Free resource / 40 checks

Website handover checklist.

A practical starting point for freelance designers finishing a small marketing or brochure site. Work through it with your client. Add checks for your particular platform and project.

Checkboxes stay in this tab only and reset on reload. The complete kit includes this checklist as a CSV with owner, status and notes columns.

Turn your notes into a client guide ↗

Content & layout

• Confirm every agreed page exists at its intended URL.
• Replace example copy, placeholder images and temporary contact details.
• Check the navigation and footer links on a phone and desktop.
• Read the main call to action and test the path it asks a visitor to take.
• Check headings, body text and buttons for clipping at narrow widths.
• Give meaningful images useful alternative text and check keyboard focus is visible.
• Confirm the client has approved the final content and layout through the agreed channel.

Forms & key journeys

• Send a realistic test enquiry through each form.
• Confirm the intended recipient actually receives form notifications.
• Check required fields, validation errors and the success message.
• Test telephone, email, booking and external destination links.
• Record any external service the main customer journey depends on.

Launch & discovery

• Confirm the intended domain loads the production site over HTTPS.
• Check one canonical domain is used and the alternate redirects correctly.
• Replace staging URLs in internal links and site settings.
• Check the site is not accidentally blocked from search indexing.
• Review page titles, descriptions, favicon and social sharing image.
• Check the error page and any redirects from replaced pages.
• Review image sizes and test the main pages on a normal mobile connection.

Ownership & access

• Record the domain registrar, named owner and next renewal date.
• Record the hosting provider, named owner and next renewal date.
• Have the client accept account invitations and sign in independently.
• Confirm who owns the CMS workspace, analytics and form service accounts.
• Record paid themes, plugins, fonts and services with their renewal owners.
• Transfer credentials separately through the agreed secure method.
• Review remaining designer access with the client and remove what is no longer needed.

Maintenance & recovery

• Name the person responsible for platform, plugin and dependency updates.
• Document backup frequency, storage location and who checks successful runs.
• Test a restore or rollback and record the steps and test date.
• Document who handles outages and the agreed contact route.

Training & files

• Show the client how to edit and preview a typical page or content item.
• Let the client complete one small edit while you observe.
• Record a short walkthrough or write steps specific to this site.
• Share the source files and the agreed brand assets.
• Record where image, font and other asset licence information is stored.
• Save the client guide in a location the client's team can find.

Support & follow-up

• Write down the agreed support end date and included work.
• Record how to request a new feature or content change.
• List outstanding work with a named owner and target date.
• Schedule a check-in to confirm access, editing and form delivery still work.

Put the details somewhere useful.

A checked box helps you finish. A guide helps the client remember. Add account owners, editing instructions, maintenance responsibilities and the support channel to a document they can keep.

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