Platform and access
Tell us whether the site uses a content management system, static files, a hosted builder or a custom application. A website inside a proprietary builder may need an export or rebuild rather than a direct hosting move.
HOSTING FOR EXISTING WEBSITES
A new hosting home. A considered move.
Already have a website you want to keep? We review its requirements before agreeing how to move it. Shared hosting starts at $5.99/month; migration scope and any additional work are agreed separately.
Start with the website you actually have.
Storage and databases
Check the size of your website files and databases, how many sites you need and any required software versions. Record special forms, scheduled tasks or integrations that need testing.
Domain and email
Identify your registrar and email provider. Your domain can stay registered where it is. Moving website hosting does not automatically move email or require a domain transfer.
Agree the move before changing DNS.
- Review compatibility and scope. Share the site URL, platform and resource needs. Agree who handles files, databases, DNS and any additional work. Use an agreed secure channel for access; do not send passwords in a general enquiry.
- Prepare a recoverable copy. Confirm a current backup of the files and databases, who holds it and how the old site can be recovered if needed.
- Test the copy. Review pages, images, forms, internal links, downloads and integrations using an agreed preview method. Confirm what requires a real transaction or other separately approved test.
- Plan the domain change. Preserve existing mail and verification records, agree the website DNS change and check SSL. Keep the old hosting available during the agreed transition period.
- Check after the switch. Verify the public site, important forms and contact paths, and confirm email still routes correctly before closing the old service.
Timing depends on the source platform, access, compatibility, DNS and the work agreed. Migration scope, timing and any additional charges are agreed after the compatibility review.
Keep the existing website, or reconsider the build?
Keep it and manage it
If the site already does the job and you or your developer maintain it, start by comparing our shared hosting allowances.
Check hosting size →Rebuild with ongoing help
If the site needs a new structure or you want someone handling routine content changes, discuss the managed website scope before deciding on a rebuild.
Compare hosting and management →Weighing a rebuild against keeping and moving the site? The plumbing website cost guide sets out those cost lines before you decide.
Questions before you choose
Can every website be moved?
No. Some platforms cannot be exported as a working standalone site, and custom applications may have requirements outside these shared plans. We need to check the platform and scope before confirming a move.
Will changing hosting interrupt email?
A hosting change needs a DNS plan that preserves your mail routing and related records. Email migration is a separate task; changing website hosting alone does not transfer existing mailboxes.
Can I cancel the old host as soon as I order?
Keep the old hosting and a recoverable backup until the new copy has been tested and the transition checks are complete. Agree the retention period before making changes.
What we check before and after a move
- Check compatibility. Identify the platform, export options, databases, storage, forms and who has access. Confirm what can be copied and agree the scope before ordering.
- Preview and test. Test the copied site, key pages and forms before switching traffic. For a hosted builder with limited export options, compare a rebuild.
- Plan the switch. Record DNS and identify your mail provider. Follow the domain and email checklist before changing records.
- Verify and keep a fallback. Check HTTPS, key URLs, forms and incoming and outgoing email. Keep the old hosting and a recoverable backup until the checks pass.
Explore a contractor site redesign or compare website costs.