How do I switch web design agencies?

Start by requesting full access before you announce you’re leaving: your domain registrar login, hosting details, and any admin logins for the CMS itself. Some agencies hand this over immediately. Others delay, especially if fees are outstanding or the relationship has soured, which is exactly why requesting access before the conversation gets difficult matters.

If you’re unsure what you actually own outright, check that first. Custom code and content are typically yours, but licensed themes, plugins, or stock images may not be, depending on whose account purchased them.

Timing matters too. Switching mid-campaign, right before a busy season, or during an unfinished project adds unnecessary risk, so where possible, plan the handover for a quieter period.

Once access is confirmed, brief the new agency properly. Share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and why you’re leaving – that context saves weeks of them rediscovering problems you already know about. A good new agency will ask for this anyway, but volunteering it upfront speeds up the transition considerably.

The technical handover and the working relationship are two separate things, worth treating as such. You can keep the closing conversation professional, even friendly, with an outgoing agency while still being firm about deadlines for access and files.

The businesses that switch smoothly are usually the ones who treat it as a practical handover, not a personal one.

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