I work in digital marketing. I’m new to creating websites. So far I’ve created one for myself and one for my dad’s business but I’ve worked on 10+ others. I use WordPress with the Elementor pro plugin. I have a client approaching me to design their website. Very simple 5 page site for a preschool. I would love to take on this client because I want to break into the web design / creation space (just small websites, nothing elaborate).
I’ve read that the client should own the domain and hosting. I was going to recommended GoDaddy and help facilitate the set up, any other recs?
Also, should I charge a monthly fee for maintenance? I know I’ll have to go in and check for updates, etc.
I am wondering two things. 1. Should I charge a monthly maintenance fee? 2. What exactly does that maintenance look like for a basic WordPress site? Plug-in updates? Backups? How often?
If I do charge a monthly fee, should I just handle the hosting as well? This client isn’t very tech savvy.
I am being transparent with this client that I am still gaining experience in website creation and charging them fairly. Overall I am just looking for what other people do in regard to setting up a website for a client.
I appreciate any resources that are sent my way. I find facilitating the whole set up and management a bit overwhelming. Is there really a “right” answer to all of this or is it a matter of opinion?
Thanks in advance!
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1. Back it up with [Updraft Plus](https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/) automatically and save yourself some time.
2. Have your plugins wich do not influence the fronted updated automatically (especially the security related ones).
3. If you have public forms add some kind of [anti spam](https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/antispam/) plugin.
4. Consider adding Wordfence and/or [WPS Hide Login](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wps-hide-login/) to increase the overall security of your clients site.
5. (recomended) Track your clients site and send him a traffic report with the invoice as an appendix to increase trust.
>If I do charge a monthly fee, should I just handle the hosting as well? This client isn’t very tech savvy.
By all means, manage the hosting for them, but whatever you do, MAKE SURE it’s the client’s name and payment details that are on the account, not yours. Don’t put them on an account you already pay for, or sign up for a new one under your name as a courtesy. I made that mistake when I was first starting out, and it was a pain in the butt to get it sorted after the fact.
>I was going to recommended GoDaddy and help facilitate the set up, any other recs?
I’m personally not a fan of having my domain registered with the same company I host with. If you end up having to leave your host for whatever reason, it can get complicated. I’ve never had an issue with GoDaddy, specifically, but I have with other registrars/hosts. I usually get my domains at NameCheap these days (because, as the name implies, they tend to be cheap compared to others), and then just point them at my host. If I need to switch hosts (which I do periodically to take advantage of cheaper pricing), it’s as easy as updating the DNS records on NameCheap.
I’m also new to web design, but I’m not new to business. Your first line of order is to make it as easy as possible to deliver value to your customer. Not sure if this follows with what others do, but I would buy the domain and do the hosting. Let the client pay a monthly fee to keep it running with any maintenance and updates included (essentially would become some small passive income). Client will be happy they don’t have to focus on unnecessary things and you’ll be happy to make more money.
>*I was going to recommended GoDaddy and help facilitate the set up, any other recs?*
Have you done any research into hosting? GoDaddy are literally the worst host (along with BlueHost, Hostgator, Hostinger, and anyone owned by EIG)
Hello 👋
Maintenance plays a big part and you should charge for it. You can use PatchStack’s database to check if there were any security vulnerabilities to the installed plugin and it can be a great way to win additional trust when reporting it to the client.
Maintenance includes like you said: WordPress Core, Plugins and Backups.
**WordPress Core**
Have a read here: [https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/references/php-compatibility-and-wordpress-versions/](https://make.wordpress.org/core/handbook/references/php-compatibility-and-wordpress-versions/)
This article lets you know which PHP Version works best with WordPress core. If not set correctly, e.g. you chose the latest PHP Version, it can cause problems with the latest WordPress core version. So check this with your or your clients hosting before updating.
**Plugins**
You can normally update this every month, that should be fairly enough. If you read news or check the PatchStack database on any urgent updates, you can update earlier if you like.
**Backups**
You can use UpDraft for that matter. It’s free and you can set the period you want to backup the website. So there’s no big maintenance there.
All the best,
VarDumped
>*I was going to recommended GoDaddy and help facilitate the set up, any other recs?*
Take a look at SiteGround
What do you use for clients for wp themes? What is your recommendation ? I have a wp site but no idea how to get Elementor pro and no idea how to get nice templates. Thanks in advance
Find a good hosting company and you can either become a reseller to resell hosting accounts to clients or what I prefer is to pick a hosting company that’s good and has a nice affiliate program so I earn commission for each new account.
Usually when I’m doing the introductory consultation going over everything at the end of there not tech savvy I walk then though The hosting setup purchasing a domain if needed.
This way the domain and hosting are in their name and their billing but I know the login so I can get things setup.
Now when it comes to monthly maintenance if it’s a simple four-page business website that’s basically like an online flier kind of a thing with no complicated features and not really something or they’re going to be updating it often I just inform them that for an account of future support or help It’s a service call with a fee.
I only bring up maintenance plans if there’s even a reason to be bothered. Like it sells something on the website and something a little more complicated features that booking systems. Or if it’s set up for the client to have access so they can change things. Basically either needs to be more than just a static flyer that won’t be changed. Or The client needs to be the kind of wants to do stuff on their own. That’s when I offer maintenance plans now in case I screw things off or such. Because then I’ll go in and check everything once a month or something I can do the updates.
For the most part WordPress will Auto update on its own For years with no problems.
But it always make sure hosting and the domain name is on account client owns in their name. For one I don’t have to worry about all the billing for it. It just more work to have to pay for it and bill a client.. Also if it ends up being a relationship I don’t like very much it’s much easier for them to leave lol
KnownHost has reasonable reseller accounts, standard cPanel admin, easy WordPress install, even their cheapest plan gives you 25 sub-accounts which should keep you busy for a while. [https://www.knownhost.com/reseller-hosting](https://www.knownhost.com/reseller-hosting) .
I have no personal experience with their white-label reselling, but the idea that you can brand the whole thing as your company should add some nice polish.