Updated October 9, 2026.
If you do not want to manage website software, the first decision is who will own that work. A static site can simplify some of it, but “static” is not another word for maintenance-free. A well-supported existing site may also meet your needs without a rebuild.
We use Astro for new business websites. This article explains the maintenance arrangement to consider; our static versus dynamic guide explains the architecture choices in more detail.
What static delivery changes
A static page is prepared before a visitor asks for it, rather than assembled separately for that request. Astro’s rendering documentation describes both prebuilt pages and routes rendered on demand. That distinction matters: the framework name alone does not tell you how every part of a site works.
For a brochure-style site, prebuilt pages can remove the need for a public content-management application and database in the page-serving path. Forms, bookings, and other integrations can still depend on separate services. Those services need their own maintenance and support arrangements.
Which tasks still need an owner?
Use this list when comparing support proposals. The aim is to identify responsibility, not to assume a fixed number of hours saved.
| Area | What to agree |
|---|---|
| Content | Who changes prices, hours, service descriptions, and images; how requests are approved |
| Software | Who reviews framework, build-tool, dependency, and integration updates |
| Forms and bookings | Who tests delivery and handles failures, spam, or provider changes |
| Accounts | Who controls the domain, hosting, source repository, and external services |
| Recovery | What is backed up, how to restore it, and who tests recovery |
| Monitoring | Which failures trigger alerts and who responds |
A source repository can preserve code history. It is not automatically a backup of uploaded media, form submissions, CMS content, or external-service settings. Include those assets in the recovery plan where applicable.
For comparison, WordPress’s backup guidance distinguishes site files from its database. The useful question is whether your actual data and software can be recovered, regardless of platform.
How do you change the content?
You do not necessarily need a developer for every edit. Astro can use a content management system, giving an editor an interface separate from the public website. The workflow needs to be selected and configured as part of the project.
Alternatively, you can send changes to a provider. Our $300/month Astro hosting plan includes hosting, technical maintenance, and any updates to existing pages. New pages are quoted separately. Agree on timing and support commitments rather than assuming “managed” means immediate human response at any hour.
Before choosing, try a realistic update: replace a project image, change a price, or correct holiday hours. Confirm who can preview it, approve it, and publish it. If several staff members need to edit daily, make that workflow a requirement from the start.
What this does not guarantee
A prebuilt page can still be slow if it carries large images, heavy scripts, or third-party embeds. It can also serve inaccurate content or have a broken inquiry path. Assess representative pages and real customer tasks instead of treating a framework as a performance score.
Static delivery also does not remove account compromise, unsafe dependencies, or problems in connected services. Keep access, updates, and monitoring in the plan. HTTPS protects the connection; it is not proof that the entire site or business process is secure.
We do not use a universal maintenance-hours estimate or client traffic multiplier to justify migration. Your current costs, recurring problems, and required features are a more useful starting point.
When a migration may be worthwhile
Consider a new site if the existing setup is difficult to support, no longer represents your services, or cannot provide the editing and customer workflows you need. First ask whether repairing a form, removing an unnecessary integration, or changing the support arrangement would solve the problem.
Before moving, inventory pages, files, forms, redirects, and third-party connections. Agree on which URLs will stay and which will change. Google’s site-move guidance explains that URL changes can bring temporary search fluctuations. A migration is not a guarantee of better rankings.
Our new website development starts at $5,000. Migration scope, content work, integrations, and ongoing costs should be agreed in the proposal. Compare that total with the expected benefit of solving your specific problems; there is no standard six-month payback we can promise.
A useful brief for a managed website
Send a prospective provider three things: the tasks customers must complete, the updates your team makes most often, and the maintenance problems you want taken off your plate.
Ask them to explain the editing process and support responsibilities in plain language. A static site may fit that brief well. The important outcome is a site your customers can use and a maintenance arrangement your business can sustain.