You've invested in custom software for your business, launched successfully, and now you're ready to move on to other priorities. But here's what many business owners don't realize: launching your software is just the beginning. Like a car that needs regular oil changes and tune-ups, your software needs ongoing care to keep running smoothly and securely.
Think of Software Like Owning a Building
Imagine you just built a beautiful new office building for your business. You wouldn't expect to never maintain it again, right? Over time, you'd need to:
- •Replace light bulbs and fix broken equipment
- •Update security systems as new threats emerge
- •Renovate spaces as your business grows and changes
- •Keep up with new building codes and regulations
Software is exactly the same. It's a valuable business asset that needs regular care to protect your investment and keep serving your customers effectively.
What Does Software Maintenance Actually Include?
Security Updates (The Most Critical)
This is the non-negotiable part of software maintenance:
- 🔒Patching security vulnerabilities: New security threats are discovered constantly, and your software needs updates to stay protected
- 🔒Updating dependencies: Your software relies on other software components that also need security updates
- 🔒Monitoring for breaches: Keeping an eye on your systems to catch any unauthorized access quickly
⚠️ Skipping security updates is like leaving your office doors unlocked at night. It's not a matter of if something bad will happen, but when.
Bug Fixes and Performance Issues
Even the best software has occasional issues:
- 🔧Fixing bugs: Small issues that users discover during daily use
- 🔧Performance optimization: Making your software run faster as usage grows
- 🔧Compatibility updates: Ensuring your software works with new browser versions, operating systems, etc.
Infrastructure and Hosting
Your software needs a place to live and run:
- ☁️Server maintenance: Keeping the computers that run your software updated and secure
- ☁️Backup and recovery: Making sure your data is safe and can be restored if something goes wrong
- ☁️Scaling resources: Adding more computing power as your business grows
What Happens If You Skip Maintenance?
The Hidden Costs of Neglect
Some business owners try to save money by skipping maintenance. Here's what typically happens:
- ⚠️Security vulnerabilities pile up: Your software becomes an easy target for hackers
- ⚠️Performance degrades over time: Your software gets slower and more frustrating to use
- ⚠️Small problems become big emergencies: A $500 fix today becomes a $5,000 emergency repair later
Real Examples We've Seen
- •E-commerce site hack: Ignored security updates for 18 months, resulting in customer data breach and $50,000 in recovery costs
- •Database corruption: No regular backups, lost 3 months of customer orders when server failed
- •Browser compatibility: Software stopped working in new browser versions, losing 30% of users overnight
- •Technology debt: Software became so outdated that rebuilding from scratch was cheaper than updating
How Much Should You Budget for Maintenance?
The General Rule: 15-25% of Development Cost
Most software experts recommend budgeting 15-25% of your original development cost for annual maintenance. So if you spent $50,000 building your software, plan for $7,500-$12,500 per year in maintenance costs.
- 💰Basic Maintenance (15%): Security updates, critical bug fixes, basic hosting
- 💰Standard Maintenance (20%): Everything above plus regular performance improvements and minor feature updates
- 💰Premium Maintenance (25%): Comprehensive support including proactive monitoring, optimization, and priority support
- 💰Growing Business (25%+): Includes regular feature additions and scaling support as your needs evolve
What Affects Your Maintenance Costs?
- 📊How many users you have: More users = more server resources and monitoring needed
- 📊How complex your software is: More features = more things that can break
- 📊How often you want new features: Regular updates cost more than just keeping things running
- 📊Your industry's security requirements: Healthcare and finance need extra security measures
How to Approach Software Maintenance
Option 1: Maintenance Contract with Your Developer
The most common and usually best approach:
- ✓They know your software inside and out
- ✓Predictable monthly costs
- ✓Faster response times for issues
- ✓Proactive monitoring and prevention
Option 2: In-House IT Team
Only makes sense for larger businesses:
- ⚖️Requires hiring developers with the right skills
- ⚖️Higher total cost unless you have lots of software to maintain
- ⚖️Learning curve for understanding your existing software
Option 3: "Pay as You Go" Emergency Fixes
The riskiest approach:
- ❌Much more expensive when problems arise
- ❌No proactive prevention of issues
- ❌Longer downtimes when things break
- ❌Security vulnerabilities go unpatched
Questions to Ask When Setting Up Maintenance
Here's what you should discuss with your development team:
- ❓"What's included in your maintenance package?" Get a clear list of what's covered
- ❓"How quickly will you respond to security issues?" Security should be handled within 24-48 hours
- ❓"Do you monitor our software proactively?" Good maintenance includes watching for problems before they affect users
- ❓"What happens if you're not available?" Make sure there's backup support
- ❓"How do we handle adding new features later?" Understand the process for future enhancements
The Smart Business Approach
Software maintenance isn't an expense—it's an investment in protecting your business asset. Just like you wouldn't buy a delivery truck and never change the oil, you can't build software and expect it to run perfectly forever without care.
The businesses that succeed with software are the ones that plan for maintenance from day one. They budget for it, they understand its value, and they work with developers who can provide reliable, ongoing support.
Remember: a small investment in regular maintenance prevents large emergency expenses later. Your software is working hard for your business every day—make sure you're taking care of it so it can keep taking care of your customers.
At Jnom Software, we don't just build your software and walk away. Our maintenance packages ensure your investment stays secure, fast, and reliable for years to come. We're in this for the long haul—just like your business.