The verdict in three sentences
A 180-page WordPress site running 22 plugins and loading in 4.8 seconds loses prospects before the first click. Migrating to Next.js costs EUR 9,000 to 22,000 ex. VAT and brings LCP under 2 seconds, provided SEO is treated as a workstream in its own right. With a 301 redirect plan covering 100% of URLs, the traffic dip stays within 5 to 10% for 4 to 8 weeks.
Three options for a B2B services SMB
Migrating everything is not always necessary. If the marketing team is attached to the WordPress interface, a headless setup keeps the editor and replaces only the front end.
| Criterion | Keep optimised WordPress | Headless WordPress with Next.js | Full Next.js with headless CMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 budget | EUR 2,500 to 6,000 | EUR 9,000 to 15,000 | EUR 12,000 to 22,000 |
| Timeline | 2 to 4 weeks | 6 to 9 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Target mobile LCP | 2.8 to 3.5 s | 1.5 to 2 s | 1.2 to 1.8 s |
| Plugins to maintain | 12 to 15 | 4 to 6 | 0 |
| Attack surface | High | Reduced | Low |
| Monthly hosting | EUR 15 to 40 | EUR 35 to 80 (two stacks) | EUR 20 to 60 |
| Editorial comfort | Unchanged | Unchanged | New tool, half a day of training |
Optimisation alone (caching, WebP images, removing plugins) saves 1 to 2 seconds, rarely more. Beyond that, the theme and page builders remain the ceiling.
The real risk: SEO during the switch
Traffic losses after a migration almost always come from forgotten URLs, title tags changed for no reason, or merged content without redirects. The plan below reduces that risk.
| SEO step | Deliverable | Estimated effort | Risk if skipped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full crawl before migration | List of the 180 pages and media URLs | 0.5 day | Orphan URLs returning 404 |
| Search Console and Analytics export | Top 50 pages by clicks and conversions | 0.5 day | Losing the pages that earn money |
| Mapping table | 100% of URLs mapped to 301s | 1 to 2 days | 20 to 40% traffic drop |
| Tag preservation | Title, meta, H1, structured data | 1 day | Slow re-ranking |
| Staging acceptance test | Control crawl, zero 404 errors | 1 day | Errors found in production |
| Post-launch monitoring | Daily Search Console checks for 30 days | 2 to 3 hours per week | Late reaction |
Budget EUR 1,500 to 3,500 for this workstream within the overall envelope. It is the most profitable line in the project.
What drives the price
| Factor | Budget effect |
|---|---|
| Number of distinct templates (6 to 15) | +EUR 600 to 1,200 per template |
| Forms and CRM integration | +EUR 800 to 2,500 |
| Blog and categories to migrate (80 posts) | +EUR 1,000 to 2,000 via import script |
| Multilingual | +20 to 30% |
| Simultaneous visual redesign | +EUR 3,000 to 7,000 |
| Client area or members zone | +EUR 4,000 to 10,000 |
Mini case study
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Thomas runs a logistics consulting SMB in Amsterdam. His 180-page WordPress site loads in 4.8 seconds and converts 0.9% of its 3,500 monthly visits, about 31 requests. He chooses a full Next.js migration at EUR 16,500, delivered in 10 weeks, with a plan of 214 redirects. Traffic dips 7% in the first month, then exceeds its original level by month three. With an LCP of 1.6 seconds, the conversion rate rises to 1.3%, that is 14 more requests per month. At 1 deal in 6 and an average contract of EUR 4,000, this represents roughly EUR 9,300 of additional monthly revenue, and the migration pays for itself in under two months.
FAQ
How much does a WordPress to Next.js migration cost in 2026?
Between EUR 9,000 and 22,000 for a 100 to 200 page site. The headless option, which keeps the WordPress editor, usually sits between EUR 9,000 and 15,000.
Will we lose Google traffic?
A 5 to 10% dip for 4 to 8 weeks is common when 100% of URLs are redirected. Without a redirect plan, the drop can reach 20 to 40%.
What speed gain should we expect?
Going from 4.8 seconds to an LCP of 1.2 to 2 seconds is realistic. Static or on-demand generated pages are served from a CDN.
Can the marketing team still publish on its own?
Yes, through a headless CMS or the retained WordPress editor. Half a day of training is usually enough.
What does hosting cost afterwards?
EUR 20 to 60 per month for an SMB, excluding exceptional peaks. The headless option adds WordPress hosting, about EUR 15 to 20 more.
Let's scope your project. Send us your WordPress URL: we measure speed and plugins, then price all three options with a redirect plan and a 6 to 12 week timeline. 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.
