The developer can't be reached
Emails bounce, the phone goes unanswered or the company no longer exists. And nobody else knows how it was put together.
Your website or application was built by someone who's no longer around. Now what?
The developer stopped responding, the agency closed down or you simply lost touch. Meanwhile your site or app runs on an outdated PHP version, nobody can work on it and your host keeps emailing about updates. Don't panic: usually there's more to save than you think. We map out what's there, secure it and make sure you're the owner again.
Sound familiar?
You don't have the login details
You're not sure where the site is hosted, who holds the hosting account or whose name the domain is registered in.
Your host warns about an old PHP version
You get emails saying your PHP version is no longer supported and the site may stop working, or that you'll have to pay extra for extended support.
Strange things are happening
Spam through your contact form, unknown pages in Google, a browser warning or a site that suddenly redirects elsewhere. Often the result of software that hasn't been updated in years.
WordPress and plugins are out of date
Nobody dares to run the updates, a plugin is no longer maintained or the theme comes from a maker who quit.
Nobody dares to change anything
New text, an extra field or a small tweak: it sounds simple, but nobody knows what else might break.
What you can do yourself today
Before anything technical happens, the most important thing is to secure access. You can do this without technical knowledge:
- Find out where your domain name is registered. For a .nl domain you can look this up with the Whois search on sidn.nl.
- Look up the invoices for hosting and the domain: they show who hosts it and whose name the contract is in.
- Collect what you have: old emails from the developer, login details, quotes and agreements about who owns the code.
- Don't let the hosting or the domain name expire. As long as they're paid for, your site stays online.
- Don't change anything on the site itself until there's a backup of the files and the database.
How we handle it
Exploration
You tell us what there is and what you know. We find out where it runs, how it was built and where the risks are. Free, with a plan and a maximum price.
Secure it
A full backup of code and database, and access to hosting, domain and admin in your name instead of the old developer's.
Honest advice
Update and keep it running, or rebuild? That depends on the state of the code and what you want from it. You get the trade-off in writing.
Take over or convert
We take over the maintenance, or convert it to a setup without plugins or outdated parts. The source code and documentation are yours.
WordPress that needs constant upkeep? Convert it to custom software
A WordPress site with a pile of plugins needs constant maintenance: updates, checking everything still works, and the risk that one outdated plugin becomes a security hole. Many sites don't need that. We convert such a site to custom software in Python/Flask, the same setup all our own sites and applications run on, and one we've already used for clients' WordPress sites. Fewer moving parts means less maintenance and less risk.
- No third-party plugins: only the code your site needs. Less to keep up with and fewer places where things can go wrong.
- Pinned versions of every component and no scripts loaded from external servers, so nothing changes without you knowing.
- Runs in its own Docker container with backups, on a server in the EU or in your own environment.
- Your texts and look stay the same, or get a fresh design right away.
To be fair: not every WordPress site needs converting. If you manage pages and posts in WordPress yourself every day and that works well, updating it and maintaining it properly may be the better choice. We'll tell you if that's the case.
Frequently asked questions
My web developer can't be reached. Have I lost my website?
Usually not. As long as the hosting and the domain name are paid for, your site keeps running. The risk lies in what no longer happens: updates, backups and security. That's why it's wise to secure access now, before something goes wrong.
I don't have any login details. Can anything still be done?
Often, yes. If you or your company pays the invoices for hosting and domain, the hosting company or registrar can usually transfer access to you. We help you with the steps and what you need for them.
What does it cost?
The exploration is free: you get a plan with a maximum price before we start. After that we work at our fixed hourly rate of €85 excluding VAT, with no start-up costs.
Does everything have to be rebuilt?
Not necessarily. Sometimes updating to a supported PHP version and proper maintenance is enough. Sometimes the code is so outdated that rebuilding costs less than repairing it over and over. We find that out first, and you decide.
Do you also work with PHP, WordPress or Laravel?
Yes, for taking over, securing and updating existing sites and applications. New builds and conversions we do in Python/Flask, because that runs with far less maintenance and risk.
Who owns the code afterwards?
You do. You get the source code, a backup and documentation, and access to hosting and domain is in your name. So you're never locked in to a single developer again, us included.
Stuck with a site or app nobody looks after any more? Describe what you have, even if you don't know exactly how it works.
Start a free exploration