What a website maintenance plan should include, and what to pay for it

Every website needs some looking after. The question is how much, and whether a monthly plan is the best way to pay for it. This guide explains what a good maintenance plan covers so you can compare offers fairly.

The essentials

Security and software updates

Websites are built on software that is updated regularly, often to fix security problems. On WordPress that means the core, theme and plugins; on custom builds, the framework and its packages. Updates should be applied promptly, tested, and rolled back if something breaks.

Backups that have been tested

Daily backups stored somewhere other than the server, kept for at least 30 days. The important part is that someone has actually tried restoring one. A backup that has never been tested is a hope, not a plan.

Monitoring

Automatic checks that the site is up, that the security certificate is valid, and that errors are not piling up. You should hear about a problem from your developer, not from a customer.

Time for changes

Most plans include a set number of hours for small changes and fixes. Check whether unused hours roll over, and what happens if you need more in a busy month.

Nice to have

• A monthly report in plain English: what was updated, any issues found, and anything you should know.
• Periodic speed and search checks, with recommendations.
• Uptime and response time history you can see for yourself.

Padding to watch for

• Long lists of “checks” that are fully automated and cost the provider nothing.
• Minimum contract terms of a year or more for a simple site.
• Plans that do not say how quickly urgent problems will be handled.
• Hosting bundled in at a heavy mark-up without saying so.

What it should cost

For a typical UK small business website, expect roughly £50 to £150 a month for updates, backups, monitoring and an hour or two of changes. Online shops and web applications, where downtime costs real money, usually sit between £150 and £650 a month depending on the hours and response times included.

Do you need one at all?

If your site is a simple brochure site on a managed platform like Shopify or Squarespace, the platform handles most of the technical upkeep, and you may only need occasional help. If it is a WordPress site, an online shop, or a custom application that your business depends on, regular maintenance is not optional. The only choice is whether you do it yourself, pay someone monthly, or pay more to fix things when they break.

Our own care plans start at £95 a month and can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice.