The verdict in three sentences
A business application launched by a company in Lagos costs 15 to 25% of its initial budget every year in corrective and evolutive maintenance. A fixed monthly fee (600,000 to 2.5 million FCFA, about USD 1,070 to 4,460) suits critical applications with regular changes, while time and materials (150,000 to 300,000 FCFA a day, about USD 270 to 535) fits occasional, unpredictable needs. In both cases, three non-negotiable clauses protect the company: source code ownership, admin access and up-to-date documentation.
Fixed fee or time and materials: 2026 benchmarks
The two models do not cover the same risks. Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a business application in mining, logistics or distribution (FCFA, USD at about 560 FCFA per USD).
| Criterion | Fixed monthly fee | Time and materials |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 price | 600,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA a month (USD 1,070 to 4,460) | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA per person-day (USD 270 to 535) |
| Included volume | 4 to 15 days a month depending on plan | Billed as used, often by half-day |
| Response time | Guaranteed (4 h to 48 h by severity) | Based on availability, often 2 to 5 days |
| Budget predictability | High, fixed amount | Low, varies month to month |
| Monitoring and security | Included (updates, backups, monitoring) | Ordered separately |
| Unused days | Lost or carried over 1 month depending on contract | No cost |
| Ideal profile | Critical application, continuous changes | Stable application, occasional needs |
Rule of thumb: if you regularly use more than 5 development days a month, a fixed fee is 15 to 30% cheaper than time and materials for the same volume.
What annual budget to plan by application size
The 15 to 25% of initial cost ratio remains the best starting point for budgeting. It varies with criticality and the pace of change.
| Initial application cost | Corrective only (8 to 12%) | Corrective + evolutive (15 to 25%) | Equivalent monthly plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000,000 FCFA (USD 26,800) | 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA/year | 2,250,000 to 3,750,000 FCFA/year | About 190,000 to 310,000 FCFA/month |
| 30,000,000 FCFA (USD 53,600) | 2,400,000 to 3,600,000 FCFA/year | 4,500,000 to 7,500,000 FCFA/year | About 375,000 to 625,000 FCFA/month |
| 60,000,000 FCFA (USD 107,000) | 4,800,000 to 7,200,000 FCFA/year | 9,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA/year | About 750,000 to 1,250,000 FCFA/month |
| 100,000,000 FCFA (USD 178,600) | 8,000,000 to 12,000,000 FCFA/year | 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 FCFA/year | About 1,250,000 to 2,080,000 FCFA/month |
| 150,000,000 FCFA and up | 12,000,000 FCFA/year and up | 22,500,000 FCFA/year and up | 1,900,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA/month |
On top of this budget comes hosting (50,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month, USD 90 to 715, depending on infrastructure) and, for remote mining or depot sites, an offline mode with synchronisation.
Clauses to demand in the contract
Many companies discover too late that they cannot switch vendors. These clauses prevent lock-in.
| Clause | What it should cover | Risk if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Source code ownership | Assignment of rights, Git repository in the company's name | Impossible to change vendor |
| Admin access | Hosting, domain, database and app store accounts in the client's name | Lockout in case of dispute |
| Documentation | Technical docs updated each release, deployment procedure | Costly takeover, 20 to 40 days of audit |
| Service levels (SLA) | Times by severity, penalties, 99% availability or more | Outages with no recourse |
| Reversibility | 5 to 10 days of handover support at contract end | Chaotic transition |
| Monthly report | Days used, tickets, security updates | No visibility on the service |
Mini case study
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Mr Adeyemi, CEO of a distribution company in Lagos, launched a route and inventory management application for 45 million FCFA (about USD 80,000). Over 12 months on time and materials, he used 62 days at 220,000 FCFA, i.e. 13,640,000 FCFA, with 3-day response times that blocked two delivery rounds. A fixed fee of 900,000 FCFA a month including 6 days, monitoring and an 8-hour response on blocking incidents would cost 10,800,000 FCFA a year, plus 10 overage days at 200,000 FCFA, i.e. 12,800,000 FCFA. Saving: 840,000 FCFA a year (about USD 1,500), plus a guaranteed response time and verified backups.
FAQ
What is the difference between corrective and evolutive maintenance?
Corrective maintenance fixes defects and applies security updates, representing 8 to 12% of the initial cost per year. Evolutive maintenance adds features or adapts the application to new needs, bringing the total to 15 to 25%.
Can maintenance be paid in naira?
Yes, the contract can be denominated in NGN, USD, EUR or FCFA, with an indexation clause to absorb exchange rate swings. Bank transfer is standard for monthly amounts.
What if the previous vendor will not hand over the source code?
Check the contract: without an assignment clause, takeover requires negotiation or a partial rewrite. A takeover audit costs, as a ballpark, 2 to 6 million FCFA (USD 3,600 to 10,700) depending on application size.
Does the fixed fee include hosting?
Not always: check line by line. Reliable cloud hosting costs 50,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month depending on load and redundancy.
How often should the contract be reviewed?
Every 12 months, based on the usage report. If you use less than 60% of the included days for 6 months, move to a lower plan.
Let's scope your project. Describe your application, its initial cost and your change roadmap, and we will propose the right maintenance plan, its annual budget and response time commitments. 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.
