Offer: Build the site for free, pay a monthly fee instead — what's the catch?

Beyza D***last month·48 messages·5.8K views#free website #agency agreement #maintenance fee #code ownership

Job title: Sales Manager
Sector: E-commerce
Organization type: a company within a holding
Joined: Jul 2023
Message: 197

last month#1

We are an 8-person plumbing and HVAC company operating in Frankfurt. Our current website is way outdated, so we reached out to a local digital agency. They came back with an interesting proposal: they said they would design and build the website for completely 0 Euro, i.e. for free, but in return, we would have to sign a 24-month contract paying 149 Euro a month for hosting, maintenance, updates, and SEO support.

At first glance, skipping an upfront cost of 2,000 - 3,000 Euro to get a website built sounded really appealing for our cash flow. But when we asked about contract specifics, they gave vague responses implying that the source code and design would remain on their servers, and if we ever wanted to leave after the contract ends, the site wouldn't be transferred to us.

What are the real total costs and hidden risks behind these kinds of 'free website build' offers? Do you actually come out ahead over a two-year period, or are we walking right into a trap in terms of exit terms and data ownership?

Jale P***MemberCommunity member

Joined: Mar 2024
Message: 207

last monthMost Helpful#2

Short answer: This offer is not a free website; it is an installment-based software leasing model totaling 3,576 Euro over two years. If ownership of the code and design is not transferred to you, you are left with zero digital assets at the end of the contract and become permanently locked in with the agency.

Let's do the math: at 149 Euro per month, you will have paid 3,576 Euro over 24 months. In the German market, a turnkey corporate WordPress website for a local trade business of your size typically runs between 1,800 and 2,500 Euro as a one-time fee. Reliable cloud hosting and essential maintenance shouldn't exceed 25-40 Euro per month. Under an independent setup, your total spend after 24 months would land around the 2,500-3,200 Euro mark, and the site would be 100% your own property.

The most dangerous part is the 'we keep the code, it is non-transferable' clause. When the 24 months are up and the agency decides to hike the fee to 250 Euro a month, your hands will be tied. If you try to walk away, they will pull the plug on your site; two years of hard-earned local Google rankings, links to customer reviews, and site structure will vanish overnight. A web asset without independent hosting is not an asset your business truly owns.

If you need to pay for the initial setup in installments due to cash flow, absolutely do not sign without having these terms in the contract: 1) The domain must strictly be registered in your name, 2) Once the 24-month commitment ends, the site's entire source code and database must be handed over to you in full, 3) It must explicitly state that no transfer or licensing fees will be demanded if you decide to leave at the end of the term. If they won't agree to these terms, turn down the offer right away.

İlker P***Member

Job title: Graphic Designer
Sector: Education
Organization type: early-stage startup
Joined: Nov 2022
Message: 162

last month#3

We signed a similar contract in Germany 3 years ago. We were paying 120 Euro a month, and when the contract ended, we wanted to leave. Not only did they refuse to hand over the site's code, but because they had registered the domain under their own account, they even demanded an 800 Euro transfer fee just to give the domain back. We lost over 4,000 Euro in total, and in the end, we had to have a website built from scratch anyway.

Metin Ö***MemberCommunity member

Joined: Aug 2024
Message: 356

last month#4

Of course it's free, sure, agencies are well known for running charities! What they're trying to sell you for 149 Euro a month is really just 5 Euro hosting and clicking the update button on a WordPress plugin once a month. And when you decide to walk away after two years, you'll be left with absolutely nothing. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

AylinMember

Job title: CRM and email
Organization type: 300-person organization
Joined: Jun 2024
Message: 118

last month#5

If you want to spread out the cash outflow, be upfront with the agency: tell them "Let's buy the site outright for 2,000 Euro, split it into 4 installments for us, hand over the code, and we'll only discuss monthly maintenance if we actually need it." An honest agency will accept that model. An agency trying to chain you to them will immediately start making excuses.

edit: fixed a few typos.

Alper K***Member

Job title: Content Editor
Sector: Sports and fitness
Organization type: sole proprietorship
Joined: Mar 2024
Message: 60

last month#6

Ask for an itemized breakdown in writing of exactly which SEO and maintenance services are included in that 149 Euro a month. Most agencies don't include any actual work in these packages; they don't add new content, nor do they do any local maps optimization. You just end up paying a regular monthly invoice for something you're not even receiving.

Koray Ç***Member

Job title: Network Administrator
Sector: Tourism
Organization type: sole proprietorship
Joined: Apr 2025
Message: 55

Doki · Penetration test · 2026

last month#7

The technical side of things is crystal clear: if you don't have SSH or FTP access to the server infrastructure running the site, or the permission to export the database, that site is not yours. If that agency shuts down or goes bankrupt tomorrow, you won't even be able to salvage a backup of your site. Independent hosting on an open-source stack is always the safest route.

Gökhan D***ExpertCommunity member

Joined: Jan 2023
Message: 316

last month#8

3 clauses you should definitely have your lawyer or a consultant review before signing the contract: 1) Termination notice period: Does it automatically renew if notice isn't given at least 3 months before the 24 months are up? 2) Intellectual property: Who owns the design rights? 3) Migration rights: What format do they provide when exporting your content if you decide to leave?

Okan Ş***Member

Job title: IT manager
Sector: Plastic
Organization type: two-branch business
Joined: Jun 2022
Message: 187

last month#9

Honestly, I'd stay far away from this. In Germany's trades and crafts sector, the most valuable asset you have is your local Google visibility. If you have a falling out with the agency tomorrow and the site gets shut down, you'll vanish from search results too, and your customers will go straight to the competition. anyway pay upfront, keep full ownership in your hands and have total peace of mind.

edit: fixed a few typos.

Damla K***MemberCommunity member

Joined: Jun 2023
Message: 294

last month#10

The general consensus from what's been discussed is this: this isn't a grant or free work, it's a long-term, binding lease model. The total cost ends up exceeding the upfront price, and worst of all, you don't get any ownership rights. Either have the offer revised to include an ownership clause in the contract, or reject it outright.