The verdict in three sentences
When an agency or freelancer disappears at 70% of a project, the first useful spend is a code audit of EUR 2,000 to 6,000 (about USD 2,200 to 6,500), done in 1 to 2 weeks, before any promise of a rescue. Depending on code quality, the rescue costs 30 to 60% of the original budget, and about 1 project in 3 must be largely rewritten. The absolute priority is recovering access (Git repository, hosting, DNS, third-party accounts), followed by a source code escrow so this never happens again.
The first 10 days: recover what belongs to you
Before discussing technology, secure your assets. Every lost day increases the risk that a subscription expires or a server is deleted for non-payment.
| Asset to recover | Where to find it | Risk if missing | Target delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain name and DNS | Registrar (OVH, Gandi, GoDaddy) | Website and email down | 48 h |
| Hosting and databases | AWS, OVHcloud, Scaleway, Vercel | Loss of customer data | 72 h |
| Source code repository | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket | Rescue impossible, full rewrite | 5 days |
| App store accounts (Apple, Google) | Developer consoles | App removed from stores | 7 days |
| Third-party services (Stripe, Brevo, Twilio) | Agency invoices and emails | Payments or SMS blocked | 7 days |
| Documentation and designs | Figma, Notion, Drive | Analysis cost doubled | 10 days |
If the agency stops responding, a lawyer's demand letter (EUR 300 to 800 in France, typically USD 500 to 1,500 in New York) often unlocks access. Code you paid for belongs to you only if the contract includes an assignment of rights (a work-for-hire or IP assignment clause in the US): reread it first. Registrars and hosts usually accept a transfer upon proof of ownership (company registration, invoices).
The code audit: what it measures and what it costs
The audit turns a vague situation into a costed decision: rescue, partial refactor or rewrite. A serious auditor delivers a report with a score per module and an estimate in days.
| Audit level | Scope | Duration | Budget (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express | Code reading, dependencies, critical flaws | 3 to 4 days | EUR 2,000 to 3,000 |
| Standard | + architecture, tests, performance, database | 6 to 8 days | EUR 3,500 to 5,000 |
| In-depth | + light penetration test, environment rebuild | 8 to 10 days | EUR 5,000 to 6,000 |
In New York, local consultancies typically charge 1.5 to 2 times these amounts. Signals of a likely rewrite: dependencies not updated in over 3 years, no tests at all, business logic copied across 10 files, plaintext passwords in the code, an abandoned framework. Conversely, well-structured code on a mainstream framework (Laravel, Symfony, Next.js, Django) can usually be rescued at 30 to 40% of the original budget.
Rescue, partial rebuild or rewrite
| Scenario | Share of projects | Rescue cost | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rescue and finish | About 1 in 3 | 30 to 40% of original budget | 1 to 3 months |
| Partial rebuild of critical modules | About 1 in 3 | 40 to 60% | 2 to 4 months |
| Rewrite reusing designs and data | About 1 in 3 | 60 to 100% | 3 to 6 months |
A rewrite is not a failure: it benefits from validated specifications, designs and user feedback, which often makes it 30% faster than the original project.
Going forward, two contractual protections: a source code escrow with a specialized third party (EUR 300 to 1,500 a year; US escrow providers charge USD 1,000 to 3,000), and a clause requiring weekly deliveries to a repository you own.
Mini case study
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Sophie, founder of a booking platform for fitness coaches, paid EUR 48,000 to an agency that stopped responding at 70% of the project. A standard audit at EUR 4,200 concludes that the Laravel back end is sound but the front end must be redone. The rescue is priced at EUR 22,000, 46% of the original budget, for a launch in 10 weeks.
Total cost: 48,000 + 4,200 + 22,000 = EUR 74,200. A full rewrite without an audit had been estimated at EUR 52,000 and 5 months. The audit therefore saved about EUR 25,800 and 2 months of lost revenue.
FAQ
Can a project be rescued without access to the Git repository?
Yes, if the code still runs on an accessible server: it can be extracted in 1 to 2 days. With neither server nor repository, only a rewrite is possible, based on designs and specifications.
Who owns the code paid to the failed agency?
Ownership depends on an explicit assignment or work-for-hire clause; without one, the agency may retain copyright. An IP lawyer charges EUR 1,500 to 4,000 (USD 3,000 to 8,000 in New York) to secure the situation.
Can you recover part of the money paid?
A breach of contract claim is possible, but litigation costs EUR 5,000 to 15,000 or more and takes 12 to 24 months. If the agency is insolvent, file your claim with the administrator within the statutory deadline (2 months in France).
How long before development restarts?
Allow 2 to 3 weeks between recovering access, the audit and the estimate. Development usually resumes in week 4.
How do you prevent this from happening again?
Require a repository in your name, demos every two weeks and payment by validated milestones, never more than 30% upfront. Code escrow completes the setup for EUR 300 to 1,500 a year.
Let's scope your project. We audit your abandoned application in 1 to 2 weeks for EUR 2,000 to 6,000, then price the rescue with a 1 to 6 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
