How Much Should You Budget for Website Maintenance?
So, you’ve got a website. Maybe it’s a clean one-pager for your service business, an online store, or something you had built a couple of years ago and haven’t really touched since. Either way, you’re starting to realize — websites aren’t something you set and forget.
Just like a vehicle needs oil changes and tire checks, your website needs regular attention to keep it running smoothly. The big question is: how much should you actually be budgeting for that in 2025?
Why Website Maintenance Still Matters
Websites break. Plugins stop working, layouts get wonky after updates, forms stop sending, and sometimes the whole site slows down or disappears. If no one’s looking after it, you might not even realize anything’s wrong until your leads or sales drop off.
And that’s just the technical stuff. Google also expects your site to be secure, mobile-friendly, and fast. If it’s not being maintained, it can quietly slide down in search rankings without you even noticing.
What’s Usually Included in Website Maintenance?
Website maintenance can mean different things depending on who’s doing it, but most plans include some version of:
Software, theme, and plugin updates
Monthly or weekly backups
Fixes for anything broken after updates
Uptime or speed checks
Small content updates (like text or image swaps)
Support via email or request form
Optional reporting or SEO-related checks
If you’re running a basic website that doesn’t change much, you might only need someone to check in monthly. But if you’re regularly promoting new services, adding pages, or relying on your site to bring in business, you’ll probably need more hands-on support.
What Should You Budget?
Here’s a rough breakdown of what ongoing website support usually costs in 2025:
Light updates and backups: Around $50 to $100/month
Maintenance with minor support and performance checks: $100 to $200/month
Maintenance with SEO help or content edits: $200 to $500/month
All-in support with strategy, SEO, design, and updates: $500 to $2,000+/month
These ranges vary depending on your site’s size, how often you need help, and whether you want someone just watching for problems or actively improving your site each month.
Is It Worth Paying Monthly?
Some people prefer to only call for help when something breaks — and that’s totally valid. But keep in mind that emergency fixes usually cost more, and they often take longer to deal with because nothing was being monitored or updated.
Ongoing maintenance gives you peace of mind, keeps your site healthy, and helps you avoid unexpected issues or downtime. It also gives you someone to call when you need help — without starting from scratch every time.
In a Nutshell
Budgeting for website maintenance in 2025 is really about knowing how important your site is to your business. If it’s where your customers learn about you, make decisions, or send in leads, it’s worth keeping it in good shape.
Think of it like insurance — the cost is low compared to what it could cost you if something breaks and no one notices until your contact form has been dead for two weeks.
