The verdict in three sentences
When the domain name is registered to your former freelancer and hosting is inaccessible, the first expense is not technical: it is a takeover audit at 600 to 1,500 EUR (about 700 to 1,750 USD, 2026 market estimate) that establishes what you actually own. Recovering the domain takes 2 to 8 weeks depending on the holder's cooperation and the procedure used. After that, the decision is a numbers game: repair at 2,000 to 8,000 EUR if the code is sound, new site at 6,000 to 15,000 EUR if it is not.
What a website takeover costs in Miami in 2026
In Miami, the case is common in yachting, luxury real estate and events: a freelancer built the site five or six years ago, registered everything in their own name for convenience, then stopped working. The figures below are 2026 market orders of magnitude, not Kolonell prices.
| Step (2026 market estimate) | Cost | Timeline | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takeover audit | 600 to 1,500 EUR (700 to 1,750 USD) | 3 to 7 days | Access inventory, code health, vulnerabilities, technical debt |
| Amicable domain recovery | 0 to 300 EUR | 1 to 3 weeks | Transfer via authorization code (AuthCode) |
| Registrar procedure or dispute | 500 to 2,500 EUR | 4 to 8 weeks | Forced transfer if you prove commercial use |
| Hosting migration | 300 to 900 EUR | 2 to 5 days | Site copied to an account in your name |
| Repair | 2,000 to 8,000 EUR | 2 to 6 weeks | Updates, security, fixes, performance |
| New site | 6,000 to 15,000 EUR (7,000 to 17,500 USD) | 6 to 12 weeks | New build, content migrated, online booking or quotes |
If the former provider cannot be reached, registrars and ICANN's dispute policy (UDRP) offer recovery or dispute routes. They require evidence: invoices, company registration, a history of commercial use of the name. Gather it before the audit even starts.
Takeover checklist
The audit must answer one question: what belongs to you, and what still belongs to someone else? Every line in the table below must end up "in the company's name".
| Item | Where to check | Risk if not recovered | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Whois, registrar account | Loss of website and email | Critical |
| DNS zone and email | Registrar, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 | Mailboxes cut off overnight | Critical |
| Hosting | Host's billing | Site deleted when the bill goes unpaid | High |
| Source code and database | Server, Git repository if any | Unable to edit or migrate | High |
| Google Search Console and Analytics | Declared owners | Visitor history lost | Medium |
| Google Business Profile | Profile managers | Reviews and local visibility locked | High |
| Licences (theme, plugins, booking engine) | Vendor accounts | No updates, vulnerabilities | Medium |
Going forward, a reversibility clause in every web contract solves the problem: domain and accounts in the client's name from day one, access and code handed over within 15 days on request, minimal documentation provided.
Repair or rebuild: how to decide
Repair makes sense if the site is under five years old, runs on a mainstream CMS and the audit finds little undocumented custom code. Beyond that, the cost of understanding existing code quickly exceeds the cost of a new site. For comparison, Kolonell's 11/10/2026 grid puts a Growth website at 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (about 1,830 to 3,050 EUR) and Premium at 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (about 3,050 to 5,340 EUR), with domain and accounts registered to the client. Maintenance then runs at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA a month.
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Marc, owner of a yacht charter company in Miami, has been unable to update his online rates since March. The domain is registered to his former freelancer, who moved abroad. He orders a 900 EUR audit, starts a registrar recovery procedure (1,200 EUR, 6 weeks), then compares both options. Estimated repair: 5,500 EUR, on a 2019 theme with an abandoned booking plugin. New site: 9,000 EUR, booking included. Over 3 years, repair adds about 2,500 EUR of likely fixes, so 8,000 EUR, against 9,000 EUR for a debt-free new site. With 40 charters a season at 3,500 EUR on average, a single extra direct booking covers the 1,000 EUR gap. Marc chooses the new site.
FAQ
How much does an audit of an abandoned website cost?
Between 600 and 1,500 EUR on the market in 2026, depending on site size and the number of connected services. The audit should deliver an access inventory and a costed estimate of both scenarios.
How long does it take to recover a domain name?
1 to 3 weeks if the former holder provides the transfer code, 4 to 8 weeks through a registrar or dispute procedure. Invoices and proof of commercial use speed things up considerably.
Can my former freelancer keep the source code?
Without an assignment clause, rights to the code may remain with the developer. Check your quotes and invoices: a work-for-hire or IP assignment clause changes everything.
Is it better to repair or rebuild the site?
Repair (2,000 to 8,000 EUR) pays off if the site is under five years old and on a standard CMS. Beyond that, a new site (6,000 to 15,000 EUR on the market) is often cheaper over 3 years.
How do I stop this from happening again?
Require a reversibility clause: domain, hosting and Google accounts in your name, access handed over within 15 days. A written maintenance contract (35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month at Kolonell) also guarantees a reachable contact.
Let's scope your project. List what you still have access to: we will price the takeover audit, then compare repair and rebuild using Kolonell's grid. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33 or request a free quote.
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.
