Cost Guide

How Much Does It Cost to Build a SaaS MVP?

A SaaS MVP — multi-tenant architecture, user auth, billing, and a core feature loop — typically runs between €6,000 and €22,000 when built by a senior solo developer. Agencies quote €40,000–120,000 for the same scope. The gap comes from overhead, not craft.

Last updated: April 2026

Cost comparison
Agency

€40k€120k

EUR typical range

Timeline: 1231 weeks

Senior Freelancer

€11k€40k

EUR typical range

Timeline: 820 weeks

Senior quality · Balkans ratesDusko Licanin

€6k€22k

EUR typical range

Timeline: 614 weeks

What's included in base scope
  • 01User registration, login, and session management (email + OAuth)
  • 02Multi-tenant data isolation with row-level security
  • 03Stripe subscription billing (monthly/annual plans, trial period)
  • 04Core product feature loop (the one thing your MVP needs to prove)
  • 05Responsive web app deployable to Vercel or equivalent
What drives the cost
  • Multi-tenancy complexity — shared schema vs. row-level security vs. separate databases each add engineering time
  • Payment logic — Stripe subscriptions, trials, metered billing, and webhook handling are deceptively involved
  • Auth depth — magic links, OAuth, SSO, and role-based permissions scale cost with each addition
  • Admin tooling — dashboards, usage analytics, and internal control panels are often double the cost of the user-facing product
What's not in base scope
  • Mobile apps (iOS/Android) — separate scope entirely
  • Advanced analytics or BI dashboards
  • Integrations with third-party tools beyond basic webhooks
  • Dedicated admin portal with user management UI
Related
Common questions

How much does it cost to build a SaaS MVP?

A SaaS MVP costs €6k€22k with a senior solo developer. Agencies typically quote €40k€120k for equivalent scope. The gap is overhead, not quality.

How long does it take to build a SaaS MVP?

A SaaS MVP takes 614 weeks with a senior solo developer using AI-augmented workflows. Agency timelines run longer due to discovery phases, hand-offs, and approval gates.

What is included in a SaaS MVP build?

  • User registration, login, and session management (email + OAuth)
  • Multi-tenant data isolation with row-level security
  • Stripe subscription billing (monthly/annual plans, trial period)
  • Core product feature loop (the one thing your MVP needs to prove)

What factors drive SaaS MVP development cost?

  • 01Multi-tenancy complexity — shared schema vs. row-level security vs. separate databases each add engineering time
  • 02Payment logic — Stripe subscriptions, trials, metered billing, and webhook handling are deceptively involved
  • 03Auth depth — magic links, OAuth, SSO, and role-based permissions scale cost with each addition
Working with Dusko

I've shipped two production SaaS products — BookBed (multi-tenant booking with iCal sync) and Callidus (clinic SaaS with row-level security) — both from zero to live in under 12 weeks. Balkans rates, European timezone, senior architecture.