The verdict in three sentences
For B2B wholesale, an off-the-shelf vertical ERP costs EUR 50 to 150/user/month and deploys fast, whereas custom software runs EUR 45,000-120,000 but fits your price lists and ordering portal exactly. The custom timeline is 5 to 8 months, with EUR 700 to 1,500/month of maintenance. The right call comes down to one figure: how much your customer-specific pricing and stock turnover weigh on your margin.
Vertical ERP vs custom: the figures
| Criterion | Vertical ERP (SaaS) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | EUR 0 - 8,000 (setup) | EUR 45,000 - 120,000 |
| Recurring cost | EUR 50 - 150/user/month | Maintenance EUR 700 - 1,500/month |
| Time to go live | 6 - 12 weeks | 5 - 8 months |
| Complex customer pricing | Standard, limited | 100% custom |
| B2B ordering portal | Often an add-on | Built-in, branded |
| Evolutions | Vendor roadmap | On demand |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
Over 3 years, an ERP at EUR 100/user/month for 12 users costs EUR 43,200 excluding setup; a custom build at EUR 80,000 + EUR 1,000/month maintenance totals EUR 116,000. The gap is justified if your specific processes generate more margin than that premium.
What custom funds in a wholesale business
| Function | Business impact | Indicative 2026 budget (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Per-customer/volume price lists | Protected margin, fewer errors | 8,000 - 20,000 |
| Multi-warehouse & stock | Turnover, stockout alerts | 10,000 - 26,000 |
| B2B ordering portal | 24/7 orders, fewer calls | 12,000 - 30,000 |
| Sales CRM & follow-ups | Basket size, reactivation | 6,000 - 16,000 |
| Invoicing & credit notes | Faster collection | 6,000 - 14,000 |
| Carrier integration | Tracking, delivery notes | 5,000 - 14,000 |
Mini case study
Sophie, managing director of an industrial-supplies wholesaler in London (18 users, 4,200 SKUs, 2 warehouses), is undecided. The vertical ERP would cost EUR 21,600/year (EUR 120 x 18 x 12). She chooses a custom build at EUR 88,000 + EUR 1,100/month maintenance.
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Thanks to the B2B portal, 28% of orders move to self-service: 1.5 admin FTEs freed (~EUR 55,000/year). Better price-list handling avoids 1.2 points of margin error on EUR 6.4M revenue, i.e. ~EUR 76,800/year recovered. The premium over the ERP is absorbed in year one.
FAQ
Vertical ERP or custom in 2026? Under 8-10 users with standard processes, the ERP at EUR 50-150/user/month wins. Beyond that, with complex customer pricing, custom at EUR 45,000-120,000 becomes profitable.
What does a B2B ordering portal cost? Budget EUR 12,000 to 30,000 for a branded portal with catalogue, personalised pricing and order history. It sharply cuts calls and emails.
How long for a custom build? Between 5 and 8 months, usually in two lots: core management/stock first, B2B portal second.
What maintenance budget? Maintenance runs EUR 700 to 1,500/month depending on scope and integrations (carriers, accounting).
Does custom really improve stock turnover? Yes: with alerts and multi-warehouse, we typically see -10 to -20% dormant stock in year one, freeing cash.
Let's scope your project. Share your user count, SKU count and pricing rules, and we'll compare ERP vs custom on your case. 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.
