A website does not look after itself. Updates, backups, hosting and domain name: without follow-up, it ages, slows down and can go offline at the worst possible moment. In this article, I explain what website maintenance covers for a small business, what it costs, and how to decide whether you need it.
Why does a website need ongoing care?
A website relies on several software components that keep changing. When a security flaw is discovered, it has to be fixed quickly, or your site becomes an easy target.
The most common problems are often simple:
- hosting that goes down without warning;
- a backup that was never tested and turns out to be unusable when you need it;
- a domain name nobody remembered to renew;
- access held by one person who leaves the business or becomes unreachable.
Maintenance is there to prevent these situations rather than fix them in an emergency.
What does maintenance actually include?
At Volta Studio, every plan starts from the same base:
- managed hosting, so you don’t have to run the server yourself;
- daily backups;
- security updates;
- availability monitoring, which alerts me if your site stops responding.
The Essentiel plan at 39 € per month covers these four points. It does not include content changes.
What if I want to change texts or photos?
That is where the Pro and Sérénité plans come in. Pro, at 69 € per month, includes 1 hour of changes per month and a monthly report. Sérénité, at 119 € per month, includes 3 hours of changes per month and a response within 4 working hours. Extra hours are billed at 45 € per hour.
How much does website maintenance cost for a small business?
The cost depends mainly on how often you make changes. If your site rarely changes, the Essentiel plan is enough. If you often add news, products or offers, Pro or Sérénité will suit you better.
For extras, a professional email mailbox on your own domain is available at 4 € per month per mailbox. You can estimate your needs with the price simulator before getting in touch.
Which mistakes should you avoid without follow-up?
The most costly mistakes are rarely technical. They usually come from poor organisation:
- not knowing who owns the domain name or when it expires;
- never testing a restore, even though an untested backup may be useless;
- postponing updates because "nothing seems wrong";
- giving all access to a single person with no written record.
A site that works today can be at risk in three months, with no visible sign.
How do you know if you need a subscription?
Ask yourself three simple questions. Is your site hosted elsewhere, and do you know who looks after it? Do you know when the last backup was made? Who updates the site when a piece of software changes? If the answer to any of these is unclear, regular follow-up will take a real weight off your shoulders.
If you already handle these points yourself, a free audit of your site checks its condition, security and speed, with no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel the subscription at any time?
Yes, from your client area, with no fees and no notice period. The current month remains covered.
What happens if my site goes down?
Availability monitoring alerts me as soon as the site stops responding. With the Sérénité plan, a response within 4 working hours is guaranteed.
Do I own the website if I take a subscription?
Yes. The domain name is in your name, and if you change provider, I hand over all the access.
To find out which plan fits your site, you can book a free 30-minute call or request a quote. A firm quote is sent within 48 hours of the call.
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