The verdict in three sentences
An application delivered without a maintenance contract becomes a problem within months: untreated bugs, drifting security, blocked enhancements. In 2026, budget 15 to 20% of build cost per year, i.e. 90,000 to 300,000 MAD for an application built at 600,000 MAD. Maintenance isn't optional spend: it's the insurance that protects the initial investment.
What application maintenance actually covers
Application maintenance (TMA) is more than fixing bugs. It blends corrective, evolutive and preventive work, typically in a 60/40 ratio between corrective and evolutive.
| Line item | Typical share | What's covered |
|---|---|---|
| Corrective | ~40% | Bugs, regressions, hotfixes |
| Evolutive | ~40% | New features, business tweaks |
| Preventive | ~10% | Updates, security, dependencies |
| User support | ~10% | Assistance, questions, incidents |
A serious contract separates these buckets and caps the evolutive share, otherwise new requests devour the entire corrective budget.
How much it costs by application size
The maintenance budget is a percentage of build cost. The more critical and larger the application, the higher the rate.
| Build cost | Maintenance at 15% | Maintenance at 20% | Target SLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300,000 MAD | 45,000 MAD/year | 60,000 MAD/year | D+3 |
| 600,000 MAD | 90,000 MAD/year | 120,000 MAD/year | D+2 |
| 1,000,000 MAD | 150,000 MAD/year | 200,000 MAD/year | D+1 |
| 1,500,000 MAD | 225,000 MAD/year | 300,000 MAD/year | D+1 |
The cost of no maintenance isn't visible in year one: it shows up when a critical bug sits 10 days unfixed for lack of a contract, or when an unpatched flaw exposes your data. A major uncovered incident often exceeds the annual maintenance cost.
Mini case study
Mr. Tan, IT director at a distribution company in Singapore, runs an order-management application built at 640,000 MAD. Without maintenance in year one, he racks up 14 untreated bugs and two security incidents. He signs a maintenance contract at 18%, i.e. 115,200 MAD/year, with a D+2 SLA on corrective work. Result: average resolution time cut from 9 days to 2, zero security incidents, and an evolutive budget capped at 40% funding four business improvements a year within the envelope.
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FAQ
Why 15 to 20% of build per year?
That rate covers corrective, evolutive and preventive work without under-staffing. Below 15%, only urgent fixes get done; above 20%, you're funding heavy enhancements that belong in a project.
What's the difference between corrective and evolutive?
Corrective repairs what's broken (bugs, regressions); evolutive adds or changes features. A good contract separates them and caps the evolutive, otherwise new requests smother the fixing.
What does a D+1 or D+3 SLA mean?
It's the maximum time to take charge after a report: D+1 for a critical app, D+3 for less sensitive use. The shorter the SLA, the higher the maintenance rate.
What happens without a maintenance contract?
Every intervention is billed as an emergency, often more expensive, with no time guarantee. A major uncovered incident can cost more than a full year of maintenance.
Can the maintenance budget be adjusted year to year?
Yes: after 12 months you know the real ticket volume and recalibrate the rate. A stabilized app can drop from 18% to 12%; a fast-evolving one stays at 20%.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your application's build cost and the SLA you want, and we'll price a corrective/evolutive maintenance contract to match. 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.
