Website handover / 6 October 2026

What should a small business get from a website project?

By Jason Phillips

A website launch should leave you with more than a link. You should know where the site lives, who controls the connected accounts and what to do next.

Websites often depend on several services: a domain registrar, hosting, enquiry forms, a booking calendar, payments, analytics and social channels. If nobody explains how they fit together, a polished launch can still leave you with a confusing setup.

Keep the important accounts in your name.

Your business should have the domain and main service accounts under its control. A designer can be invited to the services needed for the project, then access can be adjusted after handover. Avoid sending passwords by email or chat; use the provider’s own invitation and permission settings wherever possible.

For a code-based website, a repository gives you a version history and a place to manage future changes. The project should clarify who has access, who pays for any hosting or software and how the site can be updated after launch.

Check the customer journey from start to finish.

Before launch, test the actions a real customer is meant to take:

• Can they understand the service and find the right contact option?
• Does the enquiry form arrive at the agreed business inbox?
• Does the booking link show the right calendar and availability?
• If payments are part of the agreed scope, does the link show the correct service, price and terms?
• Do confirmation messages tell the customer what will happen next?

Testing catches small problems that are easy to miss while looking only at page design. It also confirms that the website, inbox and external services are connected as intended.

Make the handover useful.

A practical handover covers the domain, hosting, source files, forms, booking links, payment setup and the Google tools included in the project. It should explain which parts are complete, which services have separate subscriptions and where ongoing work begins.

If a prompt-led chat workflow is included, the setup should also show which connected actions it can perform, who approves changes and how content gets reviewed before publication. The business owner should authorize connections from their own accounts. The available features depend on the tools, permissions and subscriptions chosen.

Agree what “finished” means.

Before work starts, write down the page count, features, content, revision rounds, timeline, price, ownership transfer and support after launch. Keep recurring management separate from a one-off build so the customer can make an informed choice.

Phillips Digital’s standalone website service starts at £495 as a one-off, with no compulsory ongoing management. A separate website and content package is £345 per month with a six-month minimum, £2,070 total. The package scope and the conditions for ownership are explained before agreement.

A clear handover lets a business use its website with confidence, whether it handles updates itself or asks for ongoing support.

Planning a new website or reviewing an existing setup? Start a conversation with Phillips Digital.