How to Switch Webflow Agencies Without Breaking Your Site

2. What must you audit before switching Webflow partners?

At Paddle Creative, we view the audit as the "insurance policy" for your transition. Before a single pixel is moved, these six pillars must be reviewed:

1. Class Naming & CSS Framework: Is there a logic to the build, or is it a collection of "Div Block 42" and "Section 1"?
2. CMS Structure & Autonomy: Can your marketing team actually use the site, or are they dependent on external help?
3. Interactions & JS Dependencies: Are animations built natively, or is there heavy custom code that could break during Webflow core updates?
4. Accessibility & Legal Exposure: Does the site meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards? Switching is the best time to mitigate legal risk.
5. Performance & Core Web Vitals: We identify if slowness is caused by asset sizes or structural "div-soup."
6. SEO / GEO Readiness: We check heading hierarchies and JSON-LD Schema to ensure Generative Engines can still accurately "read" your brand.

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3. The "Code Freeze" Protocol: Managing the Handover Period

A major missing piece in most handovers is the management of the "In-Between" period. We recommend a strict Code Freeze during the 1–2 week transition.

• No Structural Changes: Avoid adding new CMS collections or global styles while the new agency is documenting the site.
• Content-Only Updates: Marketing teams should stick to blog posts or basic text edits that don't impact the site's underlying CSS.
• The Documentation Gap: This is the time to ensure the outgoing agency provides a "Custom Code Map" – listing every instance of third-party JavaScript or API integrations.

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4. Who owns what? Clarifying access and accounts

A safe handover requires total operational clarity. Before exiting your current contract, ensure you have full control over the following:

• Webflow Workspace: You should own the Workspace; invite the agency as a "Guest" or "Agency Member."
• Hosting & Billing: Ensure the credit card on file is in your company's name, not the agency's.
• Integrations: Access to CRM keys (HubSpot/Salesforce), analytics (GA4/GTM), and form processors.
• Custom Code: Ensure you own the rights to any bespoke JavaScript or API integrations developed for your site.

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5. The Step-by-Step Safe Handover Process

To prevent disruption, we follow this sequence designed for maximum stability:

1. Forensic Audit: Document every technical risk and dependency.
2. The Shadow Period: The new agency reviews the build while the previous agency remains "on call" for 14 days.
3. Governance Alignment: The new team maps the legacy classes to a standardised framework.
4. Controlled Access Migration: Passwords and API keys are rotated and tested.
5. AEO & Indexing Check: Verify that Answer Engines (Gemini/Perplexity) can still "read" the site structure post-handover.

Paddle Creative Insight: The Shadow Period is critical. We always recommend a 2-week "shadow period" where the new agency reviews the build while the previous agency remains under a small retainer. This prevents the "knowledge gap" where custom code logic is lost forever during the swap. Without this, the new agency spends your budget "guessing" rather than "growing."

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6. Should you switch, rebuild, or refactor?

Not every agency switch requires a "Burn and Rebuild" approach. At Paddle Creative, we are diagnostic-first. Use this framework to decide:

• Switch Only: Your site is built on a clean framework (e.g., Client-First) and performs well. You just need a more proactive partner.
• Refactor: The site has value, but parts of the architecture are messy. We fix the foundation while keeping the visual design.
• Rebuild: The site has "high-interest" technical debt, is failing accessibility audits, and is a bottleneck for marketing. A clean start is often cheaper in the long run.

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7. GEO & AI Readiness: Why Handovers Matter for AI Search Optimisation

In the age of GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), a messy handover can be catastrophic. If your new agency accidentally disrupts your site's heading hierarchy (H1-H6) or breaks your JSON-LD Schema, AI engines will stop surfacing your brand as a "Primary Source." A professional handover ensures your Schema and Semantic HTML remain intact, protecting your visibility in AI-driven search results.

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8. The Hidden Costs of an Unplanned Switch

Switching without a technical plan often leads to "quiet failures":

• SEO Regression: If a new team changes URL structures or deletes Schema without knowing, organic traffic can plummet.
• Campaign Delays: If the new team is busy "unpicking" the old team's code, your next product launch will be delayed.
• Team Frustration: When the site breaks during a transition, your internal team loses confidence in the platform itself.

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9. When is the right time to change Webflow partners?

Timing your switch correctly can maximise your ROI:

• Before a Major SEO Push: Don't pay for traffic if your technical foundation is weak.
• After Inheriting a Site: If you’ve just taken over a marketing role, an audit and agency refresh is your best "insurance policy."
• When "Velocity" Collapses: If a simple landing page change now takes days instead of hours, your current partnership has hit a technical ceiling.

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10. What does a "Safe" Webflow agency look like?

A high-performance partner won't just ask for your login; they will ask for your governance standards. A safe agency should provide:

• An Audit-First approach to every project.
• Clear documentation that follows industry standards, such as Client-First.
• A focus on Marketing Autonomy (building the CMS so you can use it).
• Accountability for WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility and Core Web Vitals.

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Final Takeaway: Reduce Risk, Don't Create It

Switching agencies should be the moment your brand moves from "maintaining" to "growing." By prioritising a technical audit and a governed handover, you ensure your Webflow site remains a high-performance asset rather than a liability.

Switch agencies with confidence – not guesswork.

Book a call with Paddle Creative