You’ve completed the design and development portion of your new website. You’re excited to show everyone the new look, and the web development company you’re working with is ready to pull the trigger.
But hold on – what happens now?
The upfront cost of the site design is probably what you considered the most when choosing a web developer, but do you remember evaluating what happens after launch?
Avoiding the Trap
There is always an ongoing cost associated with hosting your website. For a small- to mid-size company running a standard marketing site, a contact form, and a blog, hosting and maintenance should be relatively simple and cost-effective.
If you are a larger company or run a more complex site (like a large e-commerce platform or a membership directory), you should expect to pay more per month to keep your site secure, updated, and functional.
Ideally, if you ever become unhappy with your web development agency and want to host your site somewhere else, you should be able to package your files, take your database, and move them to a new host… right?
Unfortunately, this is where some companies fall into what we at Prospect Blogs call “The Trap.”
The Trap is when you work with an agency to build a website, but end up stuck paying exorbitant monthly hosting fees because your site is locked into a proprietary system or the agency claims the rights to the underlying code.
Here are three key warning signs—and critical questions to ask—before you hire any company to build your website:
1. “What platform and software will you use to build my website?”
Safe answers: Open-source platforms like WordPress, or standard modern languages and frameworks (HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, Node.js).
Warning answers: “It’s our proprietary in-house CMS” or “It doesn’t really matter.”
If a website is built on an agency’s proprietary CMS, you cannot move it. If you choose to leave that agency, you will have to rebuild your website from scratch.
Similarly, watch out for proprietary website builders where your site cannot be easily exported. Always choose platforms that give you full access to your source code and database.
2. “How much will it cost to host my site?”
For a small- to mid-size company with a standard marketing or brochure site, you should not be paying hundreds of dollars per month just to keep the site online.
Often, if you are stuck in a proprietary hosting arrangement, agencies will charge $100+ per month for hosting services that should cost a fraction of that. That is $1,200+ per year just to keep the website running. Make sure you get a clear breakdown of hosting versus ongoing maintenance fees before signing a contract.
3. “Can I move my website to another host or agency at any point?”
Your website contains your content, your branding, and your digital reputation. If you want to move it because you are unhappy with the service or want another developer to build a custom feature, you should be free to do so.
Some agencies charge exorbitant “data retrieval fees” to package your database and assets, or restrict server access so your new developer can’t retrieve the files. Ensure your contract explicitly states that upon final payment, you own 100% of the website design, code, database, and content.
Retaining Your Digital Independence
We believe in true digital independence. When you build a website, you should own it fully upon launch. This means having the freedom to host it wherever you want, choose your own maintenance partners, and manage your own DNS records.
By building on open-source languages and standard architectures, you ensure that any competent developer can maintain and extend your website code for years to come, keeping you in complete control of your business assets.