The verdict in three sentences
Design cost averages 35-45 % of the total cost of ownership over 5 years; the rest is maintenance, hosting and a partial refresh at year 4. A CFO who budgets only the initial quote underestimates the real cost by 50-60 %. The most under-valued 2026 line is recurring maintenance: CAD 400-900/month which, compounded, often exceeds the design cost.
The 5-year TCO model
2026 orders of magnitude for a Toronto corporate site (25-40 pages, EN/FR, CMS, forms, light integrations).
| Item | 2026 unit cost | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|
| Initial design | CAD 20,000 - 40,000 | CAD 20,000 - 40,000 |
| Hosting + CDN | CAD 30 - 80/mo | CAD 1,800 - 4,800 |
| CMS/plugin licences | CAD 300 - 2,500/yr | CAD 1,500 - 12,500 |
| Maintenance | CAD 400 - 900/mo | CAD 24,000 - 54,000 |
| Partial refresh yr 4 | CAD 8,000 - 15,000 | CAD 8,000 - 15,000 |
| 5-year TCO | — | CAD 55,000 - 110,000 |
Maintenance alone is 40-50 % of the total: it is the line to negotiate and lock contractually.
Where the money goes, year by year
| Year | Main outlays | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Yr 1 | Design + hosting + maintenance | CAD 27,000 - 52,000 |
| Yr 2 | Maintenance + licences + hosting | CAD 6,500 - 13,000 |
| Yr 3 | Maintenance + minor changes | CAD 8,000 - 16,000 |
| Yr 4 | Maintenance + partial refresh | CAD 16,000 - 31,000 |
| Yr 5 | Maintenance + licences | CAD 6,500 - 13,000 |
The peaks are year 1 (design) and year 4 (refresh): anticipating them avoids budget surprises.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Sophie, CFO of a 350-employee food group in Toronto, receives a CAD 30,000 design quote and approves it without modelling what follows. Reality over 5 years: design 30,000 + hosting 3,600 + licences 6,000 + maintenance at CAD 650/mo i.e. 39,000 + year-4 refresh 12,000 = CAD 90,600. The initial quote was only 33 % of TCO. By framing maintenance at CAD 500/mo through a clear contract, she saves CAD 9,000 over 5 years and smooths cash flow.
FAQ
Why is the initial quote so misleading? Because it covers only design, i.e. 35-45 % of the real cost. Maintenance, hosting, licences and the year-4 refresh make up the majority of TCO.
Can maintenance be reduced? Yes, by scoping it (fixes vs enhancements), bringing content management in-house and negotiating a flat fee rather than time-and-materials. Aim for CAD 400-600/mo for a standard site.
Is a year-4 refresh really needed? A partial refresh (design, performance, compliance) is common around year 4. Provisioning it (CAD 8,000-15,000) avoids a budget shock or an ageing site.
How does a CMS impact TCO? Proprietary CMS licences can reach CAD 2,500/yr. Open-source reduces that line but shifts cost onto technical maintenance. Model both.
What TCO should I target for a controlled budget? For a standard corporate site, a 5-year TCO of CAD 55,000-70,000 is realistic and competitive. Above CAD 90,000, demand a line-by-line justification.
Let's scope your project. Share your scope and budget horizon, and we model your 5-year TCO line by line. 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.
