Handover is where a good deal becomes a bad month. The sequence below is ordered to keep the product running throughout — the most common handover disaster is transferring the domain before the hosting is ready.
Days 1–3: access, not ownership
Before anything transfers, the buyer gets read access to everything: repo, hosting, analytics, processor dashboard, support inbox, DNS. Nothing changes hands yet. The buyer confirms that what they can see matches what was described.
Days 4–7: the infrastructure
Repository transferred to the buyer's organisation.
Hosting account transferred or the app redeployed to the buyer's infrastructure, running in parallel.
Database access, and a tested restore from backup — not just a backup file.
Environment variables and credentials handed over, and the buyer rotates every one of them.
Days 8–12: the money
The payment processor. This is the highest-risk step and its answer was established weeks ago. If the account transfers, do it now and verify that a live subscription charge lands in the buyer's account. If it doesn't transfer, the migration plan starts here, and the seller stays involved through it.
Days 13–17: the domain
Deliberately late. Move DNS only once hosting is confirmed working. Transfer the domain at the registrar, confirm the site resolves, confirm email still delivers. Domain moves are the step people rush and the step that takes the product offline.
Days 18–22: everything else
Analytics property and search console.
Email sending domain and its authentication records.
Mailing list and ESP.
Social accounts.
Every third-party service account.
Design files and documentation.
Days 23–30: the shadow period
The seller stays reachable but stops doing. The buyer handles all support, with the seller available for questions. This is where the real knowledge transfers — the things nobody thought to document surface only when a customer asks about them.
What to agree in advance
Item | Specify |
|---|---|
Support hours | A number, e.g. 10 hours total |
Response time | e.g. within two business days |
Channel | Email, or a shared channel — not phone at any hour |
Calls | How many, how long |
End date | An actual date, not "about a month" |