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No Vendor Lock-In: Why Your Website Shouldn't Be a Rental With a Forced Contract
Quick answer: 73% of digital agencies working with WordPress and code retain control of hosting and domain as a retention mechanism. They charge you a monthly “maintenance” fee that really covers your inability to leave: 12-month contracts, cancellation penalties, and the silent threat that if you go, you lose everything they built. That’s not a business relationship. It’s manufactured technical dependency. My model is the inverse: one-time payment, zero mandatory monthly fees, and the keys in your hands from day 1.
Two models. One ties you down. One sets you free.
| Traditional model | My model |
|---|---|
| 12-month contract with cancellation penalty | No contract. One-time payment. You stay because you want to |
| Forced monthly fee, even without needing maintenance | $0 mandatory. Maintenance only if you request it |
| Hosting in their account, you’re the “billing contact” | Hosting in your name. You’re root admin from day 1 |
| Licenses in their name. If you leave, they stop working | Licenses in your account. Everything under your email and control |
How dependent are you? 7 questions
- Is your site tied to a page builder you don’t know how to replace?
- Do you depend on a specific person or agency for any change?
- Is the hosting in your name as the owner?
- Could you change hosts tomorrow without losing functionality?
- Is your source code in a Git repository with full access?
- Are premium plugins licensed in your name?
- Could you hire another developer who understands your code in under 1 hour?
If you answered “no” to more than 3, you don’t have a website. You have a rental agreement in disguise.
Three numbers that define digital freedom
- $0: mandatory monthly fees. You pay once. The site is yours.
- 100%: of the code transferred. Nothing stays in my hands.
- 0: days of commitment. No penalties or advance notice required.
Frequently asked questions
Why do other agencies tie clients down with long contracts? Because their business model depends on forced recurring revenue, not on the quality of their work. If they hold you with a 12-month contract, it’s not because you need monthly maintenance. It’s because if you could leave, you probably would. I don’t need contracts because my work speaks for itself.
What if I want maintenance after the project? Perfect. I offer voluntary maintenance plans, month to month, without a contract. You activate them whenever you want and cancel them whenever you want. No minimum period and no cancellation fee. If one month you don’t need maintenance, you don’t pay.
What if I find someone cheaper for maintenance? I think that’s fantastic. Really. All the code, credentials, and documentation are ready to be handed over. I don’t put up obstacles or charge a “transfer fee.” In fact, I’ll help you with the transition if needed.
Do you offer discounts for annual maintenance payment? Yes, but with a difference: if you pay annually you get a real discount. And if you want to cancel before the year ends, I refund the unused months. No questions, no forms. Because a discount shouldn’t be a trap disguised as a benefit.
Should your digital business be yours? If you’re planning a new project, or if you want to free your current site from an abusive contract, let’s talk. No commitment. No permanence. No fine print.