Transfer my website from an old agency
Leaving an agency you have outgrown? We handle the domain, hosting, content and design rebuild as one clean handover. No downtime, no lost rankings.
01 / Why most transfers go sideways
The migration is not actually the hard part
Technically, moving a website is not complicated. Get the domain auth code, copy the content, stand it up on new hosting, redirect the old URLs, switch DNS. A tidy engineer can do the mechanical parts in an afternoon. What actually goes wrong is usually about the timing and the human coordination: the old agency drags their feet, the email stops working because someone forgot to move the MX records, or the redirects are missed and six months of Google rankings evaporate.
We have done a lot of these. The quiet work is knowing the order to do things in: domain first, new environment second, content migration, careful testing, then a single DNS switch at a time when the business is quiet. Do it in that order and nobody notices anything except a faster site.
We are also honest about when to redesign versus just migrate. Sometimes the old site is fine and the only problem was the agency. Sometimes the transfer is a natural moment to rebuild. Either way, you end up with one flat monthly plan and one team you can actually reach.
02 / What a clean handover includes
Six things we handle so you do not have to
Most of this sits in the background. You approve the plan, we do the mechanical work.
Transfer the domain cleanly
The domain is the single most important thing. We ask the old agency for the auth code (a short password that authorises a domain move between registrars), move it to a registrar in your name, and lock it. This one step alone stops most future drama.
Move hosting without downtime
We stand up the site on new hosting while the old one is still live, test everything on a staging URL, then switch the DNS (the record that tells the internet where your site lives) at a quiet moment. Visitors see no interruption. Email keeps flowing throughout.
Bring across the content
We extract every page, every image, every blog post, every form submission destination. If the old site is on a CMS we can access, we export cleanly. If not, we scrape the public site or recover from archives. Nothing important gets left behind.
Preserve Google rankings
We keep the URL structure the same where we can, and set up redirects (rules that send old addresses to new ones) where we cannot. Search rankings survive a proper migration with no drama. Rankings only drop when the migration was rushed and redirects were skipped.
Rebuild the design if you want to
A handover is a natural moment to redesign. You can migrate the existing site as-is onto our hosting, or use the transition to rebuild the site properly. Both routes are on the same flat monthly plan. Nothing is rushed.
Close down the old setup properly
Once the new site is live and confirmed working for a week or two, we help you cancel the old hosting, old plugin licences, old SaaS tools and any other recurring charges the old agency was putting through. You stop paying for things you are no longer using.
03 / How we handle it
Audit, plan, execute, look after
Audit what you have
Send us your URL and whatever logins you still have. We map out the domain, hosting, email, CMS, plugins, analytics and anything else attached. You get a written inventory so nothing falls through the cracks.
Plan the handover
We work out the order of operations (domain first, content second, hosting switch last) and a timeline that works around your business. Most transfers happen over two to three weeks with zero downtime.
Execute
We do the heavy lifting: request the auth code, build the new environment, migrate content, test on staging, configure redirects, then switch DNS at a quiet window. You approve each stage before it goes live.
Look after
From there the site runs on a flat monthly plan. Hosting, backups, updates, changes on request. The old agency is no longer in your life and you have one clear point of contact from now on.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need the old agency's cooperation to move my website?
For the domain, you usually need them to release an auth code, and registrars require them to provide it when the registered owner asks. For hosting and the CMS, we can rebuild from the public site if we have to, so their cooperation is helpful but not essential. Most agencies do cooperate once they realise you are genuinely leaving.
Will my website go offline during the transfer?
No, not with a proper migration. We build the new site on new hosting while the old one is still live, test everything thoroughly on a staging URL, then switch DNS at a quiet time (often late evening). Visitors see continuous uptime and email keeps flowing because we route it correctly through the change.
Will my Google rankings survive the move?
If the migration is done properly, yes. The two things that matter are: keep the URL structure the same where possible, and set up 301 redirects (permanent page-moved instructions) for anything that does change. Done right, Google usually notices no disruption. Done badly, a migration can tank rankings for months. This is where experience matters.
What if the old agency will not give me the passwords?
Common. For the domain, Nominet (for .uk) and ICANN (for other extensions) have formal processes for recovering control when a registrant refuses to release it. For hosting, we can rebuild the site from the public version and the archives. You are not actually trapped, it just takes a few more steps.
How long does a full transfer take?
A straight lift-and-shift (same site, new hosting, new registrar) typically takes one to two weeks. A full rebuild alongside the transfer takes two to four weeks. We work at a pace that suits your business rather than rushing it through.
What does an ongoing relationship look like after the transfer?
You move onto a flat monthly plan covering hosting, backups, updates and changes on request. Plans from £39/mo on Starter, £79/mo on Standard. One portal, one point of contact, no agency retainer surprises. The transfer itself is included, not a separate project fee.
Ready to leave the old agency?
Send us your URL and we will tell you exactly what the transfer needs, what we can migrate as-is, and what is worth rebuilding along the way. No pressure, just a clear answer.