A website needs regular care just like a car needs servicing. Skip it and things slowly break: plugins fall out of date, security holes open up, forms stop sending, and the site gets slower. Here is what website maintenance actually includes and how often each task should happen.
The core maintenance tasks
1. Software updates
WordPress, themes and plugins release updates regularly, many fixing security vulnerabilities. Updates should be applied promptly, but safely: take a backup first and check the site afterwards, because occasionally an update conflicts with another plugin.
2. Backups
Automatic backups, stored somewhere other than your web server, are your safety net if anything goes wrong. Busy sites and online stores need daily backups; simple brochure sites can usually manage with weekly. A backup is only useful if it can be restored, so test it occasionally.
3. Security monitoring
A firewall, login protection and regular malware scans catch problems early. Two-factor login for admins and removing unused accounts and plugins reduce the risk further.
4. Uptime monitoring
Monitoring tools check your site every few minutes and alert you if it goes down, so you hear about problems before customers do.
5. Functional checks
Contact forms, email delivery, booking systems and checkouts can stop working silently. Test them regularly, especially after updates.
6. Speed and performance
Sites slow down as images, plugins and content build up. Periodic checks of caching, image sizes and Core Web Vitals keep pages quick on mobile.
7. Content updates
Prices, opening hours, team members and offers change. Keeping content accurate is part of maintenance too.
How often should each task be done?
| Task | Typical frequency |
|---|---|
| Backups | Daily (stores) to weekly (brochure sites) |
| Plugin and core updates | Weekly to monthly, security fixes promptly |
| Uptime monitoring | Continuous |
| Form and checkout tests | Monthly and after updates |
| Speed review | Monthly to quarterly |
What does it cost?
UK price guides published in 2026 put basic maintenance packages at around £25–£50 a month, with more comprehensive plans covering security, content and performance from about £100 to £500 a month. Hosting is often separate.
DIY or a care plan?
If you are comfortable with WordPress and have time each week, you can do much of this yourself. A care plan makes sense when the website brings in leads or sales, when you have been hacked before, or when you would rather spend your time on the business. The cost of one serious outage or hack is usually more than a year of maintenance.
Want us to look after it?
Our care plans cover updates, backups, security, monitoring and small changes from £49 a month, with no long contract.