WordPress maintenance involves keeping a website secure, fully functional and recoverable in the event of a breakdown. It is not just a matter of clicking ‘Update’: it also includes backups, post-update checks, monitoring, prevention and a recovery procedure.
A website may run for months without any apparent issues, but that does not mean its plugins are up to date or that a backup would be usable in an emergency. The appropriate level of maintenance depends on the website’s commercial importance, its functionality and the cost of any downtime.
The quote must specify what is not included. A redesign, the creation of new pages, the development of a complex feature or the removal of malware are not necessarily covered by a standard package.
The rates below are provided as a guide for comparing service levels. They do not constitute an official price list nor an offer currently guaranteed by Elvis Web. Prices vary depending on the frequency of support requests, response times, the number of websites and the features included.
| Level | Indicative budget | Available services | Which website? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | €30 to €60 per month | Scheduled updates, backups, availability monitoring | A simple, small showcase website |
| Standard | €60 to €120 per month | Essential + regular checks, limited support, report | A professional website that generates enquiries |
| Reinforced | €120 to €250 per month or more | Increased monitoring, more frequent checks, priority support | Shop or review site |
| One-off intervention | Subject to quotation | Diagnosis, correction or restoration | Specific need or incident |
Always compare packages with the same scope of services. A low price may only cover automatic updates, whilst another may include off-site backups, testing and human support. Ask whether VAT, premium licences and hosting are included.
Updates fix bugs, improve compatibility and can address security vulnerabilities. Delaying them indefinitely increases the risks, but applying them directly to a complex website without a backup or testing may cause it to crash. Best practice is to check the release notes, take a backup, update in a logical order and test key functions.
Extensions that have been discontinued or are incompatible should be replaced rather than retained simply because they are already installed. A website that uses a large number of obsolete components requires a more comprehensive upgrade strategy than standard maintenance.
A website that is not maintained may be vulnerable, display errors following an automatic update, lose form submissions or become incompatible with the hosting service. Missing or unusable backups can turn a minor glitch into a lengthy and costly incident.
There is also a commercial risk: if a service page or shopping basket stops working, visitors may leave the site without letting you know. Periodic checks should therefore focus on actions that are important to your business, not just on access to the home page.
A website owner with a good grasp of technical matters can carry out certain tasks, provided they have the time, a backup plan and a procedure for rolling back changes. They must also keep an eye on security alerts and know how to diagnose incompatibilities.
Outsourcing can be beneficial when the website is a source of leads, the online shop processes payments, or the team lacks the necessary technical expertise. The service provider must explain the work carried out, avoid creating unnecessary dependency, and ensure the website owner retains access to their website, domain and backups.
For a simple showcase website, regular checks with reliable backups may be sufficient. For a website that generates enquiries on a daily basis, monitoring and testing forms become more important. For an online shop, it is also necessary to check the shopping basket, payments, order confirmation emails and stock-related functions.
The right package should reflect the potential cost of a breakdown and the requirements of your business. It is better to have a clear scope of work that is actually carried out than a long list of promises that are unrelated and not followed up on.
Compile a list of WordPress and hosting login details, the list of plugins, the status of backups and any incidents that have already occurred. Identify the priority features: contact form, booking system, payment system, customer portal or download section. This information helps to define the necessary checks and response times.
Elvis Web can assess your WordPress installation and propose a maintenance package tailored to your actual needs: updates, backups, checks and support in accordance with the agreed terms. One-off tasks, such as a redesign or post-hack clean-up, must be assessed separately if they exceed the scope of the package.
Take a look at our WordPress services and request a quote specifying the type of site, its importance to your business and any problems already identified.
Prices can range from around €30 to €60 for a basic package to over €120 for a mission-critical site. The exact price depends on the scope, the platform and the functions to be tested.
Some updates may be automatic, but this is no substitute for monitoring, backups and functional testing.
Not always. The contract must specify whether changes to the text, the addition of pages and further work are included or charged for separately.
The website owner must be able to retrieve their files and database. The contract must specify the location, the retention period and the terms of access.
An existing fault must first be diagnosed and repaired. Preventative maintenance can then reduce the risk of it happening again.
Contact us now to discuss your project. We’ll provide a free, no-obligation quote within 24 hours.
