The verdict in three sentences
Migrating an Access or VB6 application to the web costs between EUR 25,000 and EUR 70,000 excluding VAT in Vienna in 2026, for a 3 to 5 month project. Migrating 10 to 20 years of data often accounts for 20 to 30 % of the budget and must be planned from scoping. The status quo costs more than it looks: a crash, the departure of the key person or a Windows 11 incompatibility can halt operations for weeks.
What makes up the budget
The head of administration of a Viennese SME relying on an Access database built in 2008 usually finds the same picture: 40 to 80 forms, VBA macros, nested queries, printed reports and a network-shared file that corrupts once or twice a year.
| Item | Content | Share of budget | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and mapping | Inventory of tables, forms, macros, hidden rules | 8 % | 2,000 to 5,500 |
| Design | Normalised data model, user journeys | 12 % | 3,000 to 8,500 |
| Web development | Back office, role-based access, exports, PDF reports | 45 % | 11,000 to 31,500 |
| Data migration | Cleansing, deduplication, migration scripts, checks | 20 % | 5,000 to 14,000 |
| Testing and parallel run | Acceptance testing, 4 weeks of dual running | 10 % | 2,500 to 7,000 |
| Training and documentation | User sessions, admin guide | 5 % | 1,500 to 3,500 |
A database with 25 tables and 40 forms lands around EUR 30,000. A VB6 application with accounting integrations, 120 screens and 20 years of history exceeds EUR 60,000.
The quantified cost of the status quo
| Risk | Probability over 3 years (estimate) | Impact | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| .accdb file corruption | 60 % | 2 to 5 days down, partial restore | EUR 4,000 to 12,000 |
| Key person leaves | 35 % | Nobody can change the tool | EUR 15,000 to 40,000 |
| Windows 11 or 64-bit Office incompatibility | 50 % | Unstable ActiveX controls and VB6 runtime | EUR 5,000 to 20,000 |
| Security breach, unencrypted data | 20 % | GDPR notification, loss of trust | EUR 10,000 to 50,000 |
| No access outside the office | Certain | No remote or mobile work | Lost productivity |
The weighted cost of doing nothing often exceeds EUR 25,000 over 3 years, the low end of a migration budget.
Zero-downtime data migration method
| Step | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction and profiling | 1 week | Quality report: duplicates, empty fields, inconsistent formats |
| Transformation rules | 1 to 2 weeks | Mapping table signed off by business users |
| Dry runs | 2 to 3 iterations | Record count gaps under 0.1 % |
| Cutover | 1 weekend | PostgreSQL database in production |
| Parallel run | 4 weeks | Dual entry on a sample, old database read-only |
| Archiving | 1 day | Frozen Access file kept for 10 years |
Mini case study
Sabine, head of administration at a trading SME in Vienna, manages 14 years of orders in an Access database run by Thomas, who retires in 2027. Each file corruption costs 8 people 3 days, 24 person-days at EUR 280, EUR 6,720 per incident, twice a year. The EUR 38,000 migration removes that risk and opens remote access for 5 sales reps who each save 3 hours a week, about EUR 27,000 a year at EUR 40 per hour. Payback in under a year.
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FAQ
How much does migrating an Access database to the web cost in Vienna?
EUR 25,000 to 70,000 excluding VAT depending on tables, forms and integrations. A typical SME sits between EUR 30,000 and 45,000.
How long does the project take?
Allow 3 to 5 months, including 4 weeks of parallel running to secure the cutover. Data migration is tested in 2 to 3 dry runs.
Will we lose historical data?
No: all history is migrated and verified by record counts, with a target gap under 0.1 %. The old database is archived read-only for 10 years.
Can we keep the same screens?
We keep the logic and familiar fields, but screens are redesigned: a 60-field Access form often becomes 3 clear steps. Training takes 1 to 2 half-days.
Where is the data hosted?
On a server in Austria or the EU, with encryption, daily backups and GDPR-compliant access logs. Hosting costs EUR 50 to 150 per month.
Let's scope your project. Send us an anonymised copy of your database or a list of its tables and forms: we will price the migration, the data transfer and the cutover 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.
