The verdict in three sentences
When the freelancer who built your SaaS disappears, the absolute priority is to recover access (code, servers, domain names, payment accounts) before any technical discussion. A code and infrastructure audit of 5 to 10 days for EUR 3,000 to 8,000 excl. VAT then tells you whether to take the software over or rewrite it. In 7 cases out of 10, remediation at EUR 10,000 to 35,000 followed by maintenance at EUR 1,500 to 4,000 a month costs far less than a rewrite.
Week 1: secure access
Before talking technical debt, list who holds what. A 200-customer SaaS that goes down without server access means blocked monthly revenue and, under GDPR, a duty to notify Ireland's Data Protection Commission if data leaks.
| Access to recover | Risk if missing | Typical recovery time | Immediate action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Git repository (GitHub, GitLab) | Cannot fix any bug | 1 day to several months | Transfer to an organisation you own |
| Hosting (AWS, Azure, Hetzner) | Service stops if the freelancer's card expires | 1 to 15 days | Change account owner and payment method |
| Domain name and DNS | Site and email offline | 5 to 30 days (registrar process) | Check the registrant record |
| Stripe or GoCardless account | Payments blocked | Immediate if in your name | Check webhooks and API keys |
| Database and backups | Customer data loss | Variable | Take a full off-site backup |
| Third-party services (email, SMS, monitoring) | Notifications cut | 1 to 5 days | Inventory API keys and invoices |
If the freelancer is still reachable, offer a short paid handover of 2 to 3 days (EUR 1,200 to 2,000): it is the best money you will spend in the whole takeover.
The audit: what it measures and what it costs
A serious audit combines code review, automated analysis and an interview with you about the roadmap. It delivers a costed report and a clear recommendation.
| Diagnostic area | What is checked | Red flag | Indicative fix cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dependencies and versions | Framework, libraries, PHP, Node or Python version | Version without security support | 3,000 to 12,000 |
| Security | Injections, authentication, secrets in code | Plain-text passwords, API keys in Git | 2,000 to 10,000 |
| Automated tests | Coverage of critical journeys | Under 10 % coverage | 4,000 to 12,000 |
| CI/CD and deployment | Reproducible deployment | Manual FTP releases | 2,000 to 6,000 |
| Architecture and readability | Structure, duplication, conventions | Files over 3,000 lines | Variable, a sign of partial rewrite |
| Documentation | Setup, architecture, procedures | No documentation | 2,000 to 5,000 |
| Data and GDPR | Backups, encryption, records | No tested restore | 1,500 to 4,000 |
Take over or rewrite? Take over if the business core is correct, even if poorly written, and remediation costs under 40 % of a rewrite. Rewrite if the framework is abandoned, security is structurally compromised, or every change breaks something else. Rewriting a mid-sized SaaS costs EUR 60,000 to 150,000 and 5 to 9 months, during which the old product must keep running.
The 90-day recovery plan
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Days 1 to 10: access, backups, audit. Days 11 to 45: security fixes, critical dependency updates, automated deployment, and tests on revenue-generating journeys (sign-up, payment, core feature). Days 46 to 90: documentation, monitoring, then resuming customer-requested features under a monthly maintenance retainer.
Mini case study
Aoife, managing director of a Dublin SME publishing a scheduling SaaS for cleaning companies, has 200 customers at EUR 89 per month, so EUR 17,800 of monthly recurring revenue. Her freelancer took a full-time job. Audit: EUR 5,500 over 8 days, revealing an unsupported Laravel 6 framework and Stripe keys committed to the repository. Remediation: EUR 22,000, documentation: EUR 3,500, then maintenance at EUR 2,500 per month. Year-one total: 5,500 + 22,000 + 3,500 + 12 × 2,500 = EUR 61,000, or 28.5 % of EUR 213,600 annual revenue. A rewrite was quoted at EUR 110,000 and 7 months, with a risk of losing 10 to 15 % of customers during the transition.
FAQ
How much does a SaaS code audit cost in Dublin? Between EUR 3,000 and 8,000 excl. VAT for 5 to 10 days of analysis in 2026. Price depends on codebase size and the number of services to review.
My freelancer refuses to hand over the code, what now? Check the contract first: without an IP assignment clause, copyright may stay with the developer. A solicitor's letter (EUR 500 to 1,500) often suffices, especially if invoices were paid.
What does maintenance cost for a 200-customer SaaS? Expect EUR 1,500 to 4,000 a month depending on fixes and features, with a guaranteed response time of 4 to 24 hours for blocking incidents.
When should I rewrite rather than take over? When remediation exceeds 40 % of rewrite cost or the framework has no security support left. Otherwise, gradual takeover is less risky for your customers.
How long until we are self-sufficient? About 90 days to secure, update and document. After that, delivery pace returns to normal.
Let's scope your project. We recover your access, audit your SaaS in 5 to 10 days and hand you a costed recovery plan, from remediation to monthly maintenance. 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.
