The verdict in three sentences
Custom management software for a B2B wholesale or distribution business costs between 35,000 and 95,000 EUR in 2026, versus a distribution ERP billed per module and per user. Custom is worth it when your per-customer pricing rules, volume discounts and EDI flows are too specific for standard packaged software. Expect 16 to 24 weeks of development and a return on investment driven by fewer stockouts and fewer invoicing errors.
How much does custom wholesale software cost in 2026
The price depends on the number of modules and the complexity of your business rules. A single-site wholesaler with a simple catalogue starts at the low end; a multi-warehouse distributor with EDI and complex customer pricing climbs toward the top of the range.
| Module | Scope | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue & product records | SKUs, variants, sales units | 5,000 - 11,000 |
| Multi-warehouse stock | In/out, thresholds, inventory | 7,000 - 16,000 |
| Per-customer pricing & volume discounts | Grids, negotiated terms | 6,000 - 14,000 |
| Customer orders & quotes | Approval workflow, backorders | 6,000 - 13,000 |
| Supplier/customer EDI flows | Orders, ASN, invoices | 5,000 - 15,000 |
| Accounting integration | Entry export, reconciliation | 4,000 - 10,000 |
| Dashboards & reporting | Margins, turnover, top customers | 3,000 - 9,000 |
A solid functional core (catalogue, stock, orders, customer pricing) therefore sits around 35,000 to 55,000 EUR. Adding EDI, deep accounting integration and advanced reporting brings it to 70,000 to 95,000 EUR. These figures are a 2026 order of magnitude for a francophone vendor or agency.
Custom or distribution ERP: which to choose
A distribution ERP imposes its processes but avoids long development. Custom fits your rules but demands a real upfront budget.
| Criterion | Custom | Distribution ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 35,000 - 95,000 EUR | 8,000 - 25,000 EUR (setup) |
| Recurring cost | Hosting + maintenance 8-15%/yr | 30 - 80 EUR/user/month |
| Fit to your pricing rules | Total | Configurable, often limited |
| Time to go live | 16 - 24 weeks | 8 - 16 weeks |
| Code ownership | You | Vendor |
| Growth without per-seat surcharge | Yes | No |
The tipping point: beyond 20-25 users and with genuinely specific pricing rules, custom becomes competitive over five years because you pay no per-seat subscription.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Thierry runs an industrial supplies wholesaler in Lille: 18 sales reps, 6,000 SKUs, a generalist ERP that cannot handle his 240 customer pricing grids. He invests 62,000 EUR in custom software. His stockouts drop from 9% to 7% of order lines, a 20% cut, and invoicing errors tied to wrong grids disappear. On 14M EUR of revenue, recovering 1.5 margin points on mispriced orders is about 90,000 EUR/year: the tool pays for itself in under a year.
FAQ
What is a realistic minimum budget to start? A first scope of catalogue + stock + orders + customer pricing starts around 35,000 EUR. It can be phased to smooth spending and deliver a core in 12-14 weeks.
How long until go-live? Expect 16 to 24 weeks depending on the number of modules and EDI complexity. A clean data migration often accounts for 15-20% of the timeline.
Does custom handle EDI with large retailers? Yes: orders, ASN and electronic invoices integrate, usually for 5,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on the number of partners and formats.
How does it connect to my accounting? Via entry export or API to your accounting software, budget 4,000 to 10,000 EUR. Automatic reconciliation sharply reduces manual entry.
What ROI can I concretely expect? Stockouts down about 20%, an end to pricing errors and administrative time savings: most wholesalers break even in 12 to 24 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of SKUs, warehouses and pricing grids, your indicative budget and target timeline, and we will frame the scope. 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.
