The cost of a website does not end with the publication. Domain, hosting, maintenance and updates continue over time, but not all technologies require the same level of assistance.
To avoid surprises you have to distinguish the voices and understand what are mandatory.
Dominion
The domain is the site address. It has a periodic renewal and should be registered to the company or in any case under its control.
Check:
- holder;
- registration account;
- administrative contact;
- automatic renewal;
- method of payment;
- access to DNS;
- transfer procedure.
Losing access to the domain can interrupt site and email.
Hosting
Hosting provides the resources needed to publish the site. Price and features depend on traffic, technology, space, database, email, backup and support.
Compare:
- performance;
- availability;
- server location;
- backup;
- SSL certificate;
- limits;
- assistance;
- growth potential;
- liability in the event of a problem.
An economic plan can be enough for a light site. A dynamic project or high traffic requires different evaluations.
Technical maintenance
Maintenance includes activities that keep the site safe and compatible. On platforms with themes, plugins and databases may include updates, tests, backups and restoration.
A static site reduces some needs, but requires domain control, hosting, form, certificates and dependencies when modified.
The contract must explain:
- frequency of controls;
- updates included;
- tests after updates;
- backup and storage;
- restoration;
- monitoring;
- safety measures;
- Excluding.
Assistance and maintenance are not identical
Maintenance preserves technical operation. Assistance handles requests, corrections and customer support.
Ask:
- contact channel;
- times;
- taking time;
- urgency;
- hours included;
- extra fee;
- definition of blocking problem.
“Including assistance” without limits and times is not a sufficient description.
Content updates
Changing schedules, services, people, prices and images can be included or turnover separately.
Consider how many changes you actually make. A complex CMS is not necessary if the site changes twice a year; it can be useful if the team publishes frequently.
Define who:
- writes;
- approves;
- public;
- check mobile and link;
- update metadata;
- archive previous versions.
Licenses and external services
Themes, plugins, fonts, modules, cookies, emails and tools can have separate renewals.
Before signing, ask for a complete list with:
- service name;
- cost;
- frequency;
- header;
- result of failure to act;
- alternatives available.
Avoid unnecessary dependencies and accounts that are exclusively for the supplier.
Backup and restore
Having a backup is not enough: it must be recent, preserved safely and restoreable.
Ask:
- what is saved;
- frequency;
- shelf life;
- position;
- who can restore;
- expected time;
- Periodic tests.
For a site with dynamic orders or data, the frequency must reflect how much you can lose.
Security and responsibility
HTTPS certificate, protected access, updates and permission limitation are a basis. There is no absolute security, but there must be controls and an accident procedure.
Define who to contact, who keeps logs, who decides to restore and how the people involved are informed when necessary.
SEO and monitoring
Technical maintenance and continuing SEO are different services. Checking errors, sitemaps and availability is not equivalent to creating content or improving pages.
Essential monitoring may include:
- Errors 404;
- scanning problems;
- availability;
- form;
- performance;
- Search Console;
- abnormal variations.
SEO operations must be defined separately.
Cost Models
The most common models are:
- annual renewal for hosting and domain;
- monthly fee with maintenance;
- package of hours;
- interventions on request;
- contract with service levels.
No model is ever better. The choice depends on site criticality, frequency of changes and internal skills.
How to read the quote
The document should distinguish:
- Compulsory costs.
- Optional services.
- Activities included.
- Limits.
- Response times.
- Property and access.
- Retreat and transfer.
- Extra rates.
Calculate the total cost over three years and compare the same level of service.
The most suitable solution is the understandable one
A simple, fast and cost-free site is often more useful than a solution full of unused functions.
You can estimate the project with thecost calculator of a siteand deepen the offer ofcustom showcase websites E-ROE.
