Why software needs ongoing maintenance
Software isn't a one-time build — dependencies need updating for security patches, edge cases surface once real users start using the system, and performance can degrade as data volume grows. Without an ongoing maintenance arrangement, small issues accumulate until the software that worked well at launch feels unreliable a year later.
We take on maintenance for software we didn't originally build too, after an initial codebase review to understand the existing architecture before committing to response times.
What's included
Our process
Codebase review
Understanding the existing system, especially if we didn't build it originally.
Support plan setup
Response times and scope agreed based on system complexity.
Ongoing monitoring
Regular health checks and dependency update reviews.
Issue resolution
Bugs and issues addressed within the agreed response time.
Periodic review
Regular check-in on what's working and what needs attention.
Who this is for
Any business running custom software — built by us or by another provider — that needs ongoing reliability rather than a one-time build with no support afterward. Especially valuable for software with no vendor community to fall back on, which is most custom-built systems.
Engagement & pricing
Priced as a monthly retainer sized to system complexity and expected support volume. Critical issues are prioritised ahead of minor requests within the agreed response time.
One more thing worth knowing
We also keep a running log of every fix and update applied, so if an issue resurfaces months later, we're not starting the diagnosis from zero. That continuity is often the actual value of a maintenance retainer, more than any single fix.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — after an initial codebase review to understand the architecture, which we factor into the response times we can commit to.
This is defined per support plan — typically things like a system outage or data-affecting bug are critical, while cosmetic issues or minor feature requests are handled on a regular cadence.
Yes — dependency and security patching is part of standard maintenance, tested before deployment to avoid breaking existing functionality.
Both — minor feature additions are typically included in a maintenance retainer; larger new features are usually scoped as a separate project.
We can still take this on — the initial codebase review is designed to build that understanding from scratch if documentation wasn't left behind.
Talk to us about software maintenance & support.
Free scoping call — we'll tell you what's actually needed, no obligation.