The verdict in three sentences
A web application costs 15 to 25 % of its build budget every year to run in 2026: that is the price of staying secure, fixed and evolving. Not budgeting for application maintenance means letting the app degrade until abandonment. The real trade-off is not "pay or not", but fixed-fee vs T&M maintenance and in-house team vs vendor.
The run budget items
The run is not just bug fixes: it covers security, hosting, enhancements and monitoring. Here is the typical breakdown on an 80,000 EUR build.
| Item | Share of run | Estimated 2026 annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Corrective (bugs) | 20 % | 2,400 to 4,000 EUR |
| Evolutive (small features) | 30 % | 3,600 to 6,000 EUR |
| Security & updates | 20 % | 2,400 to 4,000 EUR |
| Hosting & infra | 15 % | 1,800 to 3,000 EUR |
| Monitoring & supervision | 15 % | 1,800 to 3,000 EUR |
| Total annual run | 100 % | 12,000 to 20,000 EUR |
On this 80,000 EUR build, the run therefore represents about 15 to 25 %, i.e. 12,000 to 20,000 EUR per year.
Fixed-fee vs T&M maintenance and the weight of the SLA
A maintenance contract comes as a fixed fee (monthly envelope) or T&M (actuals). The SLA level (recovery time) strongly moves the price.
| Criterion | Fixed-fee maintenance | T&M maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 monthly price | 1,000 to 1,800 EUR | based on usage |
| Budget predictability | High | Low |
| Suited to | Stable need | Variable need |
| Standard SLA (recovery) | 8 to 24 h | 8 to 24 h |
| Premium SLA (recovery) | 4 h | 4 h (+30 to +50 % surcharge) |
| Responsiveness | Contractually guaranteed | Based on availability |
A 4-hour SLA costs 30 to 50 % more than a 24-hour SLA: it is only justified for critical applications whose downtime is expensive.
Mini case study
Karim, COO of a services SME in Toronto, had a management application built for 80,000 EUR. In year one he budgeted no maintenance: three unfixed bugs and an unpatched flaw eventually blocked two teams for a day (estimated loss 6,000 EUR).
In year two, he subscribes to fixed-fee maintenance at 1,400 EUR/month (16,800 EUR/year, i.e. 21 % of the build) with an 8-hour SLA. Result: zero blocking incidents, enhancements absorbed as they come, and an application that stays an asset instead of becoming a liability. The maintenance cost is lower than the cost of a single major incident.
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FAQ
How much does application maintenance cost per year?
Between 15 and 25 % of the build budget per year in 2026. On an 80,000 EUR app, plan 12,000 to 20,000 EUR annually, all items combined.
What exactly does maintenance cover?
Fixes, enhancements, security, hosting and monitoring. Full maintenance keeps the application secure, up to date and able to evolve without a new project.
Fixed-fee or T&M maintenance?
Fixed fee (1,000 to 1,800 EUR/month) gives a predictable budget for a stable need. T&M suits a variable need but offers less budget visibility.
What is a good SLA in 2026?
An 8 to 24-hour recovery time suffices for most business apps. A 4-hour SLA (+30 to +50 % surcharge) is only justified for critical applications.
What happens if the application is not maintained?
Accumulating bugs, security flaws, obsolete dependencies, then premature abandonment. The cost of a major incident often exceeds a full year of maintenance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your application's build budget and criticality level, and we will propose a costed maintenance contract with the right SLA. 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.
