A proper website maintenance plan should cover, at a minimum: hosting, an SSL certificate, daily backups, software and security updates, uptime monitoring, small content edits, and human support that answers within one working day. A good plan bundles all of that for a single monthly fee, typically £30–£150 in the UK depending on how much support and how many edits are included. Anything that charges you per change, per hour or per ticket isn't really maintenance, it's just billing.
The seven things every plan should cover
1. Hosting
Fast, secure infrastructure that keeps your site online. Should be included, not billed separately. Modern hosting costs a provider a few pounds a month, anyone quoting £30 just for hosting is marking it up hard.
2. SSL certificate
The padlock in the address bar. It's free thanks to Let's Encrypt, so any plan that treats it as a paid extra is cynical. Included as standard.
3. Daily backups
Automatic, off-site, retained for at least 30 days. If your site gets hacked, breaks, or you accidentally delete something, backups are the reason it's a minor problem instead of a disaster.
4. Software and security updates
Whether the site's built in WordPress, a modern framework or something custom, the underlying software gets patched constantly. A good plan applies those patches quietly, without breaking anything.
5. Uptime monitoring
Someone (or something) checking every minute that your site is actually online, and getting an alert if it isn't. Not something you should have to hear about from a customer.
6. Content edits
Where plans differ most. The good ones include unlimited small edits (copy tweaks, image swaps, price changes, new team members) with a fair-use expectation. The bad ones bill per change or 'unlock' edits with a per-hour rate that makes you afraid to ask.
7. Human support
A real person you can email or call, who knows your site, and who replies within a working day. Not a ticketing portal. Not chatbots. Not offshore support at 3am.
What's not usually included
- Full redesigns or new sections (should be quoted separately at a fair fixed price).
- Custom integrations (Stripe, HubSpot, bespoke booking systems).
- SEO campaigns and content marketing (usually a separate retainer).
- Photography, video production, brand work.
If a provider bundles these into 'maintenance' without a clear scope, they're either lying about what's included or planning to disappoint you. Both bad.
Red flags to watch for
- Long-term contracts (anything over 12 months for basic maintenance).
- Charging separately for SSL, hosting, backups, they should be together.
- Per-hour billing for small changes.
- No named contact.
- Vague scope ('up to a reasonable amount of work').
Where CAPVANE sits
Our £50/month covers all seven items above, uncapped small changes, and next-working-day support from whoever built your site. Cancel any time with 30 days' notice, keep the site, walk away with everything.
Whether that's right for you depends on how much you actually use it, but it's not designed to punish you for asking.