The verdict in three sentences
For a portfolio of one to three applications, outsourced maintenance (800-3,000 EUR/month) stays cheaper and more responsive than an in-house hire. The tipping point toward insourcing sits around 2.5 to 3 active applications with a daily development need, where a developer's loaded cost (50,000-70,000 EUR/year) becomes worthwhile. The real trade-off is not just price: it's continuity, responsiveness and the risk of depending on a single person.
The 12-month TCO comparison
Comparing a monthly contract to a gross salary is misleading. You must reason in total cost of ownership (TCO), charges and hidden costs included.
| Item | Outsourced maintenance | In-house developer |
|---|---|---|
| Direct annual cost | 9,600 - 36,000 EUR | 50,000 - 70,000 EUR loaded |
| Recruitment & onboarding | 0 | 6,000 - 12,000 EUR (year 1) |
| Hardware & licences | Included | 2,000 - 4,000 EUR/year |
| Leave & absences | Continuity assured | 6-8 weeks/year service loss |
| Skill development | On the vendor | Training 2,000-5,000 EUR/year |
| Key-person risk | Low (team) | High (one person) |
A maintenance contract at 1,800 EUR/month is 21,600 EUR/year, half the loaded cost of a junior in-house profile, with no leave or departure risk.
Responsiveness, SLA and tipping point
Service level is contractual in outsourced maintenance; in-house, it depends on the developer's workload and availability.
| Criterion | Outsourced (SLA contract) | In-house team |
|---|---|---|
| Critical fix time | 2-4 h (guaranteed SLA) | Immediate if free, else queued |
| Availability | Per plan, 5d/7 to 24/7 | Business hours, minus leave |
| Version upgrades | Planned, fixed price | Per internal priorities |
| Continuity | Team, no break | Departure risk = lost knowledge |
| Marginal cost of a spike | Additional hours | Overtime / project delays |
| Worthwhile from | 1 to 2.5 apps | 3+ apps, daily need |
The 2026 tipping point: below 3 active applications and without a daily dev need, outsourcing wins on cost and risk; above that, insourcing is justified, often as a hybrid model (1 in-house dev + overflow maintenance).
Mini case study
Sophie, IT director at a services SME in Nantes, maintains 2 business apps and a website. She hesitates between hiring a developer (60,000 EUR/year loaded, plus 8,000 EUR onboarding in year 1, i.e. 68,000 EUR) and outsourced maintenance at 2,000 EUR/month (24,000 EUR/year). Over 3 years, in-house costs about 188,000 EUR versus 72,000 EUR outsourced, plus continuity during leave and a 4-hour SLA. With a dev need of only ~2 days/week, insourcing would leave the role under-used. Sophie picks outsourced maintenance and saves ~116,000 EUR over 3 years, ready to reassess if a 4th application arrives.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
From how many applications should you insource?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, around 3 active applications with a daily development need. Below that, an in-house developer is under-used and costs more than outsourced maintenance at equivalent service.
What is the real loaded cost of an in-house developer?
Expect 50,000 to 70,000 EUR/year fully loaded for a mid-level profile, excluding hardware, licences and onboarding. The first year adds 6,000 to 12,000 EUR of recruitment.
What does a good maintenance contract cover?
Corrective and evolutive work, monitoring, version upgrades and a quantified SLA (e.g. critical fix within 4 h). Require monthly reporting and a code reversibility clause.
Is the hybrid model worthwhile?
Yes, often the best. One in-house developer for day-to-day plus overflow maintenance for spikes and niche expertise combines responsiveness with cost control.
What is the risk with a single in-house developer?
Key-person risk: leave, illness or departure cause loss of service and knowledge. A maintenance team pools that risk and guarantees continuity.
Let's scope your project. Portfolio of 1 to 3 applications, corrective and evolutive needs, indicative budget 800-3,000 EUR/month: we scope your maintenance contract with SLA and reversibility. 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.
