A clean handover protects both sides: the client owns and controls what they paid for, and the agency is not called months later about a password nobody has. Go through it together at the end of the project and sign it off. Download it as a spreadsheet.
Ownership and access
- The domain is registered in the client's name and account — registrar login handed over
- Hosting is in the client's account, or the arrangement is written down — who pays, who has access
- DNS access is shared or transferred — and records are documented
- Admin accounts for the CMS are created for the client — agency accounts removed or limited
- Analytics, tag manager, Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools are owned by the client — agency as user, not owner
- Third-party services are in the client's accounts — e-mail sending, forms, maps, payment, CDN
- Licences for paid themes, plugins and fonts are in the client's name — with renewal dates
- Passwords are handed over through a password manager, not e-mail — and changed after handover
Documentation
- How to edit pages, menus and common content — short guide or video
- A list of plugins, integrations and custom code, and what each does — with reasons
- Where backups are, how often they run and how to restore — tested once
- The source code repository is transferred or shared — if custom code exists
- Known limitations and open issues are written down — nothing left verbal
Quality
- A final QA report is shared — functional tests, mobile layout, forms, speed
- Open bugs are listed with priority and owner — in a bug tracker the client can read
- SEO basics are in place — indexable, sitemap submitted, titles and descriptions
- Accessibility basics are checked — keyboard, contrast, alt text, labels
- Legal pages are published and reviewed by the client — privacy, cookies, terms
Support
- Support or warranty period and what it covers are agreed — in writing
- How to report a problem and expected response times — contact and channel
- Who updates the CMS, plugins and server after handover — and how often
- Sign-off by both sides — date and names