Hi guys & gals,
Just trying to get feedback. Client wants a family member to take over their website. I designed, built, hosted and managed site and domain name.
Besides transferring the domain name, what does everyone consider fair?
Should I hand over all the files, design, photos (taken by me), edited & optimized images, etc. Built with RSD & other CC software. They will not be able to use any files since they do not have CC. I suggested CC, but they have no interest. So, what do you think is fair?
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Hi Andrew,

If they want the template and take it over I would defiantly charge them something. If they just wanted their files I would just send the raw html files and folders with where their website is currently. If they were leaving me as a host/maintenance I would inform them that the website is an as is condition and if they needed help configuring, changing, setting up ftp or anything that I would charge by the hour (usually alot more then i would if I was hosting it.

After all they did pay you to build their website so technically its their website. How they edit it in the future is up to them.

Anyways thats my advice.

Thanks Steve. That is sort of the way I felt about it. If the family member is going to take it, I no longer have a desire to host it or do anything else besides sending the uploaded files.
I can see this being a huge cluster bomb. They dont know much about hosting sites or domains as well as having the best design software out there. I feel my phone will be ringing off the hook for advice.

Yep been there done that. Advise will come at a cost that is much more expensive then the hosting fees were. I let them know that too. Had a few clients sign back up with a maintenance package about 6 months in when they completely destroyed their website. I charged them extra to put it back the way it was. Then a bunch more to update it.

I'm assuming that the client has paid you for the hosting, and for creating the site, and that the domain name is registered in the client's name.
I would then send them the documentation that they own the domain name and ask them to transfer the lot to a hosting provider of their choice. If they want to have the site up on your server for a time, then charge them for that, say max three months, and then delete their account from your server. I would not give them ftp access to your server, but let them have the files in raw, as Steve said. Any kind of help or advice during this process would of course come at a price.
And, keep a copy of the site, just in case they come back on their knees...

If it were me and my name and business entity were identifiable I would remove these first before handing it over. Don't really want others to think the mess they make of it was my doing.

Yes very good point! and trust me... they WILL be back...



Absolutely agree with Inger here. If they want to leave you then all they get is the files. The rest is on them.

Thanks guys, really appreciate the advice and everyone has made very good points.
I will remove my name from all files and only send the files that were uploaded to server, cancel hosting and send key code for domain transfer then unlock domain when contacted.
Keep a copy, so when they screw it up, I will be able to bring it back

I realize this is a week or so old so you may have already washed your hands of this, but having been through this scenario more than a few times myself over the years I would also offer up on bit of advice on top of everyone else's excellent advice so far...

Put it in writing and have them sign, or at least e-sign the release form and return it to you before releasing the content/domain/etc. Such that they have no recourse if/when (most likely when) they come back asking for help to attempt to be combative over fees and structuring.

Learned my lesson the hard way once. I've put it in writing ever since and it has been to my benefit every time.

Be sure to reserve the right to hold a copy / sample page(s) of the site for your portfolio if you so desire. If you don't get that in writing then you'll regret it later almost guaranteed (assuming it was something you wanted to be able to show)

Good luck!
- John

Looks like I missed this post as well so I'll throw my 10 cents in as well.

Yes do all the things everyone has suggested to protect yourself from recourse, mostly in the form of informing them of the repercussions of their choice. Sounds like your clients have paid their full price for the work done, they have paid their hosting fees up to date. You'd be pretty stupid to tell them you won't let them host with you if you can make money on them for hosting lol, not to mention how much simpler it will be if you DO end up having to fix their mess later.

If the above is the case then the website belongs to them. They hired you to create a website, not make them a temporary home correct? They paid you to design them a website and host it. If so then you really don't have the right to refuse to give them their property and any web builders out there that would do so are just plain tacky and nasty. You don't have the right to give them ultimatums, shut them down, etc. it's theirs to do with what they will.

Get them to sign an affidavit that the files handed over to them are as is and anything after that fact is theirs to deal with basically. You surely should not shut down their access to their files on your server, they should have already had that access if they paid for hosting.

There's nothing I hate worse than hearing how a client's previous web builder (dealing with 2 of those now myself) have blocked their access to their files, turned off their sites, wouldn't give them their website files at all, etc. etc. just because they decided to go elsewhere for service or they are changing designers. That says myriads about your characters when you do that and you can pretty much guarantee that they wont' be back for you to fix their mess and get more money from them later if yo DO do that. It's even worse when it's like the 2 I'm working with now and their web designers have basically fallen off the earth and won't do anything and haven't even finished what they got paid for.

Just my opinion of course, but give them what's theirs and just make sure they understand that they are on their own unless they pay you maintenance fees to do work later, and let them know up front that the fees are higher for piecework maintenance than it is if they are a full fledged maintenance client. You may be surprised how fast they return, and if they don't that's their prerogative.