The verdict in three sentences
The warranty period on a website quote is worthless without a written scope: in 2026, the market norm is a 3-month conformity warranty covering deviations from the specification, not new features or hosting outages. Beyond that, you need a maintenance contract between 60 and 400 EUR per month excluding VAT, priced mainly on the guaranteed response time (4 h, 24 h or 72 h). A "free" 12-month warranty often hides maintenance built into the price or a narrower scope.
Bug, change request, incident: the distinction that prevents disputes
Most post-launch disagreements come from one poorly defined word. A bug is behaviour that does not match what was approved during acceptance testing: a form that does not send, a page that breaks on mobile. A change request is something new: adding a filter, changing a flow. A hosting incident concerns the server, the domain name or a third-party service (payment gateway, API). Only the first falls under the warranty.
| Situation | Classification | Covered by warranty? |
|---|---|---|
| The contact form no longer sends emails | Bug | Yes, if the mail server is the one in the contract |
| The product page renders badly on Safari iOS | Bug | Yes, if Safari was on the supported browser list |
| You want a new field in the form | Change request | No, billed by time or fixed fee |
| The site is offline for 3 hours | Hosting incident | No, unless the agency hosts with an SLA |
| A WordPress plugin breaks after an update | Maintenance | No, falls under the maintenance contract |
| A security flaw in the delivered code | Bug | Yes, and must be fixed first |
Insist that the contract lists the supported browsers, devices and versions. Without that list, every anomaly becomes a debate.
Comparing durations and maintenance contracts
A 1-month warranty is too short: many bugs only appear with real traffic, after 6 to 8 weeks. Three months is the reasonable standard. Twelve months is possible but must be read carefully: check whether it also covers CMS updates, which would really be maintenance.
| 2026 maintenance plan | Monthly price excl. VAT | Response time | Typical content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 60 to 120 EUR | 72 business hours | CMS and plugin updates, backups, 1 h of fixes |
| Standard | 120 to 220 EUR | 24 business hours | Basic + monitoring, monthly report, 2 h of small changes |
| Advanced | 220 to 400 EUR | 4 business hours | Standard + on-call, post-update testing, 4 h of changes |
| Pay per ticket | 70 to 110 EUR per hour | When available | No commitment, no priority |
| Managed hosting only | 25 to 80 EUR | Depends on host | Server, SSL certificate, backups, no code work |
Security updates for a WordPress site take 6 to 10 hours per year (core, theme, about fifteen plugins, testing). At 80 EUR per hour, that is 480 to 800 EUR per year on a ticket basis, already equal to a basic plan, without backups or monitoring.
Clauses to demand in the quote
Four lines are enough to secure the post-launch period. First, the warranty start date: the date of the signed acceptance report, not the go-live date. Second, the fix deadline by severity, for example blocking within 24 h, major within 5 days, minor in the next release. Third, the list of supported environments. Finally, ownership of the code and access (hosting, domain name, admin accounts), which must be in your name so you can switch provider if maintenance is unsatisfactory.
Mini case study
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Thomas, finance and admin director of a manufacturing SME in Toulouse, compares three quotes for a website redesign at 14,000 EUR excluding VAT. Agency A offers 1 month of warranty, agency B 3 months, agency C 12 months. Reading the detail, he finds that agency C includes standard maintenance at 150 EUR per month in the price, or 1,800 EUR over a year. Without that line, its quote would drop to 12,200 EUR. Agency B, at 12,800 EUR with 3 months of warranty plus 9 months of standard maintenance at 140 EUR, totals 14,060 EUR. Thomas picks B: same total cost, a 24-hour response time in writing and code delivered in his name.
FAQ
What warranty period is normal for a website in 2026?
Three months after acceptance is the standard. One month is not enough because many bugs appear with real traffic after 6 to 8 weeks.
Does the warranty cover WordPress updates?
Generally not. Updates take 6 to 10 hours per year and belong in a maintenance contract starting at 60 EUR per month.
Which response time should I choose?
For a brochure site, 72 hours is enough. For a site that generates leads or sales, aim for 24 hours, or 4 hours if one hour of downtime costs more than 200 EUR.
What if the agency refuses to fix a bug?
Rely on the signed acceptance report and the list of supported environments. Without those documents, the line between bug and change request stays debatable, which is why you should require them in the quote.
Can I switch maintenance provider?
Yes, if the access and code are in your name. A takeover audit costs 400 to 1,200 EUR depending on site size.
Let's scope your project. Send us your quotes or specification: we will price a 3-month warranty and maintenance matched to your required response time, from 60 to 400 EUR per month. 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.
