Website Maintenance Services

A website isn't finished when it launches. Plugins need updates, security certificates expire, contact forms quietly stop sending, and the page you meant to fix in March is still wrong in October. A care plan puts one person in charge of all of it. You get a Canadian webmaster who keeps your site updated, backed up, secure and fast, and who makes the small changes you'd otherwise keep putting off.

These website maintenance services are for business owners who want the site handled without hiring staff or filing tickets with an agency. You email or call, the change gets made, and once a month you get a short summary of what was done and anything worth knowing.

What every care plan includes

• Software updates. Core, theme, plugin and app updates, applied on a schedule and checked afterwards so nothing breaks without someone noticing.
• Off-site backups. Automated backups stored away from your web server, with a restore process that actually works when you need it.
• Uptime monitoring. Your site is checked around the clock. If it goes down, I hear about it, usually before your customers do.
• Security patches and hardening. Vulnerable plugins patched quickly, logins locked down, malware scans and SSL certificate checks.
• Change time. Hours each month for edits and small improvements, so routine work never needs a separate quote.
• A plain-language monthly summary. What was updated, what was fixed, what was changed, and anything that needs a decision from you.

Choosing a website maintenance plan

Essential: keep it safe and running

For a smaller site that doesn't change often. Updates, backups, monitoring and security are handled, and one hour of changes covers the occasional new photo, phone number or holiday notice.

Business: keep it improving

For a site that brings in leads or sales. Three hours of monthly changes, a monthly speed and accessibility check so problems get caught early, an analytics report that tells you which pages are working, and priority email.

Priority: a webmaster on call

For businesses where the website is part of daily operations. Eight hours a month, same-day response, content updates handled for you, and a quarterly review of accessibility and privacy so your site keeps pace with Canadian requirements.

Not sure which fits? Look at how often you asked someone to change your site last year. If the answer is "rarely", start with Essential. If it's "every few weeks", Business will save you money over paying for changes one at a time.

Platforms covered

Care plans cover WordPress, Shopify, and modern Next.js and headless CMS builds. On WordPress, I handle core, theme and plugin updates and the hosting relationship. On Shopify, Shopify runs the platform itself, so the plan focuses on theme and app updates, theme backups, checkout testing and your change requests. On Next.js and headless sites, I keep dependencies current and the build pipeline healthy.

If your site runs on Wix or Squarespace, the platform takes care of updates and hosting. A plan there is mostly change time and checks, and I'll tell you honestly whether it's worth paying for.

Compliance is part of maintenance

Canadian websites carry legal requirements that don't stop after launch. New pages need to stay accessible if you're covered by Ontario's accessibility law (see the AODA website requirements guide). Cookie banners and privacy notices need to match how your site actually collects data, especially if you have visitors in Quebec (see Quebec Law 25 for websites). Newsletter forms need proper consent. These checks are built into the Business and Priority plans, and I'll flag anything I spot on Essential.

How it works

1. Start with a check. Run the free website check or send me your address. I look at your platform, hosting, plugins, backups and any obvious problems.
2. Short call. We talk about how you use the site, what changes you make most often, and which plan fits.
3. Onboarding. I take a full backup, bring everything up to date, set up monitoring and fix anything urgent. If the site needs serious cleanup first, you get a fixed quote before I start.
4. Monthly routine. Updates, backups, security checks and your change requests run on a steady schedule.
5. Monthly summary. You get a short report and we adjust the plan if your needs change.

What website maintenance costs

Website maintenance cost depends on how complex the site is, how often it changes, and how much risk you're carrying if it goes down. A brochure site with a contact form needs far less attention than an online store or a membership site. The website maintenance cost guide breaks down what goes into the price, what cheap plans tend to leave out, and when paying hourly makes more sense than a plan.

Why a webmaster instead of a ticket queue

I've been building and looking after websites for 20 years, from contractor sites like WC Plumbing to Slo-Pitch Central, a national sports platform with tens of thousands of pages. The work is the same at any size: know the site, keep it healthy, and answer when the owner calls. You can see more on the work page.