The verdict in three sentences
A basic maintenance plan (updates, backups, light monitoring) is enough for a stable corporate site. As soon as you run critical forms, a contact funnel or meaningful traffic, move to a standard plan with fixes and 24/7 monitoring. Neglecting a site costs more than the maintenance itself: one exploited vulnerability, one downtime mid-campaign or accumulated technical debt quickly runs into tens of thousands.
The three 2026 maintenance tiers
Maintenance (TMA) covers corrective, preventive and evolutive work. Here are the 2026 ranges for a B2B website, hosting included or not depending on the provider (figures in MAD, ~1 EUR ≈ 11 MAD).
| Tier | MAD/month | MAD/year | What is covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 800 - 1,500 | 9,600 - 18,000 | CMS updates, weekly backups, uptime check |
| Standard | 2,000 - 4,000 | 24,000 - 48,000 | + fixes, 24/7 monitoring, 48 h support |
| Premium | 5,000 - 9,000 | 60,000 - 108,000 | + enhancements, 99.9% SLA, 4 h support |
Most SMBs settle on the standard tier, which covers 90% of real needs without overpaying for an aggressive SLA.
Plan vs time-and-materials: when each wins
Two models compete: a predictable monthly plan, or time-and-materials at a day rate. Here is how to arbitrate by your volume of requests.
| Criterion | Monthly plan | T&M (day rate 3,500 - 6,000 MAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget predictability | High | Low |
| Cost if few interventions | Medium | Low |
| Cost if many enhancements | Low | High |
| Turnaround | SLA-guaranteed | As available |
| Best for | Stable site, few changes | One-off work, redesigns |
| Tipping point | > 2 requests/mo → plan | < 1 request/mo → T&M |
Simple rule: past two requests a month, the plan is cheaper than T&M and secures your turnaround.
The hidden cost of neglect
A site left without maintenance accumulates risks whose cost far exceeds the apparent saving. 2026 ballpark.
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| Risk | Annual probability | Average cost if it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Exploited security flaw | 15 - 25% | 20,000 - 80,000 MAD |
| Downtime > 24 h | 20 - 35% | 5,000 - 30,000 MAD (lost leads) |
| Plugin broken after untested update | 40 - 60% | 2,000 - 8,000 MAD |
| Accumulated tech debt (early rebuild) | Near-certain at 3 yrs | 15,000 - 40,000 MAD |
A standard plan at 36,000 MAD/yr cuts the probability of these incidents below 5%: the math is quick.
Mini case study
Ms. Bennani, CFO of a services SMB in London, first refuses any maintenance after her 90,000 MAD site launch. Six months later, an un-updated form plugin opens a flaw: cleanup, restore and 3 weeks of lost leads cost her 34,000 MAD. She then subscribes to the standard plan at 3,000 MAD/month (36,000 MAD/yr). Over 3 years, maintenance costs 108,000 MAD but avoids at least one major incident per year, i.e. 60,000 to 100,000 MAD in avoided losses. Maintenance clearly pays off.
FAQ
Does maintenance include hosting? Not always. Some providers bill managed hosting separately (500 to 1,500 MAD/month). Check scope before comparing two quotes.
Corrective vs evolutive maintenance? Corrective fixes what breaks (bugs, flaws). Evolutive adds features. The basic tier covers only light corrective work; enhancements are premium-only or billed T&M.
What does a 99.9% SLA mean concretely? 99.9% uptime allows about 8 h 45 of downtime per year maximum. Beyond that, penalties or credits apply per contract.
Can I cancel maintenance easily? Most 2026 contracts are monthly with no lock-in or annual with one month's notice. Avoid 24-month commitments with no exit clause.
What does an out-of-plan intervention cost? On T&M, expect a day rate of 3,500 to 6,000 MAD, often billed by half-day. A small enhancement runs 1,750 to 3,000 MAD.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your site size, traffic and target SLA: we propose the right maintenance plan without overcharging for an SLA you don't need. 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.
