Website maintenance: why it is essential and how much it costs

You have just had your website built. Congratulations. But here is something many people discover too late: a website that is not maintained gradually becomes slow, vulnerable and outdated. And one day it may simply break down or be hacked.

Website maintenance is not optional: it is what keeps your investment performing over time.

Why a website deteriorates without maintenance

Security updates

WordPress and its extensions receive regular updates. These updates fix known security vulnerabilities. If you do not apply them, your website remains exposed to attacks that become easier to carry out over time.

In figures: 90% of hacked WordPress websites were running an outdated version of the CMS or its plugins.

Technology compatibility

The web keeps evolving. PHP (the language WordPress runs on) releases new versions. Browsers change. If your website is not updated, parts of it may stop working without you even noticing.

Performance

Caches, databases and temporary files build up. Without regular clean-ups, your website gradually slows down. A website that loaded in 1.5 seconds at launch can take 4 or 5 seconds a year later without maintenance.

What proper website maintenance includes

• WordPress updates (core, theme, plugins) with compatibility checks
• Regular backups of files and the database (ideally daily and stored off the server)
• Uptime monitoring: an immediate alert if the website goes down
• Performance analysis and fixes where needed
• Security checks: malware scans and access audits
• Checks on broken links and forms

How much does website maintenance cost?

A professional maintenance contract in France costs between €50 and €200 per month, depending on the level of service included:

• Basic plan (€50 to €80 per month): updates, backups and uptime monitoring
• Intermediate plan (€80 to €150 per month): all of the above, plus bug fixes, responsive support and a monthly report
• Premium plan (€150 to €300 per month): all of the above, plus ongoing optimisation, small improvements and technical SEO

Worked out per day, it often costs less than a single hour of emergency work when something breaks.

The cost of an unmaintained website

Here is what a lack of maintenance can cost you:

• A hacked website: €500 to €2,000 to clean it up and restore it
• Data loss with no backup: rebuilding the website from scratch
• A Google penalty if your website spreads malware: disappearing from search results
• A breakdown at the worst moment (a campaign launch, a peak period): a direct loss of revenue

Maintenance also means continuous improvement

A good maintenance contract goes beyond the technical side. It lets your website evolve: adding a page, changing a service, publishing news. Your provider becomes a digital partner, not just a technician.

If your website is more than 2 years old and has never been maintained, start with an audit. Significant fixes are very likely to be needed before you even think about new developments.