What to collect before a website handover

A website handover should leave the owner able to operate the site without depending on one person. Before a project closes, collect access, recovery information and a clear explanation of what needs regular attention.

Establish ownership and access

Confirm who controls the domain registration, hosting account and administrator account. Use individual logins where possible instead of sharing one password. Record renewal dates and make sure account recovery goes to an address the business controls. Transfer credentials through a suitable secure channel rather than an ordinary project document.

Collect the working materials

Ask for a current backup, source files where included in your agreement, and a list of paid themes, plugins or services. Check who owns each subscription and whether its licence can be transferred. Keep a record of the permitted uses of photographs, fonts and other supplied assets.

Test everyday tasks

Practise editing a page, publishing an article and checking a form submission. Test the site on a phone. Agree who will handle updates and future faults. Finally, ask for a recovery walkthrough so the handover covers what happens when something goes wrong as well as when everything works.