Website projects are often assumed complete once “the website can open,” but in fact many items need to be confirmed one by one at delivery. These items are easy to handle during the cooperation period; once that stage passes, communication costs rise noticeably.
Accounts and Ownership
- The domain is registered in the enterprise’s own name, and the registration account and password are controlled by the enterprise.
- The right to use the server or hosting space is clearly attributed, and who is responsible for renewal and how much it costs are documented in writing.
- The website backend administrator account is independent of the service provider, and the enterprise can log in and change the password itself.
- The validity period and renewal method of the security certificate are clear.
Content and Functionality
- Agreed pages, sections, and functions are checked item by item to confirm they all work properly.
- Contact details, address, map location, and other information are accurate.
- Forms, messages, and online inquiries can be submitted normally, and the enterprise receives notifications.
- The site has actually been opened and checked on mobile phones, tablets, and computers, not just viewed in the development environment.
Search and Data
- Basic information such as page titles and descriptions has been filled in separately according to each page’s content, rather than being identical across the whole site.
- The sitemap has been submitted to search engines, and indexing status can be checked.
- The analytics tool account belongs to the enterprise, and data can be exported at any time.
- It has been confirmed that no configuration preventing search engine crawling remains.
Backups and Technical Documentation
- There is a usable backup of website files and the database, and the enterprise has kept a copy itself.
- Delivery includes necessary documentation: account list, operating instructions, and available technical support methods.
- The scope of subsequent maintenance and response methods are clearly defined, including what is covered by free support and what requires additional payment.
Judging Price and Schedule
For proposals with excessively low prices and promised schedules, the risks usually do not show at signing but in the above areas: unclear ownership, missing functions, and no one responding afterward. Conversely, a high price does not automatically mean standardized delivery.
Rather than comparing quotes, it is better to clearly write the delivery scope, acceptance criteria, and after-sales responsibilities into the contract. The purpose of an acceptance checklist is to turn “what was agreed” into “something that can be checked item by item.”
It is recommended to go through the checklist at delivery and pay the final balance only after confirming everything is correct. This step does not take much time and can avoid prolonged disputes later.