Maintaining a website in Senegal costs between 150,000 and 1,200,000 FCFA per year depending on its complexity. For a brochure site, plan for 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA per year. For an e-commerce store, count on 500,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA per year. Many SMEs overlook this line in the initial quote, then discover their site slows down, crashes or gets hacked for lack of upkeep. Maintenance is not optional; it is the cost of security and performance over time.
What maintenance is made of
The unavoidable fixed costs
Hosting. From 50,000 to 300,000 FCFA per year depending on the power needed. A brochure site runs on cheap shared hosting; a high-traffic store requires a costlier dedicated server.
Domain name. From 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA per year. A small amount, but never let it expire or you lose your address.
Security certificate (SSL). Often included in hosting, otherwise 0 to 50,000 FCFA per year. Essential for the padlock and for trust.
The active upkeep costs
Updates. The core, plugins and themes must be updated regularly to patch vulnerabilities. Neglect here is the leading cause of hacking.
Backups. Regular copies stored off the server, to restore in case of trouble. Without backups, one incident can mean total loss of the site.
Monitoring and security. Uptime checks, blocking attacks, cleanup if infected.
Small evolutions. Content edits, adding pages, display fixes.
The contract tiers
Basic maintenance (150,000 - 400,000 FCFA per year)
Hosting, domain, security updates, automatic backups, uptime monitoring. Suited to a stable brochure site. This is the bare minimum we recommend to every client.
Standard maintenance (400,000 - 700,000 FCFA per year)
Everything in basic, plus a block of hours for content changes, performance tracking and priority support. For sites that evolve regularly.
E-commerce maintenance (700,000 - 1,200,000 FCFA per year)
Everything in standard, plus reinforced payment monitoring, traffic-peak handling, testing after each update, and high responsiveness because every hour of downtime costs sales.
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What happens if you do not maintain
The risk is not theoretical. An unmaintained site piles up trouble: outdated plugins that open vulnerabilities, hacking with spam injection or redirects, slowdowns that drive visitors away and hurt ranking, and incompatibilities after browser updates. Fixing afterward almost always costs more than maintaining: restoring a hacked site often runs into several hundred thousand FCFA, with no guarantee of recovering lost data.
Mini case: Ndoye Conseil firm, Dakar
The Ndoye Conseil firm had a fine brochure site delivered in 2024, then no maintenance contract to save 300,000 FCFA per year. In 2025, lacking updates, the site was hacked and redirected visitors to a dubious site. The cleanup and restoration cost 650,000 FCFA, plus two weeks of downtime in the middle of a prospecting campaign. The firm now pays 320,000 FCFA per year for basic maintenance. The math is clear: the initial saving cost double in repairs.
How to budget maintenance from the start
Build maintenance into the total cost of ownership of the site, not just the build price. A simple rule: budget each year between 15 and 25 percent of the initial cost for upkeep. A site built for 800,000 FCFA therefore deserves an annual maintenance budget around 150,000 to 200,000 FCFA. It is the price of peace of mind.
FAQ
Is maintenance really mandatory?
Technically no, but without it your site degrades and becomes vulnerable. It is like a car without servicing: it runs for a while, then breaks down at the worst moment.
What happens if I let my domain name expire?
Your site becomes unreachable and someone else can buy your address. Annual renewal is the expense never to forget.
Can I maintain my site myself?
For a small site, some simple tasks are accessible. But security, backups and technical updates require skills; one mistake can break the site.
How much does it cost to repair a hacked site?
Often 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA depending on the damage, with no guarantee of full recovery. It is almost always more than the maintenance that would have prevented it.
Does maintenance include new features?
Small evolutions yes in the standard tiers, but a redesign or a major feature is quoted separately.
Let's talk about your project. Tell us about your current site and we will assess the right level of maintenance. 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.
