Website Maintenance Agreement Template The Essential Freelancer Guide for 2025

You just finished designing or developing a site. It’s live, the client’s happy, and you're ready to move on…

But then it starts.

• “Hey, can you quickly update the plugins?”

• “The site’s down, can you check?”

• “We added a new team member; can you add their profile?”

• …all with no extra pay, no formal agreement, no end in sight.

A Website Maintenance Agreement a clear, legal document that defines what’s covered, what’s not, how much it costs, and how often updates happen can save you here.

And you don’t need to be a lawyer. We’ve got a free downloadable template and a smart AI tool that customizes it for your business, instantly.

 Try it here

What Is a Website Maintenance Agreement Template?

A Website Maintenance Agreement Template is a pre-built legal document that outlines the responsibilities, scope, timeline, and payment structure for maintaining a client’s website post-launch.

It covers:

• What’s included (e.g. plugin updates, backups, security scans)

• What’s NOT included (e.g. redesigns, content creation, new features)

• Response times, schedules, and who’s responsible for what

Think of it like a retainer agreement for website upkeep so you stop giving away free work, and your clients know exactly what they’re paying for.

Download the free template or generate a custom one with AI

Why You Need This in 2025

Websites are no longer “set and forget.” They're living, breathing systems that break, get hacked, need updates, and go down without warning.

In 2025, maintenance is no longer optional—and clients expect you to handle it.

Here’s what the data says:

• A 2024 report by WP White Security found that over 70% of WordPress sites are vulnerable due to outdated plugins or themes.

• 39% of all hacked websites in a 2023 Sucuri report had no active maintenance or monitoring.

• Meanwhile, freelancers who offer monthly maintenance packages report 25–40% higher client retention rates, according to a survey by GoDaddy Pro.

If you’re handing over websites without a post-launch plan, you’re:

• Leaving clients vulnerable

• Losing out on recurring revenue

• Exposing yourself to scope creep and headaches

When Should You Use a Website Maintenance Agreement?

Any time you're handing off a website to a client — whether you built it or not.

Here are 3 clear scenarios:

• After launching a new website: Lock in monthly care right after hand-off.

• When taking over an existing site: Inherited sites often come with hidden landmines. Protect yourself.

• For one-off fixes: Even a “quick fix” can spiral. Scope it properly.

  
  

Legal Importance and Context

This isn’t just a helpful document — it’s legally protective for both parties.

A Website Maintenance Agreement helps avoid:

• Scope disputes (“That’s not covered” becomes clear)

• Liability for hacked or broken sites (if it’s out of scope, it’s not your fault)

• Misunderstandings around payment or response time

Depending on your region, this agreement may help fulfill contract law requirements around service delivery, payment terms, and professional liability.

U.S. Contract Law Overview – Legal Information Institute
Australian Small Business Contracts Guide – ACCC

Key Sections of a Website Maintenance Agreement and How to Fill Them Out

Every strong Website Maintenance Agreement includes the following sections:

• Personal Information
  Names, business names, and contact info for both parties.

• Scope of Services
  What’s covered: backups, plugin updates, uptime monitoring, etc.

• Exclusions
  Clearly list what’s not included — like redesigns or custom dev.

• Response Times & Support Hours
  When you’re available, and how fast you respond.

• Payment Terms
  Flat monthly rate or hourly? Due dates, late fees, cancellation.

• Liability & Limitation Clauses
  Protect yourself legally from issues outside your control.

• Authorization and Signature
  Make it official, with digital or physical signature.

Want to skip writing all this from scratch?
Use our AI-powered template tool — it handles all of this based on your industry and location.

Practical Tips for Using a Website Maintenance Agreement Effectively

• Save a signed digital copy — always keep a copy in cloud storage.

• Review it with clients BEFORE starting maintenance — build trust and clarity.

• Clearly explain what’s included (and not) so expectations are aligned.

Pro tip: Convert your agreement into a PDF with e-signature to speed things up.

How AI Lawyer Creates Your Document (Step-by-Step)

At AI Lawyer, we believe that drafting legal documents shouldn’t feel like decoding a foreign language. Whether you’re a business owner, landlord, freelancer, or someone navigating a personal matter — you should be able to create a legally sound document without needing a law degree.

That’s why we built a document experience that works like a conversation, not a form. Here’s exactly how it works:

1. You Tell AI Lawyer What You Need

It starts with a simple question:

“What type of document do you want to create?”

You choose from our list of professional templates — whether it’s a rental agreement, contractor form, invoice, publishing contract, or anything else — and AI Lawyer immediately pulls up the structure designed specifically for that use case.

Behind the scenes, the system references U.S. legal standards and best practices to make sure you’re starting from the right foundation.

2. We Highlight the Key Sections

Instead of throwing the whole document at you, AI Lawyer breaks it down.

Each key component — like payment terms, deadlines, responsibilities, clauses — is briefly explained in human language so you know what it means before you fill it out.

It’s like having a lawyer on your shoulder saying,

“Here’s what this section covers, and why it matters.”

3. You Answer Simple, Targeted Questions

AI Lawyer asks you step-by-step questions — like:

• Who’s involved?

• What are the key dates or timelines?

• What are the terms (payments, conditions, obligations)?

• Do you need special clauses like confidentiality, termination, or jurisdiction?

  
  

Each question is directly linked to a block in the final document — so your answers go exactly where they belong.

4. The Document Builds Itself As You Go

On the right side of your screen, the full document builds in real time.

Every time you answer a question, a corresponding section is added — with legally sound wording, smart defaults, and editable fields.

You’re not just answering a form — you’re watching your document take shape.

This phased process helps:

• Reduce overwhelm

• Catch errors early

• Ensure nothing is forgotten

5. You Edit and Customize Freely

Once all the inputs are in, the full document is unlocked for editing.

You can:

• Rewrite any clause

• Change formatting

• Add or remove sections

• Rephrase terms in plain English (or more formal legal tone)

  
  

The editor works like a Google Doc — intuitive, responsive, and flexible.

6. Your Final Document Is Yours to Keep

Download in PDF, DOCX, or copy to clipboard.

You can print it, email it, or send it for signature — and revisit your answers anytime to generate updated versions.

Why This Workflow Matters

Most template tools give you a blank form.

We give you a process — one that mirrors how a real attorney would walk you through the creation of a document:

• Context → Input → Assembly → Review → Delivery

It’s not magic. It’s just a smarter way to get legal work done — without getting lost in the jargon.

⚖️ Legal Tip: Maintenance Agreements Reduce Liability and Clarify Scope

According to the Legal Information Institute, a clearly written service agreement helps both parties define responsibilities, limit liability, and manage disputes efficiently. A Website Maintenance Agreement does exactly that — it formalizes post-launch services, timelines, and boundaries.

What this means for you: without it, clients can assume unlimited revisions, urgent support, or unpaid upgrades. You risk working overtime without legal recourse.

Best Practices:

• List exactly what’s included and excluded (e.g., backups yes, new pages no)

• Set clear response time expectations

• Include clauses limiting liability for third-party software or downtime

This turns informal requests into professional, structured, and billable services.

❗ What Happens Without a Website Maintenance Agreement?

If you launch a website and skip the post-launch contract, you’re setting yourself up for frustration — and potentially unpaid labor. Common outcomes include:

• Endless “quick” requests that eat up your schedule

• No leverage to say no or charge more for out-of-scope tasks

• Blurry communication with clients about responsibility

• Legal exposure when something breaks (even if it’s not your fault)

A signed agreement keeps boundaries in place and your time protected.

🧠 Real-World Example: Free Support That Nearly Killed a Business

Alex ran a small design studio. After building a site for a client, he kept fixing plugin bugs and hosting issues — all unpaid. Eventually, the client expected 24/7 support for free and blamed Alex for a hacked site months after launch.

With no maintenance agreement, Alex had no contract to point to. He lost the client — and over 50 hours of unpaid labor.

Now? Every project ends with a signed maintenance agreement, and his recurring revenue doubled.

FAQs

Q: Can I start monthly maintenance without a signed agreement?
Technically, yes but it’s risky. Without a signed doc, it’s harder to enforce scope or payment.

Q: What if a client asks for something not in the agreement?
Point them to the exclusions section. If they want more, you can upsell additional services.

Q: Does this template cover legal compliance in my country?
Yes, our AI tool adjusts for regional compliance (U.S., UK, AUS, CA, etc.).

Final Thoughts:

You don’t need to be a lawyer to protect your business — just use the right tools.

A Website Maintenance Agreement:

• Keeps your clients happy and informed

• Helps you get paid reliably

• Protects you from unrealistic demands or liability

Download your free Website Maintenance Agreement Template
Or generate a fully customized version with AI