Summary
- Move in order: domain, site and content, Google accounts, new site, then cancel.
- Your registrar must give you a domain transfer code within 5 calendar days.
- Ask for everything in one written request with a deadline.
- Keep the old site online until the new one is live.
The Short Answer
To leave a web agency without losing your website, get control of your domain first, then a copy of your site and content, then owner access to your Google accounts, and only then cancel. Moving in that order keeps your site online and your search history safe.
Most agencies cooperate when you ask clearly and in writing. The problems happen when owners cancel first and ask later.
Before You Cancel: Read Your Contract
Your contract decides what you own, what you can take and what notice you must give.
- Ownership: look for who owns the domain, design, code and content.
- Term and notice: how long the contract runs and how much notice you must give.
- Fees: any cancellation fee or charge to release files.
- Platform: whether the site runs on the agency's own system.
If the wording is unclear, ask the agency to confirm in writing, or ask a lawyer. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
The Exit Checklist
Seven things should come back to you, and this table shows what to ask for.
| What to get back | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Registrant changed to your name, plus the transfer (AuthInfo) code | Your address on the internet; without it, nothing else moves |
| Hosting or site files | A full copy of the site files, or access to the hosting account | Lets a new provider keep or rebuild what exists |
| Content | Texts, photos, logos and videos created for your business | Saves you from rewriting everything |
| Google Search Console | Owner access transferred to your Google account | Keeps years of search history |
| Google Business Profile | You as primary owner; agency removed or downgraded | Your reviews and local visibility |
| Analytics and ad accounts | Owner access to your Google Analytics and any ad accounts | Your data and past campaign history |
| Where your business email is hosted and how to move it | So you don't lose messages during the switch |
Step 1: Get Your Domain First
The domain comes first, because whoever controls it decides where your website lives.
If the domain is registered in your name, ask for the transfer code. ICANN, the organization that oversees domain names, states that transferring between registrars is your right and that your registrar must give you the code within five calendar days of your request (ICANN (opens in a new tab)). Note that a domain can't move to another registrar within 60 days of a change to the registrant's name or email.
Step 2: Get Your Site and Content
Ask for a full copy of your site files and every piece of content created for you.
If the site runs on the agency's own platform, you may only be able to take the content, not the site itself. In that case, plan a rebuild and keep the old site online until the new one is ready.
Step 3: Take Ownership of Your Google Accounts
Make yourself the owner of Search Console, Analytics and your Google Business Profile before the agency's access is removed.
These accounts hold your reviews and years of data. Agencies can transfer ownership in a few clicks; ask them to do it while the relationship is still friendly.
Step 4: Move Without Downtime
Build or move the new site first, then switch the domain, so customers never see a broken page.
- Set up the new site on hosting in your name.
- Map old page addresses and prepare redirects.
- Switch the domain to the new site.
- Test pages, forms and email.
- Only now, confirm your cancellation with the agency.
Before You Rebuild
If you're not sure the old site is worth replacing, take the test in 7 signs you need a new website (test yours in 5 minutes). And to protect your rankings during the move, read does a website redesign affect SEO.
Key Terms in Plain English
These are the terms used in this guide, each explained in one sentence, the same way we explain them on our calls.
- Domain name
- Your website's address, like yourbusiness.com. It is renewed every year with a registrar and should always be registered in your name.
- Web hosting
- The rented server where your website's files live so anyone can open them. Whoever holds the hosting account controls the site.
- DNS
- The internet's address book: the settings that point your domain name to the server where your website and e-mail live.
- Google Search Console
- Google's free tool that shows which searches bring people to your website and alerts you to problems Google finds on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions owners ask us most about this topic.
Can my web agency keep my domain?
If the domain is registered in your name, you have the right to transfer it. If it's in the agency's name, you'll need them to change the registrant or transfer it to you.
What if my agency won't give me my website files?
Check your contract and ask again in writing with a deadline. If the site runs on their platform, you may only get your content and need a rebuild.
Will my website go down when I leave my agency?
Not if you move in the right order: domain, site and content, Google accounts, new site live, then cancel.
How long does it take to leave a web agency?
Usually a few weeks, mostly waiting for transfers. A domain transfer code must be provided within five calendar days of your request.
Should I tell my agency I'm leaving before I have everything?
Ask for your files and access first, in a neutral way. Many owners request everything as part of a normal review before giving notice.
