"Maintenance" is the most abused word in web design. Here is what the money is supposed to buy, so you can tell whether yours is buying it.
What maintenance actually means
- Hosting — the server. US$5–30/month on its own.
- Updates — WordPress core, plugins, theme, PHP. Monthly at least; this is what prevents hacks.
- Backups — daily, off-site, tested. The one thing that turns a disaster into an hour.
- Security — firewall, malware scanning, SSL renewals.
- Fixes — when a form stops sending or a page breaks after an update.
- Small edits — a price change, a new photo, a holiday notice.
What it costs in Barbados
Local agencies in Barbados typically charge US$50–150 a month for a care plan, more for content. Freelancers charge per fix. Our Site Care plan is US$29/month from anywhere in the Caribbean: updates, daily backups, security monitoring, uptime checks, and a monthly report, with small edits included. Bigger fixes are quoted flat, most US$30–150.
Signs you are paying for nothing
- No monthly report, or a report that says the same thing every month.
- The site runs an old PHP version (the free speed check hints at it).
- A broken form nobody noticed until you lost a customer.
- You have never been sent a backup, and do not know where one is.
Static sites change the maths
Most of our Barbados client sites are static with a small admin behind them: nothing to update, nothing to hack, fast on a phone. Maintenance for those is mostly backups, care and edits — which is why US$29 covers it.
- Ask your current provider for last month's backup and update log. The answer tells you everything.
- Run the free mobile check; send us the result for a fixed quote.
- Switching is a two-day job and does not change your domain.
Not sure which step you're on? Book a growth call — fifteen minutes with Lee, no pressure, no obligation. You leave with the step, the first fix and the price.
Frequently asked
Do I need maintenance if the site is static HTML?
Less of it — no updates to break — but you still need hosting, backups, SSL renewal and someone to make changes. That is the US$29 plan.
What if my site is on Wix or Shopify?
Those platforms host and update themselves; you pay their subscription. Maintenance then means fixes, edits and speed — quoted per job from US$30.
Can I move my site without losing Google rankings?
Yes, when the URLs stay the same or redirect properly. We handle the move as part of onboarding.
Is there a contract?
Monthly, cancel any time. The site stays yours.