Glossary
How Much Does SaaS Development Cost?
SaaS development costs range from €15,000 for a focused MVP to €300,000+ for an enterprise platform, depending on scope, team structure, and feature complexity.
By scope:
| Scope | Cost Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Focused MVP (1 core feature) | €15k–€40k | 6–12 weeks |
| Mid-market SaaS (3–5 features) | €40k–€120k | 3–6 months |
| Enterprise platform | €120k–€500k+ | 6–18 months |
By team structure:
| Team | Cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Senior solo developer | €15k–€40k MVP | Bandwidth limit on large scope |
| Boutique agency | €40k–€120k MVP | PM overhead, slower iteration |
| In-house first hire | €80k–€150k/year | 4–6 months before first commit |
Where costs hide:
- Multi-tenancy added late costs 3× more than building it in
- Auth and billing integrations are always slower than estimated
- Stripe webhooks, email flows, and admin tooling add 20–40% to MVP scope
What drives cost up:
- Real-time features (WebSockets, Realtime subscriptions)
- Mobile app alongside web
- Complex multi-tenant isolation requirements
- Compliance (GDPR, HIPAA) baked in from day one
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