The verdict in three sentences
A corporate website rebuild for a mid-market group of 60 to 120 pages sits between 35,000 and 80,000 EUR ex. VAT in 2026, with a headless CMS and WCAG AA accessibility. The realistic timeline is 4 to 6 months and application maintenance (TMA) represents 18%/year of the build. A precise brief is what lets you compare like-for-like quotes and avoid the 30% scope creep that plagues mid-project.
The standard brief
A credible tender fixes governance, technology and accessibility before any pricing. Here are the essential sections.
| Section | 2026 requirement | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Content governance | multi-level approval workflow | 3,000 - 6,000 EUR |
| Headless CMS | Sanity / Strapi, multilingual | 8,000 - 15,000 EUR |
| Volume | 60 to 120 migrated pages | 5,000 - 12,000 EUR |
| WCAG AA accessibility | audit + fixes | 4,000 - 9,000 EUR |
| Performance | Core Web Vitals > 90 | included if well designed |
| Security & GDPR | CSP, consent, EU hosting | 2,000 - 5,000 EUR |
| Maintenance (per year) | 18% of build | 6,300 - 14,400 EUR |
Accessibility is not optional for a mid-market group: it protects legally and widens the audience by 10 to 15%.
The vendor scoring grid
A tender is won on weighted criteria, not price alone. Here is a standard grid.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Technical value | 40% | stack, performance, accessibility, security |
| Design & UX quality | 30% | mockups, consistency, mobile |
| Price | 30% | build cost + 3-year maintenance |
This 40/30/30 weighting avoids the lowest-bidder trap: the cheapest vendor rarely delivers the best total cost over three years once maintenance is included.
Mini case study
Sophie, communications director of a 320-employee group in Amsterdam, launches a tender to rebuild a 95-page site. Three vendors respond: 28,000 EUR, 52,000 EUR and 71,000 EUR ex. VAT. On the 40/30/30 grid, the 28,000 EUR bid is disqualified on technical value (no accessibility, no headless). The 52,000 EUR bid wins. Including maintenance at 18%/year (9,360 EUR/year), the 3-year total cost reaches 80,080 EUR ex. VAT — a figure that only makes sense because the brief made the quotes comparable.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Why does a mid-market rebuild cost over 35,000 EUR?
Because the volume (60-120 pages), content governance and accessibility require a headless architecture and an audit. Those three items alone weigh 20,000 to 30,000 EUR.
Is a headless CMS essential?
For a multilingual group with an editorial workflow, yes. It separates content and display, secures publishing and extends the site's life to 5-6 years.
How long does such a project take?
Four to six months, including 4 to 6 weeks of scoping and design before development, plus a content migration phase that is often underestimated.
What is TMA and why 18%?
Application maintenance covers security, evolutions and support. At 18%/year of build, it keeps the site secure and current without redevelopment.
How do I avoid budget overruns?
By freezing scope in the brief and governing changes through a contractual day rate (550-750 EUR) and a price schedule.
Let's scope your project. Send us your page volume, languages and accessibility constraints: we help structure the brief and frame a budget between 35,000 and 80,000 EUR ex. VAT. 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.
