How to Structure and Bill Clients for Website Maintenance & Renewals

Short summary

Web design agencies can convert post-launch maintenance from a loss leader into predictable recurring revenue. The guide deconstructs infrastructure costs (domains $15–$120/yr depending on TLD, SSL certificates, licenses like Elementor Pro), compares three billing models by profitability, and provides a pricing formula. Key 2026 corrections: Let's Encrypt now secures 300M sites, EV certificates no longer display browser trust badges, and domain renewal costs spike significantly from registration price.

• •Maintenance costs break into three categories: digital infrastructure (domains, SSL, renewals), technical labor, and third-party licenses
• •Three billing models compared: retainer (highest revenue/complexity), reseller hosting (margin-based recurring), and client-direct (minimum liability)
• •2026 market data: free DV certificates dominate (Let's Encrypt), EV certificates no longer signal trust visually, domain renewal pricing varies wildly by TLD ($15–$120/yr)

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