"I can handle my own website updates." As a small business owner myself, I completely understand this mindset. You're capable, you want to save money, and how hard can it really be? After helping dozens of Southern Illinois businesses recover from DIY website disasters, let me share what the real costs actually look like.
"I just need to update some text"
"I'll just install this plugin"
"I should probably update WordPress"
Let's say you value your time at $50/hour (conservative for most business owners). Those "quick" website tasks start adding up:
Total annual cost of DIY: $2,400+ in your time alone
A local service business owner installed a "simple" SEO plugin. It conflicted with their existing setup, crashed their site, and took down their online booking system during their busiest season.
Cost of fixing: $1,200 in emergency repairs + lost bookings
A retail business owner skipped security updates for 8 months. Their site was hacked, customer data was compromised, and they were blacklisted by Google.
Cost of recovery: $3,500 in cleanup + immeasurable reputation damage
An e-commerce business owner tried to optimize their site speed by "cleaning up" plugins. They accidentally broke their checkout process and didn't realize for two weeks.
Lost revenue: Estimated $8,000 in abandoned sales
Website management requires knowledge in:
Question: How many hours would it take you to become proficient in all these areas? And how often would you need to update that knowledge?
Beyond time and money, consider the stress of:
DIY website management can work if:
Professional website maintenance typically costs $100-500/month depending on your needs. Compare that to:
Ask yourself:
There's no shame in recognizing that professional website management is an investment, not an expense. Just like you wouldn't do your own electrical work or legal representation, your website deserves professional care.
Your time is your most valuable business asset. Spending it on tasks outside your expertise isn't saving money—it's costing you opportunities.
Ready to reclaim your time and reduce your stress? Rooted in SoIL specializes in taking website management off small business owners' plates. Contact us to learn how professional maintenance can actually save you money while improving your online presence.