The verdict in three sentences
A corporate website in Toronto does not cost 15,000 EUR: it costs about 33,000 EUR net over 36 months once recurring costs are included. The build is less than half of the three-year total cost of ownership (TCO). A finance director who budgets only the initial quote ends up with 18,000 EUR of hidden, unprovisioned costs.
TCO broken down year by year
Here is the 2026 model for a corporate website of 15 to 25 pages with a headless CMS, EU/North American hosting and a maintenance contract.
| Line item | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 15,000 EUR | - | - |
| Hosting + CDN | 900 EUR | 900 EUR | 900 EUR |
| Maintenance | 2,400 EUR | 2,400 EUR | 2,400 EUR |
| SSL + monitoring | 300 EUR | 300 EUR | 300 EUR |
| Evolutions | 3,000 EUR | 3,000 EUR | 3,000 EUR |
| Annual total | 21,600 EUR | 6,600 EUR | 6,600 EUR |
36-month TCO: 34,800 EUR net including evolutions, or ~33,000 EUR in a conservative scenario (reduced year-3 evolutions). The message is clear: recurring costs weigh as much as the build over a site's useful life (4 to 5 years).
Build vs recurring: where the money goes
Comparing two quotes on the initial build alone is a classic mistake. Here is the typical breakdown of the 3-year TCO.
| Category | 3-year amount | Share of TCO |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 15,000 EUR | 43 % |
| Cumulative maintenance | 7,200 EUR | 21 % |
| Cumulative evolutions | 9,000 EUR | 26 % |
| Hosting + CDN | 2,700 EUR | 8 % |
| SSL + monitoring | 900 EUR | 3 % |
A 12,000 EUR build with maintenance at 350 EUR/month costs more over three years than a 15,000 EUR build with maintenance at 200 EUR/month. The right reflex: ask every agency for a 36-month TCO projection.
Mini case study
Sophie, CFO of a B2B services group in Toronto (110 staff), receives a build quote of 14,000 EUR net. She demands the 3-year projection. The agency prices hosting at 75 EUR/month, maintenance at 200 EUR/month and 3,000 EUR of evolutions per year. Sophie calculates: 14,000 + (75 x 36) + (200 x 36) + (3,000 x 3) = 14,000 + 2,700 + 7,200 + 9,000 = 32,900 EUR net over 36 months. She provisions 11,000 EUR/year in the IT budget instead of 14,000 EUR in one hit, smooths cash flow and avoids the year-2 surprise. Result: a budget decision approved by committee in a single meeting, because every euro is traceable.
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FAQ
What is the 3-year TCO of a corporate website in Toronto in 2026?
About 33,000 EUR net for a 15,000 EUR build, more than double the initial quote once recurring costs are included over 36 months.
Why does maintenance cost 2,400 EUR/year?
It covers security updates, bug fixes, small evolutions and support. At 200 EUR/month, that is a standard 2026 order of magnitude for a corporate website.
Is hosting at 900 EUR/year negotiable?
For a simple brochure site, yes. For a corporate site with a CDN and a 99.9 % availability requirement, this level is justified.
Do I really need to provision evolutions every year?
Yes. A frozen site becomes obsolete in 18 months. Budgeting 3,000 EUR/year avoids big, rushed redesigns.
How can I reduce TCO without breaking quality?
Pool hosting, negotiate an annual maintenance package rather than monthly, and prioritise evolutions by ROI. Realistic saving: 10 to 15 % of recurring costs.
Let's scope your project. Send us your scope (page count, desired CMS, availability requirement): we price build and 36-month TCO side by side. 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.
