We recently worked with a local dispensary that hired us to redo their website. They already had a site online, but the setup details had been lost over time. The only login available was to the domain registrar. There was no access to Cloudflare, no hosting account, and because orders were coming in all day, downtime simply wasn’t an option.
On paper, a website migration should be straightforward. But without full access, even small changes can quickly become complicated.
What made it tricky
- We had to launch a new site without touching the old one.
- The client didn’t have Cloudflare or hosting logins.
- Their online menu had to stay live—because even a short outage could mean lost sales.
The outcome
To solve this, we set up a new Cloudflare account, connected it to fresh hosting, and rebuilt the domain settings based on the pieces we did have—like the registrar login and the live menu link.
When it was time to switch, we moved the domain during a short window, tested everything immediately, and kept the ordering system live. The new website launched smoothly, and customers never experienced a disruption.
A quick owner’s checklist
This project reminded us how important it is for business owners to have the “keys” to their online presence. You don’t need to use these logins every day, but if you don’t have them, even a routine update can spiral into a big problem.
Here’s what every business should always keep in a password manager:
- Domain registrar (where the domain was purchased, like GoDaddy or Namecheap). Without this, you can’t control where your site lives.
- DNS/Cloudflare (the “address book” of the internet, pointing traffic to the right place).
- Hosting (the server where your site runs).
- Website admin (WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace—whatever platform you use).
- Email admin (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or your provider).
Beyond the basics, it’s just as important to have access to tools that tie directly to revenue and communication: payment processors, ordering systems, forms, chat, analytics, and ad pixels. If you don’t own these logins, you don’t really own your setup.
Before and after a migration
Whenever we prepare a migration, we recommend a simple checklist to reduce risks.
Before switching:
- Confirm logins to registrar, DNS, hosting, and website admin.
- Identify where email is hosted and what records it needs.
- Preview the new site privately on its new host.
- Make sure HTTPS (the padlock) is ready.
Right after switching:
- Homepage loads securely.
- Menu or checkout still works.
- Forms send to the right inbox.
- Email still sends and receives.
These quick checks give confidence that everything is functioning as it should.
Final thought
Not every migration is this complex. Some are smooth, others involve chasing down missing logins or working with past vendors. That’s normal. What matters is planning the steps, checking the essentials, and keeping the business running throughout the transition.
Taking ten minutes to gather your core logins now can save hours of stress later. It’s the difference between a calm upgrade and a fire drill.