Website Maintenance: What You Need to Know (And What It Costs)
Your Website Isn't a "Set It and Forget It" Thing
Many business owners think once their website is built, they're done. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Websites need ongoing maintenance to stay secure, fast, and functional.
What Website Maintenance Includes
Security Updates
What: Keeping your CMS, plugins, and dependencies up to date
Why: Outdated software is the #1 cause of hacked websites
Frequency: Monthly minimum, weekly ideally
Backups
What: Regular copies of your website files and database
Why: If something goes wrong, you can restore quickly
Frequency: Daily or weekly depending on how often you update
Performance Monitoring
What: Checking load times, uptime, and user experience
Why: Slow sites lose visitors and hurt SEO
Frequency: Continuous monitoring, monthly reviews
Content Updates
What: Keeping information current (hours, prices, services)
Why: Outdated info frustrates visitors and hurts credibility
Frequency: As needed, review quarterly
SSL Certificate Renewal
What: Ensuring your site stays secure (HTTPS)
Why: Browsers flag non-HTTPS sites as "not secure"
Frequency: Usually auto-renews yearly
Bug Fixes
What: Addressing issues as they arise
Why: Broken forms, links, or features lose you business
Frequency: As needed
What Happens Without Maintenance?
- Security breaches: Hackers exploit outdated software
- Slow loading: Performance degrades over time
- Broken features: Updates to browsers/devices break things
- SEO decline: Google penalizes slow, insecure sites
- Lost trust: Visitors leave when things don't work
Maintenance Cost Breakdown
DIY Maintenance
If you're technical and have time:
- Hosting: €50-200/year
- Domain: €10-50/year
- SSL: Often included, or €50-100/year
- Your time: Priceless (or costly, depending on perspective)
Professional Maintenance Plans
Typical monthly costs:
- Basic (updates + backups): €50-100/month
- Standard (+ monitoring + minor updates): €100-200/month
- Premium (+ priority support + content updates): €200-400/month
What's Usually Included
Most maintenance plans cover:
- Security updates and patches
- Daily/weekly backups
- Uptime monitoring
- Minor content updates
- Basic support
What's Usually Extra
- Major design changes
- New features or functionality
- Content creation (copywriting, images)
- SEO optimization
- Marketing work
Questions to Ask Your Developer
Before signing a maintenance agreement:
- What exactly is included?
- How often are updates performed?
- What's your response time for emergencies?
- Who owns the backups?
- What happens if I cancel?
Our Approach
At 4ty.studio, we believe maintenance shouldn't be a mystery. We provide clear plans with defined scope, transparent pricing, and no lock-in contracts.
Need help maintaining your site? Get in touch—we'll find a plan that works for you.