In this article · 6 sections
Most business owners think of a website as a one-time purchase. In reality, it's closer to a vehicle: it needs regular servicing to keep running well. Software gets outdated, security threats evolve, content goes stale and speed slowly degrades. An Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) covers this ongoing care for a predictable yearly fee.
Why maintenance matters
Without maintenance, websites commonly suffer from: - Security issues: outdated WordPress, plugins or PHP versions are a major cause of hacked sites - Broken features: forms that stop delivering, payment gateways that change their APIs - Slow speed: growing databases, unoptimised new images, expired caching setups - Lost rankings: broken links, indexing errors and outdated content - Expired renewals: domains and SSL certificates lapsing unnoticed
Fixing a hacked or broken site in an emergency usually costs more than a year of maintenance.
What a good AMC should include
Technical care
- Software updates (CMS, plugins, themes, PHP version compatibility)
- Regular backups stored off-server, plus restore testing
- Security monitoring and malware scanning
- Uptime monitoring with alerts
- SSL certificate and domain renewal reminders
Performance
- Periodic speed checks (PageSpeed Insights, Core Web Vitals)
- Image and database optimisation
- Caching configuration checks
See PageSpeed Insights explained.
SEO health
- Monthly Search Console review for errors and indexing issues
- Broken link checks. See fix broken links and redirect chains
- Sitemap and robots.txt checks
- Basic on-page fixes when issues are found
Content changes
- A set number of small updates per month (text, prices, photos, new offers)
- Clarity on what counts as "small" vs a new feature
Support
- How to raise requests (WhatsApp, email, ticket)
- Response time for normal requests and for emergencies (site down, hacked)
- Monthly or quarterly report of work done
What's usually not included
- New pages or features beyond small edits
- Full redesigns
- Paid advertising management
- Content writing beyond minor updates
- Third-party licence costs (premium plugins, paid APIs)
These can be quoted separately or added as a higher tier.
How to compare AMC plans
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How often are backups taken and where are they stored? | Off-site backups are essential |
| Do you test restores? | A backup that can't be restored is useless |
| How many content changes per month? | Avoids disputes |
| What's the emergency response time? | Downtime costs enquiries |
| Do I get a monthly report? | Shows work is actually being done |
| Is hosting included? | Compare total cost |
Cost factors
AMC pricing depends on: - Website type (simple PHP site vs WordPress with many plugins vs online store) - Number of pages and update frequency - Whether hosting and email are included - Response time commitments
A simple brochure site needs far less than a busy online store. Ask for a written list of inclusions rather than comparing prices alone.
Signs you need maintenance now
- You don't know when your site was last updated or backed up
- Your form hasn't sent an enquiry in weeks
- Search Console shows errors you don't understand
- The site feels slower than before
- You've seen "Not secure" warnings
Joboo Web offers maintenance plans for sites we build and for existing sites. Every plan includes off-site backups, updates, monitoring and monthly checks. Ask for an AMC quote.