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What to take before you leave a locked CMS

Free · $0

Domain, Google owners, ads, analytics, content - on YOUR name before you cancel.

Who for: US home-service shops of 1-15 on a bundled site / ads / phone platform where the vendor holds the keys. Common brand example shops ask about: Scorpion-style locked CMS bundles (and similar all-in-one stacks). This checklist is about getting your access back.

Who not: Shops that already own domain + Google Business Profile + ads accounts in their legal name. Anyone looking for dirt on a vendor. Use your contract + a lawyer for disputes.

A week-1 keys list so cancel day does not orphan your card, ads, or content.

A locked CMS often rents you a site, tracking, and sometimes the phone path. That works fine while you stay. The trouble starts when you leave and the domain, Google owners, ads login, and content all live in the vendor's account. Get the keys first, then cancel.

Access list (get these BEFORE cancel)

  • Domain registrar login (or written auth code + unlock) in YOUR name / company
  • DNS host access (where A / CNAME / MX live)
  • Google Business Profile: you are Owner (not only Manager); recover if needed
  • Google Ads / LSA (if used): admin access under YOUR Google account / MCC you control
  • Call tracking / phone numbers: list of numbers, where they forward, and whether you can port
  • Analytics / Tag Manager / pixels: admin on accounts you own
  • Website content export: pages, blog, job photos, service copy, redirects map
  • Reviews: they live on Google (good). Confirm the card is yours so you do not lose the entity
  • Email / workspace: MX and mailboxes not stranded on vendor DNS
  • Contracts / invoices / notice period: read the cancel clause; calendar the notice date

What usually stays locked (plan for it)

  • Custom theme / page builder that only runs on their platform
  • Proprietary chat / form / call widget that dies when the contract ends
  • Vendor-owned tracking numbers (port early or publish YOUR numbers first)
  • Ads accounts opened under the vendor (request transfer; rebuild if they refuse)
  • Historical call recordings stored only in their portal (download samples you need)

Vendors differ. Read YOUR agreement. Do not assume every shop has the same lock.

Week-1 keys vs platform rent

Week-1 keys (you should own): Google card, domain, DNS, ads logins, analytics, your phone numbers, your review entity. Platform rent (optional later): fancy site animations, vendor CRM, bundled reputation tools you can replace. Rule: never cancel the rent until the keys are in YOUR name and a forwarding / SMS path still rings a phone you hear.

Exit week, in order

  1. Inventory the access list. Screenshot who is Owner on GBP and Ads.
  2. Move domain / DNS / mail if they are not yours.
  3. Publish YOUR tracking numbers on the card and site; test tap-to-call.
  4. Export content + redirects. Stand up a simple site you control (even a thin one).
  5. Transfer or rebuild ads. Pause spend only after numbers and conversion tracking work on YOUR stack.
  6. Send cancel notice per contract. Keep the old site live until DNS cutover is proven.

What to do today

  1. Tick the access list. Star anything you cannot log into this week.
  2. Fix Owner on the Google card first if you are only a Manager.
  3. Want this walked on YOUR logins? Book a $497 teardown (deep $997). Credited to setup if you start the main pack within 14 days.
Book a $497 teardown

Missed-call checklistGoogle-card checklist

Better Call Stan - home-service growth for small shops. Not affiliated with JustCall. Not affiliated with Scorpion or other CMS vendors. One shop per trade per ZIP cluster. You keep the keys from day 1.