The Agency Care Plan Guide
A practical framework for turning finished websites into recurring revenue.
1. Define what a care plan is (and is not)
A care plan is a fixed monthly service with a written scope: hosting, updates, backups, security monitoring, small content edits, and reporting. It is not an open-ended support retainer — anything outside the scope is billable project work.
Writing the boundary down is what protects your margin. Clients respect a clear line far more than an invisible one.
2. Build three tiers, not ten
Most agencies do well with three levels — for example Essential (hosting, updates, backups), Professional (adds analytics reporting and small edits), and Premium (adds SEO scanning, priority response, and quarterly reviews). Each tier should map to concrete platform services so delivery cost is knowable.
- Essential: Managed WordPress hosting + site backups
- Professional: + Mage Stats reporting, monthly content edits
- Premium: + Mage SEO Helper scans, priority support, quarterly strategy call
3. Price from your real per-site cost
Add up the platform cost per site (hosting plan + the add-ons in that tier) and your expected labor minutes. Then price the tier so gross margin lands where you need it — typically 55% or better before labor for the delivery stack itself.
Run your numbers in the margin calculator →4. Sell it at launch, not after
The easiest care-plan sale happens inside the website proposal: the project price includes the first month, and ongoing care is the default, not an upsell. Position it as how you protect the client's new investment.
5. Deliver on one platform
Every extra vendor in your delivery stack adds overhead and failure points. Consolidating hosting, backups, analytics, SEO scans, file sharing, and intake on Press Mage keeps per-site cost visible and delivery repeatable.
Build Your First Care Plan Stack
Start with a hosting foundation and attach the services your tiers promise.