Hosting, maintenance and content changes are different things
Hosting is the server space that keeps your site online. Maintenance is the work of keeping the site and its setup healthy, such as checks, updates and fixing things that break. Content changes are edits to what the site says, like new prices, photos or opening hours.
Some providers bundle all three into one fee. Others charge separately, or include hosting but bill every change by the hour. When you compare prices, check which of the three each quote actually covers.
Security updates and backups
Websites that rely on plugins or a content management system need regular software updates. Skipping them leaves known security holes open. Simpler sites without a database have less to update, but they still need their hosting, certificates and settings checked.
Backups matter because things go wrong: a bad update, a hacked account, a mistake that deletes a page. A recent, tested backup lets the site be restored quickly instead of rebuilt. Ask any provider whether backups are included, how often they run, where they are kept and how long a restore would take.
None of my care plans include backups. If your site needs them, I quote backup and recovery separately, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
What “small changes” usually means
Many plans include a time allowance for minor edits. On my plans, Managed Care includes up to 15 minutes of minor changes a month, and Ongoing Care includes up to 45 minutes with priority scheduling. That is enough for things like updating a price, swapping a photo or changing opening hours.
New pages, new features, redesigns and anything that needs fresh content written are not small changes. Those are quoted separately. Ask any provider where their line sits, and whether unused time carries over to the next month.
Domain and email renewals
Your domain name renews every year or every few years, depending on the registration period. If it lapses, your website and email can stop working. Keep the domain in your business name and turn on auto-renew with a current payment card.
Email on your own domain is usually a separate monthly subscription with an email provider. It is not normally part of website hosting or a care plan, so budget for it on its own line.
Doing it yourself or paying for a plan
If you’re comfortable logging in to a hosting account, checking renewals and making your own edits, you may not need a paid plan. My Self-Managed option costs nothing from me: you own the hosting and domain accounts and pay those providers directly.
A plan makes more sense when you’d rather not deal with the technical side, or when you want someone to call when something looks wrong. Weigh the monthly fee against the time it saves you and the cost of a problem going unnoticed.
Questions to ask before switching providers
If you’re unhappy with a current arrangement, check a few things before you move so nothing gets lost in the handover.
- Who owns the domain, and can you log in to the account it’s registered with?
- Who owns the website files and content, and can you get a full copy?
- Is there a contract term or notice period?
- Where is your email hosted, and will it be affected by the move?
- Are backups included now, and will you receive the latest one?
- What will the new provider include, and what will they charge for separately?
My care plan prices
These are monthly prices. I’m not registered for GST, so no GST is added. None of the plans include backups, which I quote separately if needed. I usually reply within two business days.
- Self-Managed: $0 a month. You own and pay for hosting and the domain directly
- Launch Hosting & Oversight: $29 a month. Deployment coordination and basic checks where supported
- Managed Care: $69 a month. Core checks and up to 15 minutes of minor changes each month
- Ongoing Care: $149 a month. Priority scheduling, standard checks and up to 45 minutes of minor changes each month