Frequently asked questions

WordPress maintenance and hosting

What exactly does your WordPress maintenance include?

I take over the technical side of your WordPress site and handle the hosting too, on my own server in the Netherlands. I update WordPress, your plugins, and your themes through my own management system. Before an update, my system makes a copy of what's about to change. After the update, it checks your site. If something goes wrong, it puts that copy back automatically.

I also monitor your site, there's a backup every day, and the server itself is secured. That's in every package, Basic included. Want to know what maintenance involves and when doing it yourself is fine? My guide explains both.

How do you run an update?

Through my own management system, which I built myself for exactly this. It works in fixed steps. First, it makes a copy of what's about to change: the part being updated plus your database. Then it runs the update and clears the cache, so visitors see the new version right away.

Right after that, my system checks that your homepage and a few selected pages still load and that there are no new serious errors. For an online store, it also puts a product in the cart and opens the checkout page, without ordering anything. If the update or that check fails, a fixed rule puts the copy back automatically.

Half an hour later, my system looks once more, for problems that only show up once visitors arrive. If it finds something then, I get an alarm and decide myself what happens. At that point, nothing is rolled back by itself. These checks only see the pages I've set up, not every page of your site. The How it works page shows what happens during an update, step by step.

Do you test updates on a test copy first?

Not by default, no. In my setup, the safety net is the copy beforehand, the automatic check afterward, and putting that copy back automatically if something goes wrong. That's the same in every package. For a really big update, like a new major version, I make a test copy of your site first (staging). I decide that per update, regardless of your package.

Why do you hold back new versions for three days?

Because a new plugin or theme version is sometimes withdrawn shortly after it's released. If that happens within those three days, your site won't have received it automatically.

There are exceptions. If an update closes a security hole that's being actively exploited, I don't make it wait three days. Minor updates of WordPress itself don't wait either. And an urgent update that wordpress.org pushes out itself always goes through.

What if something breaks after an update?

If the update itself or the check afterward fails, a fixed rule automatically puts back the copy it made right before the update. If you have an online store and orders came in during that time, only the files go back, so those orders stay in place.

If you notice something wrong later on, I'll put that copy back on request. I keep it for seven days. After that, it can still come from the daily backups, going back up to six months, every day for the first two weeks. Recovery after an update through my system costs you nothing extra. How that works in practice is covered in what happens when an update goes wrong.

Do you also maintain WooCommerce online stores?

Yes. After an update, my system also tests the cart and the checkout page, without ordering anything. When you start, I also set up a fixed route that a real browser follows, from product to checkout page, up to the order button. It stops there, so nothing gets ordered.

That route runs after updates and, if you like, on a fixed schedule too. If it fails, I get a notification. Every half hour, I also check whether orders stay on "pending payment" for too long, because that's often the first sign that a payment integration is broken.

I do WooCommerce updates by hand. Afterward, I wait until the database has been updated before I check. If an update has to go back while orders have just come in, only the files go back and the orders stay in place.

What do I need to do or arrange myself?

Not much, but a few things stay with you. You pay for and renew the licenses for paid plugins and your theme; I update them. If a license has expired, I can't, and I'll raise it with you. Installing or updating plugins: you can do it yourself or leave it to me, whichever you prefer. If you do it yourself, my system doesn't make a copy beforehand and doesn't check that change.

The content of your site (text, photos, pages) stays your work. If you want me to change something, that falls under the 30 minutes a month in Pro or my rate of €95 per hour excl. VAT. And when you start, you give me access to your site, your hosting, and your domain name. You'll find the full list in what I need from you to switch.

Does my site have to be hosted with you?

Yes. Hosting is included in every package, on my own server in the Netherlands. You don't pay for it separately. That's deliberate: I can only take responsibility for updates, security, and recovery if I also manage the server your site runs on. And if something breaks, you won't be sent back and forth between companies: hosting and maintenance are both with me.

Can you move my site to your server, and will it go offline?

Yes, and it won't go offline. After the intro call and the quick scan, I move your site to my server. That takes one to three business days, and your site stays reachable for visitors the whole time. The one thing I ask: don't change anything on your site for a day or two, so no changes get lost. Your email keeps working during the move. Your site is usually running with me within a week.

All the sites in your package move along, and so does your email. A regular migration costs nothing extra; if it's complicated, say an online store that can't be offline for a moment, we agree up front on how to do it. Moving your existing mailboxes is something we arrange together. What I need from you for that is covered in everything about switching.

What if my site gets hacked?

I restore individual files or your whole site from the daily backups, going back up to six months, every day for the first two weeks. If your site was under my management and the cause wasn't on your side, cleaning it up costs you nothing extra. Otherwise, I charge €95 per hour excl. VAT.

The server runs a security layer (Imunify360) that blocks attacks and cleans up some infections by itself. On top of that, every night I compare the files of WordPress and your free plugins with the originals at wordpress.org; paid plugins and themes aren't covered by that. I also see it when a new administrator suddenly appears. Those are signals, not proof: if in doubt, I take a look myself.

Can I host a site with you that doesn't run on WordPress?

No. I only host new sites if they're WordPress sites that I also maintain. That way, I can take responsibility for updates, security, and recovery. If you only want email on your own domain, that's possible, with the separate email package.

Where are your servers and my data?

Your site, database, backups, and email live on my own server in the Netherlands. My management system runs on a separate server in Germany. Having your site in the Netherlands also helps loading times for Dutch visitors. My privacy statement lists which other parties I use. The daily backups are also kept in a second place, at Hetzner in Germany. On top of that, once a week a copy of the whole server goes to a disk of my own outside the data center.

Do I get access to cPanel?

Yes, in every package. At https://cpanel.yourdomain.nl, you can manage email addresses, files, and databases yourself if you want to. You don't need to do updates there; I do those through my own management system. Most clients never log in. They don't need to. A full copy of your site, files and database, you get from me on request, at no extra cost.

Is SSL included?

Yes. In every package, your site gets a certificate (Let's Encrypt), so it loads over a secure connection, with the padlock in the browser. I keep an eye on whether the certificate renews on time.

How many visitors can my site handle?

More than enough for most sites of freelancers and small businesses. There's no hard limit on traffic to your site; I work on a fair use basis. Each site does have fixed limits for processing power and memory (CloudLinux), so a busy day on another site has little effect on yours. Expecting a big spike, for example from a campaign? Let me know in advance.

What if I go over my storage limit?

Then you can't upload new files anymore, like images. There's no room for new emails either. Your site itself keeps working. Basic has 25 GB, Plus 50 GB, and Pro 75 GB. I usually see it coming: once you're above 80%, it's on my list. Then I'll look with you at whether something can be cleaned up or whether a bigger package makes more sense.

Email on your own domain

Is email included with WordPress maintenance?

Yes. Every package includes email on your own domain, like info@yourcompany.nl, with a spam filter and virus scanning. Your email lives on the same server in the Netherlands as your site. Moving your existing mailboxes isn't part of the package; we arrange that together. Restoring a single mailbox from the backup is possible, on request.

How is this different from the separate email package?

The separate email package is for people who only want email on their own domain, without a WordPress site with me. It costs €5 per month excl. VAT, with 5 addresses, 25 GB of shared storage, and a .nl domain name included. If your WordPress site is with me, email on your domain is already in your package and you don't need the separate package.

Does email work on my phone and computer?

Yes. You set up your address on your phone and in your email program, like Outlook or Apple Mail (via IMAP or POP3). Webmail in your browser works too. Where possible, your device sets itself up almost automatically. If that doesn't work, I'll help you.

Do you also register domain names?

Yes. The separate email package includes a .nl domain name; other extensions, like .com or .eu, are available at extra cost. If you already have a domain name, you can keep using it. The WordPress packages don't include a domain name. A .nl or .com through me costs €19.99 per year excl. VAT; you can also keep your domain with your own provider and point it at my name servers. When you start, I set up the DNS settings; when you leave, you or your new provider point them elsewhere, as we agree.

Costs, payment, contract, and your data

What does WordPress maintenance cost?

Basic costs €39 per month for one site, Plus €59 for up to two sites, and Pro €89 for up to three. All prices are excl. VAT, hosting is included, and you can cancel monthly. Work outside your package is billed per quarter hour, at €95 per hour excl. VAT. The separate email package costs €5 per month.

With Plus and Pro, you get more room, and known security holes are shielded until there's an update. You'll find the full overview in what's in each package, and how those prices compare to the market in my guide on maintenance costs.

My hosting costs €5 a month now. Why would I pay €39?

For a few euros a month, you get space on a server. Sometimes there's a button or setting for automatic updates. Of the cheap hosting packages I compared, one describes an automatic check after an update that can roll it back. That check only looks at screenshots. None of those packages describes a person who steps in.

If you want maintenance by a person, you usually pay €44 to €65 per month on top of that elsewhere, for one site; budget packages with a monthly round of updates start at around €12.50. Also watch the price after the first period: many low hosting prices only apply for the first year or the first few months. A typical small package then costs €9.99 per month excl. VAT. Compared with Basic, the difference is then about €29 per month. That's what covers the maintenance.

If your site is a hobby that doesn't need to bring anything in, cheap hosting is fine. You'll find the amounts per provider, with sources, in my guide, in the section on cheap hosting or hosting with maintenance.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. I tell you up front what's outside your package. Changing text or pages costs €95 per hour excl. VAT; Pro includes 30 minutes a month for that. You pay for the licenses of paid plugins and your theme yourself. And if more than updating is needed when you start, for example a theme that needs replacing or an expired license, you get a price first. All prices are excl. VAT. A domain name isn't included: through me, a .nl or .com costs €19.99 per year excl. VAT, or you keep it with your own provider.

How do small changes work?

Pro includes 30 minutes a month for small changes: a piece of text, an image, a menu item, or a plugin setting. With Basic and Plus, I charge €95 per hour excl. VAT for those, and with Pro only beyond those 30 minutes. I discuss bigger changes with you up front, so you know where you stand. If you don't use up the 30 minutes in a month, they carry over one month, so you have at most 60 minutes in a month. I charge per quarter hour. A short technical question or a piece of advice is included in every package.

How does payment work?

You pay for your maintenance package and the separate email package monthly, by automatic direct debit. You get an invoice first, and then the amount is debited. I invoice project work, like web development, afterward; you pay that by bank transfer within 30 days. Prefer one invoice a year? That's possible on request, without an annual discount.

Am I locked into anything?

No. There's no annual contract, not for the separate email package either; for custom work, the agreements in the quote apply. How to cancel and what you get to take with you is covered in the question below. What to look for with any provider is covered in what belongs in a good maintenance contract.

What happens if I want to leave?

Your site, your database, and your content are yours. You're not locked into anything: there's no annual contract. You can cancel in any month; your package then runs until the end of the current month. You cancel through the link on your invoice, by email, or by phone.

You get a full copy of your site to take with you, files and database, at no extra cost. Your email and your domain name are arranged together with your new provider: I also supply a copy of your mail, and you or your new provider point the domain name at the new server. My connection on your site and its key I remove myself; you don't need to do anything for that.

Can I switch to a different package?

Yes, at any time, mid-month too. If you need more sites or more room, you move up to Plus or Pro; if a smaller package fits better, you move back down.

Support and contact

How do I get support?

Directly from me. Email jorijn@jorijn.com, call +31 6 16 66 64 81, or send a WhatsApp message to the same number. There's no ticket system and no call center; you get me on the line. With Basic, I reply the same business day; with Plus and Pro, you get priority. During my holidays an answer can take longer; for urgent matters there is a stand-in.

What does the included support cover?

Questions and problems with the technical side of your site, your hosting, and your email. Think of an email address that doesn't work, a site that can't be reached, a backup that needs restoring, or a question about cPanel. If an update through my system breaks something, I fix it at no extra cost. Changing text, images, or pages isn't part of it: that goes through the 30 minutes a month in Pro or at €95 per hour excl. VAT. A short technical question or a piece of advice is included in every package.

What if you're ill or on holiday?

My management system keeps working when I'm not around. Every five minutes, it checks that your site is reachable, new security holes in your plugins are matched against your versions, the error log is read every half hour, and the daily backups keep running. With Plus and Pro, the shielding of known security holes stays active. Small updates also go ahead at night, with a copy beforehand, a check afterward, and the copy put back automatically if something goes wrong. In that case, my system also schedules security updates for holes that are being actively exploited, without waiting for me.

I do big updates and every WooCommerce update by hand, so those wait. If there's a serious security hole that has no update yet, I'll only discuss with you what to do once I'm back. An alarm goes to my phone.

For urgent matters, I've arranged a stand-in who can step in when needed. Questions and regular changes can then take longer. If you want to get at your files and backups yourself, you get access to cPanel.

For teams: web development and DevOps

How does a custom project work?

Every assignment is different, but it usually goes like this. It starts with an intake meeting, and then you get a quote. Once you approve it, I build, test, and deliver. Along the way, I keep you posted.

Fixed price or hourly rate?

Both are possible. For a clearly defined project, I like to work with a fixed price. If the scope is hard to estimate up front, I work by the hour. Before I start, I agree with you on what works best for you.

How long does development take?

That depends on how complex it is. A small change can take a few hours; a larger application takes weeks or months. After the intake, I'll give you a realistic estimate.

Do you also help with small tasks?

Yes. You can come to me for a small, well-defined job or change too.

What if something changes during the project?

That happens. If new ideas come up, I'll look at it with you: either adjust the schedule, or finish the original plan first and pick up the new requests after that.

Which technologies do you use?

Mostly PHP, with Symfony and Laravel. For WordPress, I build custom themes and plugins. I also work with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Do you also connect to other systems (APIs)?

Yes. I have plenty of experience building integrations with, for example, CRM systems, payment providers, and accounting software.

Can you take over existing code?

Yes. I'm happy to look at an existing codebase and can take it over. I only give a warranty on code I wrote myself, though. So with a takeover, I usually start with a technical analysis.

Who owns the code?

You do. Once the invoice is paid, the custom code I deliver is entirely yours.

Do you provide documentation?

After delivery, I walk you through how everything works. I provide extensive technical documentation on request; in that case, I include it in the quote.

Do you also offer maintenance after delivery?

For a WordPress site, yes: it can then move into one of my maintenance packages, with hosting included. For a custom application, I make a separate arrangement with you, by the hour. For custom work and for apps outside WordPress, like Laravel or Symfony, you're welcome too; we agree on a number of hours up front.

What does a DevOps engagement look like?

Sometimes it's about one specific problem, like deployments that keep failing. Sometimes it's a broader project with CI/CD, infrastructure, and monitoring. I usually start with a short analysis and a few quick improvements. After that, you and I decide on the route together. How collaboration, access, and aftercare work is covered in the questions about DevOps consultancy.