What To Do When Your Website Developer Finishes the Project

The site is live, the invoice is paid, and the developer moves on. Then a plugin needs updating, a form stops working or someone asks how to change the phone number, and nobody knows who to call. A good handover prevents that.

Before you sign off

• Ownership: domain, hosting, code, content and analytics accounts in your name
• Access: logins for everything, held by you, with two-factor authentication
• Documentation: where things live, how it's deployed, what depends on what
• Backups: exist, and a restore has been tested
• Tracking: conversions verified, Search Console connected
• Training: you can make routine changes safely
• Support: who to call, what's included and what isn't, in writing

Then ask: what now?

A launched website is the start, not the end. Who keeps it updated and secure? Who works on being found? Who checks whether it's producing enquiries? These aren't extras; they're what makes the site earn. See one-off vs ongoing website development for how to think about it, and website maintenance if you need someone to take it over.