The verdict in three sentences
A custom SaaS built for 40,000 EUR (excl. VAT) costs 6,000 to 10,000 EUR/year to maintain, i.e. 15 to 25 % of the initial cost. This budget covers hosting, bug fixes, security, dependency updates and a base level of enhancements: ignoring it means letting the product decay within 18 months. The 2026 rule: provision maintenance in the initial quote, never after go-live.
The breakdown of 2026 recurring costs
Maintenance is not a single line item. It splits into distinct areas you must budget separately to avoid nasty surprises after the first year.
| Recurring item | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT/year) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & infrastructure | 1,200 - 12,000 | 15-25 % |
| Bug fixes & corrective maintenance | 2,000 - 6,000 | 25-30 % |
| Security & dependency updates | 1,500 - 4,000 | 15-20 % |
| User support (L1/L2) | 1,800 - 8,000 | 15-25 % |
| Minor enhancements included | 2,000 - 6,000 | 20-25 % |
| Monitoring & backups | 600 - 2,400 | 5-10 % |
For a mid-sized SaaS, total recurring cost in 2026 ranges between 9,000 and 38,000 EUR/year. This is an order of magnitude: it depends on traffic, user count and how critical the service is.
The 3 maintenance contract models
Serious providers offer three formats in 2026. The choice depends on your risk tolerance and internal capacity.
| Model | 2026 indicative price | What's included | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per ticket (time & materials) | 600 - 900 EUR/day | On-demand work | Low activity, tight budget |
| Monthly retainer | 500 - 2,500 EUR/month | Fixes + support + enhancement hours | Growing SMEs |
| Full managed maintenance | 15-25 % of dev/year | SLA, on-call, roadmap | Critical, B2B SaaS |
The monthly retainer is the best compromise for 80 % of editors: it smooths spending and guarantees responsiveness. Full managed maintenance with an SLA is justified as soon as downtime costs money.
Mini case study
Thomas, founder of a route-planning SaaS SME in Nantes, had his app built for 48,000 EUR (excl. VAT). He hesitated to budget maintenance. Calculation: Scaleway hosting 240 EUR/month (2,880 EUR/year) + managed maintenance at 20 % of dev, i.e. 9,600 EUR/year = 12,480 EUR/year, about 1,040 EUR/month. Across his 60 paying customers, that's 17 EUR/customer/year in maintenance, a fraction of his average 79 EUR/month subscription. Provisioning this budget spared him technical debt that would have cost twice as much to clear after two years.
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FAQ
Why does maintenance cost 15 to 25 % of dev per year?
Because code ages: dependencies (frameworks, libraries) receive security updates, browsers evolve, and users report bugs. In 2026, an unmaintained project accumulates technical debt estimated at 20-40 % of its value within two years.
Can I cut the hosting bill?
Yes. An OVH or Scaleway VPS at 100-300 EUR/month is enough for most B2B SaaS below 5,000 active users. Hyperscalers (AWS, Azure) only make sense beyond that, or for heavy scalability needs.
What happens if I don't maintain my SaaS?
Security flaws pile up, browsers break features, and an outage can freeze your customers. Bringing an app abandoned for 18 months back up to date often costs 30 to 50 % of the initial development.
Does maintenance include new features?
Partly. A retainer usually includes a quota of hours for minor enhancements (2,000 to 6,000 EUR/year). Major features are quoted separately, priced per project.
When should I sign the maintenance contract?
Before go-live. In 2026, the best providers include the managed-maintenance clause in the development contract to guarantee continuity and a negotiated rate.
Let's scope your project. Describe your SaaS (stack, user count, criticality) and we'll quote a maintenance retainer that fits your 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.
