A Clear, Honest Framework for Ongoing Website Care
Four named Care tiers built on our transparent $75/hour rate — know exactly what's included before you commit.
A Clear, Honest Framework for Ongoing Website Care
Every website needs a plan for what happens after launch. Smith Consulting & Design, LLC structures ongoing management around four named Care tiers, each built on our transparent $75.00/hour rate, so you know exactly what you're getting and what it costs before you commit to anything. This page explains how the tiers work, when Core Care is required, and how hours beyond your tier are handled.
The Care Tiers
Core Care
One hour per month included, $75.00/month. Essential protection: core software and plugin updates, security monitoring, backup confirmation, and general availability for questions. This is the non-negotiable baseline whenever Smith Consulting & Design, LLC is hosting your website on a Website Hosting Plan.
Growth Care
Three hours per month included, $225.00/month. Built for small websites that need regular content updates, minor design tweaks, and routine SEO attention on top of the Core Care baseline.
Pro Care
Five hours per month included, $375.00/month. Designed for growing businesses with more frequent content changes, new page development, and closer ongoing SEO and performance attention.
Elite Care
Seven hours per month included, $525.00/month. Built for complex websites — e-commerce stores, membership sites, or content-heavy platforms — that need substantial monthly attention across development, SEO, and technical maintenance.
When Core Care Is Required, and When It's Optional
If Smith Consulting & Design, LLC hosts your website on one of our Website Hosting Plans, Core Care is included as a non-negotiable part of that arrangement — baseline monitoring, security, and updates happen every month, regardless of whether you request any visible changes. You're welcome to upgrade to Growth, Pro, or Elite Care at any time if your site needs more than an hour of attention most months.
If you host elsewhere — on your own hosting, or through one of our Dedicated Reseller Server plans — there's no mandatory minimum. You're free to choose whichever Care tier actually matches your needs, or skip a retainer entirely and engage us on a pure as-needed, pay-as-you-go basis at the same $75.00 hourly rate.
What Happens Beyond Your Included Hours
Every tier has a clear ceiling on included hours, but your website's needs don't always stay inside it — a bigger content push, a new page, or an added product might call for more time in a given month. When that happens, additional hours are simply billed at the standard $75.00 rate and itemized clearly on your invoice, or you can move up to the next tier if you find yourself consistently going over. Either way, you'll always know what you're paying for and why before the invoice arrives.
Onboarding & How Invoicing Works
When you sign up for a Care tier, we begin with a technical review of the site (if we didn't build it originally), a backup confirmation, and a baseline security check, so from month one we have an accurate picture of your site's condition. You'll receive a monthly invoice reflecting your tier's flat rate plus any additional hours worked, itemized clearly, with no hidden fees. Care plans renew automatically each month. Core Care is required while we host your website on a Website Hosting Plan; otherwise, Care plans can be cancelled with 30 days' written notice (email or text). Full terms are in our Subscription, Billing & Refund Policy. Business needs change over time, and so can your tier — if you're consistently using more hours than your current plan includes, we'll flag it and talk through whether moving up makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch tiers later?
Yes. Many clients start on Core Care and move up to Growth, Pro, or Elite as their site's needs grow, or scale back down during quieter periods. We'll help you find the right fit as your business changes.
What happens if I go over my tier's included hours?
Any time beyond your tier's included hours is billed at the standard $75.00 hourly rate and itemized clearly on your monthly invoice.
Is there a long-term contract required?
We structure our Care tiers to be straightforward and fair, without locking clients into lengthy contracts that don't serve their interests. There's no long-term contract. Care plans renew automatically each month. If we host your website on a Website Hosting Plan, Core Care is required for as long as we host it and ends when your hosting ends (30 days' written notice). If your website is hosted anywhere else, you can cancel your Care plan any time with 30 days' written notice by email or text. See our Subscription, Billing & Refund Policy for full details.
Do I have to be hosted with you to get a Care tier?
No. Care tiers are available whether you host with us on a Website Hosting Plan, on a Dedicated Reseller Server, or on your own hosting elsewhere — only Website Hosting Plan clients have the Core Care minimum requirement.
Get Started With a Care Tier
Ready to stop worrying about your website's technical upkeep, or want a clear-eyed conversation about which tier fits your business best? Contact Smith Consulting & Design, LLC at (813) 733-1582 or info@smithcd.com, or fill out our proposal form, and we'll walk you through the details and get you set up with the right plan.
Let's Build Your Business Together
If you're ready to work with a web designer and website manager who will treat your business like it matters — because it does — reach out today. Call, text, or email to schedule a free consultation directly with Brian Smith.