In this post, you’ll learn what additional costs are and why they must be paid separately. When discussing the cost of building a website, people often only mention initial cost, i.e., website development. In practice, however, there are also additional, ongoing costs that are not necessarily hidden on purpose, but are often unknown to clients or simply overlooked during the planning phase.
Let’s agree in advance and clearly define which of the items listed below are included in the base price and which will be charged separately.
1. What counts as additional costs
First, we’ll define what counts as additional costs once the website has already been launched.
1.1 Domain and Hosting
These costs include the domain name and web hosting. A domain name typically costs around 10 to 20 euros per year, while web hosting costs approximately 10 to 40 euros per month; for online stores, the cost is often higher due to the greater demands of an online store.
1.2 Security and Updates
Security and updates are also a key part of this. Regularly updating the system and plugins, creating backups, and monitoring performance are significantly cheaper than troubleshooting issues when something goes wrong. This is a cost that is often only noticed when it’s already too late.
1.3 Annual Software Licenses
Many websites use premium themes or plugins that require annual licenses. These aren’t necessarily expensive, but the costs add up over time. It makes sense to choose solutions that are proven and supported over the long term.
1.4 Analytics and Goal Tracking
Analytics are also essential for a strong online presence. Setting up metrics to track goals—such as website visits, where visitors come from, form submissions, clicks on a phone number, or purchases—and periodically reviewing the data allows us to understand whether the website is actually achieving its purpose. Based on this data, we can then suggest updates and adjustments to the strategy.
1.5 Content optimization, SEO, site speed, and additional website upgrades
A website is not a one-time project, so content and SEO must also be taken into account. Regular updates to the text, speed optimization, and adjustments to the mobile experience are all part of ensuring the long-term quality and visibility of the site and entail additional costs. Setting up additional landing pages for specific promotions, special occasions, and discounts.
Additional costs may also arise from writing SEO-optimized posts and entering them into the CMS system.
1.6 Monthly website maintenance
This includes security updates, plugins, basic security checks, website backups, technical support, and troubleshooting minor issues; premium packages also include speed and SEO audits.
Payment is usually made monthly, but package deals can also be arranged.
If you're wondering how much it costs to maintain a website on a monthly basis, click the link below to learn more.
You can find our price list at this link.
2. What is included in the base price for monthly website maintenance, and what requires an additional fee?
These costs aren’t hidden to catch the client off guard, but because they’re often overlooked without a clear business plan. When they surface later, they create the impression that the initial price for website development was too low. With good planning, however, these costs remain predictable and manageable.
- Some additional costs are included in the basic package, while others are billed separately. This depends on the scope of the project, its complexity, and the agreement with the client.
- The base price typically includes everything needed for basic website maintenance, such as security, speed, backups, basic SEO optimization, and similar services.
- Recurring costs, such as domain registration, hosting, licenses, email services, maintenance, content updates, or advanced analytics, are typically billed separately or as part of a monthly maintenance package.
- This approach ensures transparency and flexibility. The client pays only for what they actually need, while maintaining a clear overview of both short- and long-term costs.
2.1 Included in the base price of monthly maintenance:
- Security and monthly updates
- Domain and hosting
- Annual licenses for core software
- Basic SEO optimization
- Security and speed optimization
2.2 The following are charged additionally
- Website upgrade with new pages and major modifications to the website
- Analytics and goal tracking
- Monthly reports and suggestions for improvement
- Annual licenses for custom software tailored to the client’s needs, which are not included in the base price.
