Why not use a standard ERP like Sage or Cegid?
A standard ERP costs 20,000 to 60,000 EUR in licences and configuration but forces your processes into its mould. For a wholesaler whose pricing grids are a competitive advantage, custom software recoups its premium through customer loyalty and preserved margin.
How long to go live?
Budget 5 to 8 months for a full scope. A first usable batch (catalogue + pricing + orders) can ship in 10 to 12 weeks with a phased approach.
Is EDI essential?
If your large customers or suppliers require it (retail, industry), yes. Otherwise a REST API or a B2B portal is often enough and cheaper to maintain.
Can you migrate my Excel files and legacy tool history?
Yes, data migration (customers, items, prices, balances) is a dedicated batch, quoted between 3,000 and 8,000 EUR (excl. VAT) depending on source quality.
Should we plan mobility for field reps?
An offline mobile order-taking app (PWA) adds 8,000 to 15,000 EUR (excl. VAT) but saves considerable time on the road.
Let's scope your project. Describe your catalogue, pricing grids and target integrations (ERP, EDI, carrier) and we'll frame a scope with an indicative budget. 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.
