Developer updating a client's website with analytics open

Why Monthly Website Plan?

househttps://lakeview-webdev.com/ Nov 9, 2025

Most small businesses don’t fail because they never launch a website—they fail because they launch once, then let it rot. Plugins go stale, pages slow down, rankings slide, and every “quick tweak” becomes a new invoice.

A monthly website plan flips that script: $0 down, predictable pricing, and continuous improvements handled by a developer who’s actually on call.

Table of Contents

1) The pay-once problem

One-time builds push all the cost up front and none of the responsibility after launch. You get a site—then you’re on your own for hosting, updates, edits, speed, and SEO. That’s how “good” sites quietly become slow, dated, and invisible.

Common pain points:

  • Every small change triggers a new estimate.
  • No proactive SEO or speed work, so rankings fade.
  • DIY fixes risk breaking something in production.
  • Redesigns arrive every 18–24 months—with another big invoice.

2) What a monthly plan actually includes

At Lakeview Web Dev, the monthly model is simple: I’m your developer on call. No page builders. No bloat. Everything is hand-coded for speed and SEO.

What’s included on the monthly plans:

  • Design & development from scratch (not WordPress, not templates)
  • Hosting included and managed
  • Unlimited edits — ask anytime, I’ll handle it
  • 24/7 support with my direct number
  • SEO baked in (Standard or Premium package depending on plan)
  • Google Analytics wired up
  • Ongoing updates so the site stays fast, secure, and modern
  • Ownership of your domain, content, listings, and profiles
  • Cancel anytime (12-month minimum for standard builds)

3) The math: monthly vs one-time

Let’s be blunt and do the numbers you’d do anyway.

Monthly (Standard): $125/mo

  • Year 1 cost: $125 × 12 = $1,500
  • Includes hosting, edits, updates, and support.
  • Net effect: the same Year-1 dollars as a pay-once build—but you also get hosting, ongoing work, and a developer on call.

One-time (Standard Website): $1,500

  • Plus $25/mo hosting (= $300/year)
  • Plus $30/hr for every change
  • No unlimited edits, no included SEO after launch, no “on-call” dev

If you make even modest updates across the year (you will), the pay-once option gets more expensive than the $125/mo plan—and you still won’t have proactive performance/SEO work.

Prefer more runway? Premium ($175/mo) adds up to 10 pages, Premium SEO, a blog, and Google Business Profile optimization to accelerate local rankings (Detroit Metro and beyond).

4) Results that compound

Because your site is truly maintained, small wins stack:

  • Speed work → better user experience → higher conversion
  • On-page SEO → more qualified traffic → more calls
  • Design and copy refreshes → higher trust → more leads
  • Bug fixes & QA → fewer outages → more revenue-per-visit

That’s the difference between a site that just exists and a site that quietly fuels your pipeline every week.

5) “Do I still own my site?” and other objections

Do I own my domain and content?
Yes. You own your domain, content, listings, and profiles.

Is this “renting a website”?
No. You’re not leasing a theme or builder account. You’re paying for ongoing expert work, hosting, and support on a custom, hand-coded site.

What if I need changes at odd hours?
You have my direct number. On-call support is part of why this model works.

What about canceling?
Cancel anytime after the 12-month minimum. No games, no fees.

6) When a monthly plan is not for you

Fair point: monthly isn’t perfect for everyone.

  • If you truly won’t touch the site for years and never want edits, a one-time $1,500 build with $25/mo hosting might be fine.
  • If you need heavy custom software (complex dashboards, multi-role apps), we’ll scope it separately. Contact us for a quote.

Choose your plan

Standard — $125/mo
5 pages, hosting included, unlimited edits, 24/7 support, standard SEO, Google Analytics, ongoing updates. $0 down.

Premium — $175/mo
All Standard features plus up to 10 pages, Premium SEO, Blog, and Google Business Profile optimization for stronger local reach.

Prefer pay-once? Standard Website — $1,500 one-time (+ $25/mo hosting, $30/hr edits, initial SEO only).

Ready to stop babysitting your site and start growing with it?
➡️ Get started or explore our Web Design and SEO services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes hand-coded better than a page builder?
Speed, clean markup, and control. No plugin pile-ups or theme lock-in. Faster pages rank and convert better.

Can you migrate my old site?
Yes. We’ll rebuild it cleanly, preserve URLs where it matters, and set redirects to protect SEO.

Do you work only in Detroit?
We’re based in Metro Detroit and serve clients nationwide. Local businesses benefit from our Detroit-area GBP optimization experience.

How fast can we launch?
Fast—because there’s no CMS drag. Timeline depends on content readiness and scope, but hand-coded keeps things lean.

What happens after launch?
We keep tuning speed, tightening SEO, posting updates, and shipping your edits. Your site improves every month instead of aging every month.