Plan to spend about 15 to 25 percent of your software’s build cost on upkeep every year. So software that cost 40,000 euros to build needs roughly 6,000 to 10,000 a year to stay healthy. That money keeps it online, safe, and working while the world around it keeps changing.
What does software cost after it is built?
Building software is not like buying a chair. It is more like owning a car. The world around your software keeps changing: phones update, browsers update, rules change. Each change can break something small, so your software needs regular care to keep running smoothly.
How much should I set aside each year?
A safe rule is 15 to 25 percent of the build cost, every year. A simple tool with few users sits near the low end. A busy tool that many people rely on sits near the high end. If you are still planning the build, our guide on what it costs to build an app helps you set the starting number.
| Build cost | Rough yearly upkeep |
|---|---|
| 10,000 euros | 1,500 to 2,500 |
| 25,000 euros | 3,750 to 6,250 |
| 40,000 euros | 6,000 to 10,000 |
| 80,000 euros | 12,000 to 20,000 |
What does that money pay for?
Four things, mostly. Keeping your software online. Security updates so it stays safe. Fixing things that break. And small tweaks your users ask for. Our guide on what it costs to maintain an app breaks each of these down in plain terms.
What happens if I do not budget for it?
The software slowly rots. Little problems pile up quietly until something big breaks, usually at your busiest moment. Then you pay for a rushed emergency fix, which costs far more than steady care would have. Skipping the budget does not remove the cost. It just makes it bigger and badly timed.
How do I keep costs predictable?
Ask for a fixed monthly amount instead of paying per crisis. You get one clear bill and a short note of what was done that month. A steady, known number is easy to plan around. If you are weighing an old system that keeps costing you, see is my old software worth fixing before you sink more money into it.
At Givore Studio we build software and keep it running on a steady monthly plan, so your yearly cost is a number you know in advance, not a surprise. One team, one point of contact, one clear bill. Want a plain yearly figure for your software? Tell us on WhatsApp.