Websites aren’t just built — they’re born.
Like a car, a website needs ongoing care to keep running. You wouldn’t drive without gas, skip oil changes, ignore bald tires, or blow off registration and insurance and expect everything to be fine. The same goes for your website: it needs regular attention and routine maintenance to stay secure, fast, and effective.
You’ve got two options: hire me (or another pro) to handle it all for you, or take the DIY route. Here’s how those paths compare:
Option 1: I can manage your website
For $99/mo, I handle the hosting, licenses, monitoring, and support so your website runs smoothly without you lifting a finger. Need to add some new content or make a few tweaks? Just shoot me an email — I include three “30-minute tasks” every month.
All plans are month-to-month — cancel anytime if you’re not happy.
Option 2: You can manage your website
If you’d rather do it yourself, here’s what to expect:
Hosting
$30–$40/mo | Minimal time once set up
I always recommend using a managed host that specializes in WordPress, like Rocket.net or Kinsta. Budget hosts are enticing, but don’t let introductory rates or 48+ month commitments fool you. Plus, you’ll be sharing resources with hundreds (or thousands) of other sites and it’s difficult to get support when you need it.
Software Licenses & Updates
$50–$100/mo | ~1 hr/week
Most WordPress sites need a stack of premium plugins and themes to function. Licenses keep them updated and secure. But those updates aren’t “set and forget” — you’ll need to log in weekly, update, and test to make sure nothing breaks.
Security
$5–$15/mo | A few hours/year
Your host covers some basics, but you’ll still need application-level protection like Patchstack to prevent your website from being hacked.
Transactional Email
$15/mo | Setup once, then occasional
Websites need reliable email for password resets, form submissions, and notifications. That requires a transactional service (I like Postmark).
Off-Site Backups
$8.25/mo | Setup + monthly check
Hosts keep backups, but they’re useless if the host itself goes down. A second, off-site backup (like SolidBackup) gives you insurance. You’ll need to set it up and check once in a while that it’s working.
Monitoring & Testing
$35/mo + free tools | <1 hr/month
An uptime monitor will ping you if your site goes offline, and if you run eCommerce or rely on form submissions from client, you’ll want automated form testing (like CheckView).
Tech Support
$75–$150/hr | As needed
When something breaks — and it will — you’ll need a developer to jump in. I’d suggest finding a freelancer on Upwork or Fivver, but do your research to ensure they actually understand your website’s tech stack (not just a general WordPress expert).
DIY Grand Total
When you add it all up, DIY website care runs $143–$213 every month (assuming no surprise developer bills). You’ll also spend 2-4 hours a month logging in, updating, testing, and troubleshooting.
FAQs
Wait, how can you do this cheaper?
I buy licenses, subscriptions, and storage in bulk, which greatly reduces the costs. Those savings get spread out across all my clients, making it significantly cheaper through my website management services.
Is all this really necessary?
All of this is what I recommend, having managed WordPress websites for nearly a decade. If your budget is a concern, you might be able to cut some items, but you will increase your risk of running into issues. Prevention is typically less expensive than the cure.
What’s included in your management services?
Premium hosting, web application firewall, content delivery network, application-level security, transactional email, automated form testing, plugin & theme licenses, weekly plugin, theme, & core updates, off-site backups, uptime monitoring, performance monitoring, analytics, DNS management, automated image optimization, bug fixes & error handling, malware removal, personal support, and three “30-minute tasks” per month to do content updates and modifications.
And maybe the most underrated part: you get me keeping an eye on the bigger picture. WordPress moves fast — plugins change hands, new threats pop up, and best practices evolve. Most business owners don’t even know it’s happening until it causes a problem. I follow those changes daily so your site never falls behind.
Can I just use your licenses without signing up for your website management services?
No. The licenses I provide are part of my management services and can’t be shared outside of that. That’s not just my rule — it’s how the plugin and software companies require licenses to be distributed.
Even if I could hand them out, you’d be missing direct access to the plugin developers’ support. If something went wrong, you’d be stuck since you don’t own a license. In other words, it would actually leave you with less control, not more.
