The verdict in three sentences
For a Chicago holding company with five subsidiaries, a shared multisite platform usually beats separate sites on three year cost, at roughly 110,000 to 360,000 USD against 136,000 to 404,000 USD, mainly because maintenance and feature work are paid once rather than six times. The price of that saving is central governance and a deeper dependency on the vendor that runs the shared platform. Separate sites still win when your brand architecture is a true house of brands, with subsidiaries that sell to different buyers and may be divested.
Three year cost comparison
Figures are a 2026 market ballpark for a parent site and five subsidiary sites of 15 to 30 pages each. Shared maintenance runs 900 to 3,000 USD a month; separate sites cost 250 to 600 USD a month each. CMS licence costs are included where a commercial CMS is used.
| Scenario | Build (USD) | Maintenance over 36 months (USD) | CMS licences over 36 months (USD) | 3 year total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multisite, low end | 60,000 | 32,400 | 18,000 | 110,400 |
| Multisite, midpoint | 120,000 | 70,200 | 36,000 | 226,200 |
| Multisite, high end | 180,000 | 108,000 | 72,000 | 360,000 |
| 6 separate sites, low end | 72,000 | 54,000 | 10,800 | 136,800 |
| 6 separate sites, midpoint | 156,000 | 91,800 | 32,400 | 280,200 |
| 6 separate sites, high end | 240,000 | 129,600 | 34,560 | 404,160 |
The gap widens over time: every separate site carries its own updates, plugins, security fixes and, sooner or later, its own redesign. On a multisite, a feature built once serves every brand. Licence pricing for commercial CMS platforms varies widely by plan and vendor, so treat the licence column as an order of magnitude and request current quotes.
Beyond cost: brand architecture and autonomy
| Criterion | Shared multisite | Separate sites |
|---|---|---|
| Time to launch | 14 to 24 weeks for the platform, then 2 to 4 weeks per brand | 8 to 14 weeks per site |
| Brand architecture | Fits a branded house or endorsed brands | Fits a house of brands |
| Subsidiary autonomy | Roles per brand, group approval possible | Full autonomy, little group control |
| Vendor dependency | High: one platform, often one vendor | Spread across vendors |
| Feature development | Built once, shared | Paid for each site |
| Divesting a subsidiary | Extraction needed, 5,000 to 15,000 USD | Simple, the site goes with the company |
| Accessibility compliance | One remediation effort covers all sites | Six separate audits |
Accessibility is a real cost driver in the US: ADA website claims are common, and fixing one shared component library is far cheaper than auditing six codebases. Vendor dependency is the main multisite risk, so insist on code ownership, platform documentation and a priced exit clause.
Recommendation by profile
| Group profile | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Strong parent brand, subsidiaries as sub-brands | Shared multisite | Consistency and scale savings |
| Independent brands, different buyers | Separate sites on one CMS | Autonomy without tech sprawl |
| Frequent acquisitions | Multisite with a ready subsidiary template | New brand live in 2 to 4 weeks |
| Divestments expected soon | Separate sites | No costly extraction |
| Small central marketing team | Multisite with roles and approval | Central content control |
A middle path often works: separate sites on the same CMS, with a shared component library and one maintenance vendor.
As a fixed price benchmark, Kolonell's prices: a Growth site at 1,830 to 3,050 EUR each, or 10,980 to 18,300 EUR for six sites; a true multisite platform is a complex application at 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and up (7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and up).
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Illustrative example: Laura, CMO of a Chicago holding with 1,200 employees and five subsidiaries in staffing, payroll services and training, inherits sites built by four vendors, costing 2,700 USD a month in combined maintenance. The multisite midpoint scenario costs 226,200 USD over three years. Rebuilding six separate sites at 26,000 USD each, with current maintenance and licences, comes to 156,000 plus 97,200 plus 32,400, or 285,600 USD. The 59,400 USD gap convinced the board, with a contract clause covering extraction of the training subsidiary, which may be sold.
FAQ
What does a multisite cost for a group and its subsidiaries in Chicago?
The 2026 market ballpark is 60,000 to 180,000 USD to build the platform and six sites. Shared maintenance runs 900 to 3,000 USD a month.
Are separate sites really more expensive?
Over three years, usually yes: about 136,000 to 404,000 USD against 110,000 to 360,000 USD for a multisite. The gap comes from maintenance and features paid six times.
How long does a multisite take?
Plan 14 to 24 weeks for the platform and first sites, then 2 to 4 weeks per added brand. Approvals between the group and subsidiaries are the main delay.
How do we limit vendor lock-in?
Require code ownership, technical documentation and a reversibility plan. A widely used CMS with several capable vendors reduces the risk considerably.
What happens if we sell a subsidiary?
With separate sites, the site goes with the company. With a multisite, budget 5,000 to 15,000 USD for extraction and write it into the initial contract.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your group, number of subsidiaries and editorial organisation, and we will price both scenarios over three years with an indicative budget and 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.
