Cancelling a website project: what you still pay

Key takeaways

If you cancel a website project, you usually pay for work done to date, and deposits are often non-refundable once work has started. The exact amount depends on your contract's cancellation clause. Before cancelling, check that clause, get the work completed so far handed over, and confirm your domain, hosting and content are in your name.

• Usually owed: work completed to date.
• Deposits: often non-refundable after work starts.
• Check the contract's cancellation clause.
• Secure handover of work, logins and domain.

What do you pay if you cancel a website project?

You usually pay for work completed up to cancellation, as set out in the contract, and deposits often cover early work and are non-refundable once it has started. Some contracts add a cancellation fee. Business contracts have fewer statutory cancellation rights than consumer purchases.

• Website contract clauses that protect your budget
• How much does a business website cost in the UK?

What should you check before cancelling?

Before cancelling, check the cancellation and termination clause, what has been delivered and approved, what has been paid, who owns the work done and who controls the domain, hosting and logins. These decide your cost and how easily you can continue elsewhere.

• Cancellation clause and notice.
• Work delivered and paid for.
• Ownership of completed work.
• Control of domain, hosting and logins.

• Who owns your website, domain and content?

Do you get the work you paid for?

You should get the work you paid for, but copyright stays with the creator unless assigned. If assignment is tied to final payment, negotiate assignment of completed work in exchange for paying for it. Ask for design files, code and content in usable form.

How do you exit cleanly?

Exit cleanly by giving written notice under the contract, agreeing a final invoice for work done, paying promptly, and getting files, logins and copyright for paid work. Keep communications polite and written. A clean exit saves more than a dispute.

When should you not cancel?

Do not cancel over small delays or disagreements that a frank conversation could fix. Switching suppliers mid-project usually costs more than finishing, because a new team must learn and often redo work.

• Website scope creep: how projects go over budget

What does this look like in practice?

At Global Bridge Labs (GBL), a UK brewery cancelled a project after months of missed milestones. Their contract tied copyright to final payment. They agreed to pay for completed designs in exchange for the files and assignment, then finished the build with us without starting design again.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses

Cancellation checklist

• Read the cancellation clause.
• List work delivered and paid.
• Confirm control of domain and hosting.
• Agree a final invoice for work done.
• Get files, logins and copyright.
• Keep everything in writing.

• Should you tell a web designer your budget?
• Paid discovery phase: is it worth paying before the build?

Next step

Before sending notice, list what you need handed over to continue elsewhere. Make handover part of the final payment agreement.