Website migration service
Move your WordPress site to a new host without losing email, forms or rankings
I move small business websites across the US and Canada to new hosting or a VPS: files, database, domain, SSL, email, redirects and contact forms, then test everything after the switch. Migration starts from $50, in US dollars.
Files and database
Your pages, media library, theme, plugins and database copied across with the settings that keep the site looking and working the same.
Domain and DNS
Your domain registrar, DNS records and subdomains reviewed, then the switch timed so visitors notice nothing.
SSL
HTTPS configured on the new server, with redirects and the certificate checked so browsers show the padlock, not a warning.
Website forms, SMTP and the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records tested so messages keep reaching Gmail and Outlook inboxes.
Why moving a site is more than copying files
A WordPress site lives in several places at once: files, a database, DNS settings, an SSL certificate and often a separate email service. Miss one of them and the site may look fine while your contact form quietly stops delivering. That is the kind of problem I plan for in advance.
Backup before anything moves
I save a full copy of files and database first, so there is always a way back if something unexpected turns up.
Host compatibility
PHP version, database, extensions, memory limits, scheduled tasks and file permissions checked against what your site actually needs.
DNS and domain
Name servers and records updated carefully, including the ones that carry your email, then monitored while the change spreads.
SSL and redirects
HTTPS, www versus non-www, http to https and old addresses all pointed at the right place so search engines follow along.
Forms and email
Every inquiry form sent as a test, with sender addresses and spam handling checked, so no lead goes missing.
Check after launch
Homepage, key pages, admin login, forms, images, error logs, speed and indexing reviewed once the site is live on the new host.
A good move is nearly invisible to your customers
A homeowner searching for an electrician or a patient booking a dental visit should land on the same site, the same pages and the same working form as before. The only difference is on my side: the site is on a more stable footing and easier to look after.
- Before the move, I review the current host, database, DNS records and email setup.
- After the move, I test forms, SSL, redirects, the admin area and the pages visitors see most.
- If the site is old, the move can be combined with a PHP upgrade or a security review.
Covers: shared hosting, VPS, DNS, SSL, SMTP, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, databases, redirects and backups. VPS setup starts from $50.
How the migration works, step by step
A fixed order keeps the risk low for your data, your email and your search visibility.
Review
Current host, WordPress setup, PHP version, database, DNS and email.
Backup
Full copy of files, database and settings.
Build
Site installed on the new host or VPS and tested before anyone is sent there.
Switch
DNS, SSL, redirects and email records updated at a quiet hour for your business.
Test
Pages, forms, test emails, admin access, errors and speed.
Signs it is time to change hosts
- The site goes down or throws server errors from time to time
- Pages load slowly even after basic fixes
- Your host runs an outdated PHP version and will not upgrade it
- You are not sure backups exist, or where they are
- Email from your forms goes missing or lands in spam
- The host suspended the site or flagged it for resource use
- The site has outgrown a cheap shared plan and needs a VPS
- You suspect the site was hacked
- The person who built it is gone and nobody looks after it
- Your busy season is coming, whether holiday shopping, tax season or storm season, and you want a steadier server first
Questions small business owners ask about moving a website
Will my site go offline while it moves?
It should not for any meaningful time. I build and test the site on the new host first, then switch the domain. DNS changes can take a while to reach everyone, so the switch can be timed for a quiet hour in your time zone.
What do you need from me?
Usually logins for the current host, the new host, your domain registrar or DNS panel, and WordPress admin. If you do not know where some of these are, we figure it out together at the start.
Can you move my site to a VPS?
Yes. A VPS gives you more control, but it needs real setup: web server, PHP, database, SSL, email, backups and security. VPS setup starts from $50.
What happens to my business email?
If your email runs through Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 or another provider, it should not move at all, but I verify the MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records so nothing breaks. Website form emails get tested separately.
Will I lose my Google rankings?
Not if the address structure stays the same and redirects are set correctly. I also check the sitemap, robots file and your key pages afterward. I cannot promise a ranking, but a clean move should not cost you one.
Can you move an online store?
Yes, with extra checks: orders, the payment gateway such as Stripe, PayPal or Square, shipping rates for carriers like UPS, USPS or Canada Post, tax settings, and order emails. I test each one before switching.
Do I have to change my domain?
No. Your domain stays where it is, and only its DNS settings point to the new host.
My site is old and homemade. Can it be moved?
Often yes, but I look at the PHP version, database and dependencies first, since old code can fail on a modern server. It may be a good moment to talk about updating the site.
What should I do after the move?
Click through your own pages, send yourself a form test and watch your inbox for a few days. I do the same checks, and I also recommend regular backups and updates from here on.
Do you work with businesses in both the US and Canada?
Yes. I work remotely with small businesses on both sides of the border, and prices are in US dollars. If you serve customers in English and French, I will account for that during the move.
Start with a free migration review
Tell me where your site lives now and where you want it to go. I will reply with what the move involves and what it would cost.