A WordPress website is not something you build once and forget. The software that runs it keeps changing, and so do the threats against it. A maintenance plan means someone is paying attention so you do not have to. This guide explains what a plan covers, what happens without one and how to judge whether a plan is worth the price.
Why WordPress needs regular care
WordPress itself, your theme and every plugin release updates, often to fix security weaknesses. If updates are skipped, those weaknesses stay open. If updates are applied carelessly, they can break your pages. Both are avoidable, but only if someone is responsible for the job. Add hosting changes, expiring licences and the occasional spam attack, and a site left alone for a year is usually in worse shape than its owner realises.
What a good plan covers
- Tested updates to WordPress, your theme and plugins
- Regular backups, stored away from your server, with a way to restore them
- Security checks, including malware scanning
- Uptime monitoring, so downtime is noticed quickly
- Small content changes, such as a new photo or an updated price
- A short report each month on what was done
For a fuller list, read our guide to what is included in website management.
What happens without one
Problems tend to show up at the worst moment. A common pattern is a hacked site on the day of a promotion, a form that quietly stopped sending enquiries, or a plugin update that breaks the checkout. By the time the owner notices, the damage is done: lost enquiries, lost sales and a restore that costs more than a year of prevention would have.
Can you do it yourself?
Yes, if you are comfortable logging in regularly, reading update notes, testing changes and restoring from a backup when something goes wrong. Many owners start this way and later hand it over because the time adds up and the stakes rise as the site becomes more important to the business. If you do it yourself, set a reminder, keep a recent backup before every update, and test your contact form after changes.
What affects the price
- Size and complexity. A simple brochure site needs less care than a busy store.
- Number of changes included. Some plans include small edits, others charge for each one.
- Type of site. Stores and membership sites need more careful updates and monitoring.
- Whether the provider built the site. Sites built by others may need a first look before a plan starts.
How to compare plans
- Is the list of tasks clear and specific?
- Where are backups kept, and has a restore ever been tested?
- Are small changes included, and how many?
- What is excluded, and what does it cost?
- Can you cancel, and do you keep full access?
A low price with a long list of exclusions is rarely a bargain. A clear price with a short, honest list usually is.
Plans for agencies
If you look after client sites, a maintenance partner lets you offer care plans under your own brand without hiring someone. See our white label website maintenance service.
Our plans
Our WordPress care plans start from $99 a month. They cover tested updates, backups, security checks, monitoring and small changes, and they are month to month, so you can cancel. We also look after sites we did not build, after a quick look to check they are in good shape.