A good website maintenance plan should include regular software updates, reliable backups, security monitoring and routine checks to make sure the website is still working properly. Depending on the plan, it may also cover small content changes, performance improvements and support when something goes wrong.
However, website maintenance packages can vary considerably. Before paying for one, it is important to understand exactly what is included and whether anyone is actively checking your website.
What Is a Website Maintenance Plan?
A website maintenance plan is an ongoing service designed to keep a website secure, updated and functioning correctly after it has been launched.
It usually involves a monthly payment in exchange for a set range of technical checks and support. Some plans are almost entirely automated, while others include manual checks, small changes and direct help from a web designer or developer.
A maintenance plan is separate from website hosting. Hosting keeps your website online, while maintenance looks after the website itself.
What Should Be Included in a Website Maintenance Plan?
The exact service will vary between providers, but a reliable website maintenance plan should usually include the following:
WordPress Updates
WordPress, themes and plugins all receive updates. These may fix security vulnerabilities, repair bugs, improve compatibility or add new features.
Updates should be carried out regularly, but they should also be handled carefully. A recent backup should be available before updates are installed, and the website should be checked afterwards.
Simply switching on automatic updates is not the same as actively maintaining a website. An update can occasionally affect the layout, forms or functionality without anyone noticing.
Regular Website Backups
A maintenance plan should include regular backups of both the website files and its database.
The frequency required depends on the website. A small brochure website may be adequately protected by daily or weekly backups. An ecommerce, booking or membership website may need more frequent backups because it receives new orders, appointments or customer information.
It is also worth checking:
- Where the backups are stored
- How long they are kept
- Whether several previous versions are available
- Whether the provider can restore the website for you
A backup is only genuinely useful if it can be accessed and restored when needed.
Security Monitoring
Website security monitoring helps identify suspicious activity, malicious files and known vulnerabilities.
A maintenance plan may include:
- Malware scanning
- Login protection
- Vulnerability monitoring
- Spam prevention
- Security alerts
- Checks for unusual website activity
No provider can guarantee that a website will never be targeted or compromised. Good maintenance reduces the risk and makes it more likely that a problem will be noticed and dealt with quickly.
Website Uptime Monitoring
Uptime monitoring checks whether your website is available to visitors.
Without monitoring, a website could be offline for hours or even days before the business owner notices. This is particularly easy to miss if you do not visit your own website regularly.
Uptime monitoring can alert the person maintaining the website when it becomes unavailable, allowing them to investigate the cause.
Contact Form Testing
A contact form can appear to work correctly while messages are not actually reaching your inbox.
This can happen because of email authentication problems, hosting changes, plugin conflicts or messages being filtered as spam. If nobody tests the form, missed enquiries may go unnoticed.
A maintenance plan should include regular checks of important forms, particularly:
- Contact forms
- Quote request forms
- Booking enquiries
- Newsletter sign-ups
- Application forms
- Checkout processes
Testing should confirm that the form submits properly and that the notification email reaches the correct address.
Broken Link and Error Checks
Broken links create a frustrating experience for visitors and can make a website appear neglected.
Links may stop working when pages are deleted, URLs change or external websites remove content. A maintenance check can identify broken links, missing pages and other common errors.
This is especially important after making changes to the website structure or moving it to a different domain.
Basic Performance Checks
A website may gradually become slower as new plugins, images and content are added.
Basic performance monitoring can identify problems such as:
- Large image files
- Unnecessary plugins
- Caching issues
- Database build-up
- Slow-loading pages
- Problems caused by third-party tools
A maintenance plan may not include advanced speed optimisation, but it should help identify obvious performance problems before they become severe.
Visual Website Checks
Technical monitoring cannot spot every problem.
A website may technically be online while parts of the design are displaying incorrectly. Text could overlap, a menu may stop opening or a page could look completely different on mobile.
Manual visual checks of the homepage and other important pages can catch problems that automated systems may miss.
Small Content Changes
Some website maintenance plans include a set amount of time for small updates.
These could include:
- Changing text
- Replacing images
- Updating prices
- Adding a testimonial
- Amending contact details
- Uploading a document
- Adding a team member
- Updating opening hours
Check whether changes are included, how much time is available and whether unused time carries over. Larger design or development work will normally be quoted separately.
Support When Something Goes Wrong
One of the main benefits of a maintenance plan is knowing who to contact when there is a problem.
If your website breaks, you should not have to start searching for a developer who is available, willing to investigate and familiar with your setup.
Before choosing a plan, check what support is included and whether repairs are covered or charged separately.
What Is Usually Not Included?
A website maintenance plan does not normally include unlimited design, development or marketing work.
Unless specifically stated, it may not cover:
- Building new pages
- Redesigning large sections
- Adding new functionality
- Writing blog articles
- Ongoing SEO campaigns
- Paid advertising
- Product uploads in large quantities
- Major repairs to existing problems
- Premium plugin or software fees
- Problems caused by another person editing the website
This does not mean the provider cannot help with these tasks. It usually means they will be priced separately.
Clear boundaries protect both the business owner and the person maintaining the website.
Does a Maintenance Plan Include Hosting?
Sometimes, but not always.
Some providers combine website hosting and maintenance into one monthly package. Others charge for them separately.
A combined service can make things simpler because one company is responsible for keeping the website online and maintaining it. However, you should still check what happens if you decide to leave.
Make sure you know:
- Who owns the website
- Who owns the domain name
- Where the website is hosted
- Whether you can receive a full copy of the website
- Whether email hosting is included
- What happens when the agreement ends
Your website and domain should not become inaccessible simply because you change provider.
Are Automatic Updates Enough?
Automatic updates are useful, but they are not a complete website maintenance service.
They can install new versions of WordPress, themes and plugins without anyone needing to log in. However, they do not necessarily confirm that the website is still working afterwards.
Automatic systems may not notice if:
- A form stops sending
- A page layout changes
- A menu breaks
- A plugin conflicts with another
- An update affects mobile display
- A backup cannot be restored
Automation can handle routine tasks, but manual checks provide an additional level of protection.
How Much Should Website Maintenance Cost?
The cost of website maintenance depends on the size, complexity and purpose of the website, as well as the level of support provided.
A small brochure website will usually require less maintenance than an online shop, membership platform or booking website. More complicated websites have more moving parts and may need more frequent checks.
When comparing prices, look beyond the monthly figure. A low-cost plan that only activates automated updates is different from a service that includes manual checks, support and content changes.
The most useful plan is the one that matches what your website actually needs.
Do All Small Business Websites Need a Maintenance Plan?
Not every small business needs to pay someone else to maintain its website.
You may be comfortable managing the website yourself if you understand updates, backups, security and basic troubleshooting. You should also have the time to check the website regularly and know what to do if an update causes a problem.
A maintenance plan may be worthwhile if:
- You do not feel confident managing WordPress
- You rarely check your own website
- Your website generates important enquiries or sales
- You do not know how to restore a backup
- You want someone available when something goes wrong
- You would rather spend your time running the business
The decision usually comes down to time, confidence and how important the website is to your business.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Maintenance Plan
Before signing up, ask the provider:
- How often will my website be checked?
- Are updates completed manually or automatically?
- Are backups included?
- Where are backups stored?
- Will you restore the website if something goes wrong?
- Are contact forms tested?
- Are small content changes included?
- What happens if the website breaks?
- Are repairs included in the monthly price?
- Is hosting included?
- Can I cancel the plan?
- Will I still own and control my website?
The answers should be clear. You should know what you are paying for before the plan begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is website maintenance the same as hosting?
No. Hosting stores the website and makes it available online. Website maintenance covers the ongoing work required to keep the website updated, secure and functioning correctly.
Should website maintenance include backups?
Yes. Regular backups are one of the most important parts of website maintenance. You should also know where they are stored and whether restoration is included.
Are website repairs included in a maintenance plan?
It depends on the provider and the cause of the problem. Minor repairs may be included, while larger issues or problems that existed before the plan began may cost extra.
Can I cancel a website maintenance plan?
This depends on the agreement. Some plans are monthly, while others have a minimum term. Check the cancellation conditions before signing up.
Can a maintenance plan prevent every website problem?
No service can guarantee that a website will never experience a problem. Regular maintenance can reduce the risks, spot issues sooner and make recovery much easier.
Want Us to Handle It?
Genvi Media offers straightforward website care and maintenance for small businesses. We can take care of the routine updates, backups, checks and small changes, so you know your website is being properly looked after.