The verdict in three sentences
The build price quoted by an agency typically represents only 35 to 50 % of a website's real cost over three years. Recurring costs — hosting, maintenance, SEO, content, licences, upgrades — often weigh more than the initial invoice. Budgeting a website in 2026 without thinking in 3-year TCO means discovering the true bill twelve months too late.
What the build price really hides
A build quote covers design, integration and go-live. It says nothing about the items that recur every year and determine the site's longevity. Here are the main families of recurring costs, as 2026 orders of magnitude for the French market.
| Recurring item | Annual range (EUR excl. tax) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting + domain name | 150 - 1,200 | shared vs. managed cloud |
| Maintenance (TMA) | 12 % - 20 % of build cost | updates, security, fixes |
| SEO / editorial content | 3,600 - 18,000 | 300 to 1,500 EUR/month |
| Licences & subscriptions (CMS, plugins, CRM) | 400 - 3,600 | depending on stack |
| Functional upgrades | 1,000 - 6,000 | new pages, features |
| Domain + certificates | 20 - 300 | advanced SSL if needed |
Maintenance is the most underestimated item: an unmaintained WordPress site accumulates vulnerabilities within months, and an emergency rebuild costs more than a year of preventive maintenance.
3-year TCO by site tier
Here is a typical 36-month breakdown, excluding advertising campaigns, for three common profiles. Amounts are 2026 estimates (order of magnitude), to adjust to the real scope.
| Item | SME brochure | Advanced site + blog | E-commerce Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 6,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 |
| Hosting 3 years | 900 | 2,400 | 6,000 |
| Maintenance 3 years (15 %/yr) | 2,700 | 6,750 | 13,500 |
| SEO / content 3 years | 7,200 | 18,000 | 36,000 |
| Licences 3 years | 1,200 | 3,600 | 9,000 |
| Upgrades 3 years | 2,000 | 6,000 | 15,000 |
| 3-year TCO (EUR excl. tax) | 20,000 | 51,750 | 109,500 |
| Recurring share | 70 % | 71 % | 73 % |
The lesson is constant: recurring costs represent ~70 % of TCO regardless of tier. A leader who negotiates hard on the 6,000 EUR build but ignores the 14,000 EUR that follow is fighting the wrong battle.
A realistic budgeting method
To avoid nasty surprises, think in annual envelope rather than one-off cost. A simple, prudent 2026 rule: set aside each year 25 to 35 % of the build cost for hosting + maintenance + minor upgrades combined, then add the SEO/content budget separately according to your acquisition ambition. Require a 3-year TCO quote from the provider upfront, with recurring items itemised and code ownership guaranteed by contract.
Mini case study
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Claire, CFO of an industrial SME in Lyon, compares two quotes for an advanced site with a blog. Agency A offers 12,000 EUR for the build; agency B, 16,000 EUR. On initial price alone, A seems to win by 4,000 EUR. But A bills maintenance at 20 %/year and hosting at 100 EUR/month, while B includes maintenance at 12 %/year and managed hosting at 60 EUR/month. Over 3 years: A = 12,000 + 7,200 (maint.) + 3,600 (hosting) = 22,800 EUR; B = 16,000 + 5,760 (maint.) + 2,160 (hosting) = 23,920 EUR. The gap drops to 1,120 EUR — and B guarantees code ownership, well worth the difference. Claire chooses B with eyes open.
FAQ
Does TCO include advertising (Google Ads, Meta)?
No, TCO covers ownership of the site itself. Ad campaigns are a separate acquisition budget, typically 500 to 5,000 EUR/month depending on sector, to be managed separately.
Why does maintenance cost 12 to 20 % per year?
It funds security updates, browser compatibility, fixes and monitoring. A site without maintenance degrades: in 2026, an uncorrected CMS vulnerability can lead to a hack repaired at 3,000-8,000 EUR in an emergency.
Can TCO be reduced in-house?
Yes, by internalising content and minor updates if you have the skills. This can save 3,000 to 8,000 EUR over 3 years, but hosting and security should stay with a pro.
Is a website still worth it with such a TCO?
Yes, if acquisition follows. A well-ranked brochure site generating 10 leads/month at 200 EUR of value amortises 20,000 EUR of TCO within months. TCO is always judged against ROI.
Does TCO change with the CMS?
Significantly. A custom headless site costs more to build but less in licences; a WordPress loaded with premium plugins can reach 2,000-3,000 EUR/year in subscriptions alone.
Let's scope your project. Give us your site tier and horizon (3 or 5 years): we'll produce a costed TCO item by item, hosting and maintenance included. 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.
