A website is not finished at launch. Software ages, plugins release security fixes, browsers change and your business changes. Maintenance is the work of keeping the site secure, fast and accurate. Here is what it should include and what it typically costs.
What a maintenance plan should include
- Software updates: the platform (for example WordPress), themes and plugins, applied promptly and tested afterwards.
- Backups: automatic, daily for active sites, stored away from the main server, with a tested restore.
- Security: SSL certificate, malware scanning, a firewall and login protection. See website security basics.
- Hosting and uptime monitoring: someone is alerted when the site goes down, not just you when a customer calls.
- Performance checks: image and caching settings kept tuned as content grows.
- Content changes: new hours, prices, staff, photos and services, done within an agreed time.
- Reporting: a short note of what was updated and anything that needs your attention.
Typical costs
Pricing varies by provider and by how much change work is included. As rough market ranges for a small business site:
- Basic care (updates, backups, monitoring): commonly around $50–$150 a month.
- Care plus a block of content changes: commonly around $150–$300 a month.
- Hourly changes: often $50–$150 an hour on top of a basic plan.
- Hosting: separate unless the plan says otherwise.
Over a year, that is often $600–$3,600 before any design changes, which is why it is worth comparing the full yearly figure, not the monthly sticker.
What happens if you skip it
- Outdated plugins are one of the most common ways small sites get hacked.
- A broken update with no backup can take a site offline for days.
- Old prices, hours and staff details cost trust and enquiries.
- Sites slow down as images and plugins accumulate.
How to choose a plan
- Ask exactly what is included, especially hosting and content changes.
- Ask how quickly changes and emergencies are handled.
- Ask where backups are stored, how long they are kept, and when a restore was last tested.
- Check you can leave with a full copy of your site.
Our approach bundles it: the $1,950-a-year package includes hosting, SSL, daily backups, updates and unlimited content changes under fair use, alongside the design and build. If you only need maintenance on an existing site, see our maintenance service.