The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, an 18,000 EUR corporate website quote for a Dublin mid-cap breaks into 6 line items, with development (35%) and design (20%) weighing most. The fixed-price vs time-and-materials choice (day rate 500-700 EUR) changes the risk profile: fixed-price secures the budget, T&M secures flexibility. Factoring in hidden costs and 12%/year maintenance, a 3-year amortization brings the real cost to about 8,400 EUR/year.
Breaking down an 18,000 EUR quote
A CFO is right to demand detail: a lump-sum quote with no breakdown often hides opaque margins. Here is the standard 2026 split for a 20-30 page corporate site.
| Line item | Share | Amount on 18,000 EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping / UX | 15% | 2,700 EUR |
| Design | 20% | 3,600 EUR |
| Integration / development | 35% | 6,300 EUR |
| SEO + content | 15% | 2,700 EUR |
| QA / testing | 10% | 1,800 EUR |
| Project management | 5% | 900 EUR |
| Total | 100% | 18,000 EUR |
If the dev line falls below 25% or exceeds 45%, ask for explanations: it usually signals a poorly scoped project or over-engineering.
Fixed-price or T&M, and the hidden costs
| Criterion | Fixed-price | T&M (day rate 500-700 EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget control | High | Variable |
| Scope flexibility | Low | High |
| Overrun risk | On the agency | On the client |
| Best for | Stable scope | Evolving scope |
| Billing | Milestones | Days consumed |
Hidden costs to budget on top: hosting (30-100 EUR/month), advanced SSL (0-300 EUR/year), GDPR compliance (500-2,000 EUR) and team training (600-1,500 EUR). These often escape the initial quote and represent 8 to 15% of total budget.
Mini case study
Julien, CFO of a food-processing mid-cap in Dublin (200 staff), receives an 18,000 EUR quote. He adds the hidden costs: hosting 1,200 EUR/year, GDPR 1,500 EUR, training 1,000 EUR, maintenance at 12%/year i.e. 2,160 EUR/year. Over 3 years, total = 18,000 + 1,500 + 1,000 + (1,200 + 2,160) x 3 = 30,580 EUR, about 10,200 EUR/year fully loaded. Against a 250,000 EUR annual comms budget, the corporate site is 4% of budget for the most structural channel: decision validated.
FAQ
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What share of the quote is development?
About 35% on a standard corporate site. Below 25% or above 45%, demand justification: the scope is likely poorly defined.
Fixed-price or T&M for a mid-cap?
Fixed-price suits a stable scope and secures the budget; T&M (day rate 500-700 EUR) suits an evolving project. Many mid-caps combine fixed-price for the core and T&M for evolutions.
What are the hidden costs of a corporate site?
Hosting (30-100 EUR/month), advanced SSL, GDPR (500-2,000 EUR) and training (600-1,500 EUR). Together they add 8 to 15% to the initial budget; require them in the quote.
How much is annual maintenance?
Expect about 12%/year of the site cost, i.e. 2,160 EUR/year for an 18,000 EUR site. That covers security, updates, fixes and small evolutions.
What's the timeline for a 20-30 page corporate site?
Between 10 and 14 weeks in 2026: scoping and UX 3 weeks, design 3, dev 4-5, content and QA 2-3. Multi-level internal approvals often extend the timeline.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current quote or scope (20-30 pages, indicative budget), and we'll return a line-by-line breakdown and a 3-year amortization plan. 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.
