Web agency without subscription in Switzerland: what that means for you

The subscription model has become widespread on the web in recent years. Many agencies and platforms now offer websites at attractive monthly prices. On the surface, it's practical. In reality, there is a fundamental question that we rarely ask before signing: who owns the site?

The problem with web subscriptions

When you sign a subscription contract for a website, you are paying for access to a service. Like a Netflix or Spotify subscription. As long as you pay, you have access. When you stop, you lose access.

This model has logic for software or digital content. For a business website, it's different. Your site is a showcase, a reference, sometimes the main sales tool of your activity. It contains your content, your SEO structure built over time, your service pages, your blog articles. If this content disappears because you decided to change provider, you lose everything you have built online.

What “code owner” actually means

A website is built with code: HTML, CSS, JavaScript files, and a database if the site is dynamic. When we talk about code ownership, it means that these files are given to you upon delivery of the project. You can store them, host them wherever you want, pass them to another developer for future modifications.

It's the difference between buying a car and leasing it. Either way, you ride. But if you own the car, you can resell it, modify it, or choose who you have it serviced by.

Real costs over time

Let's take a concrete example. A subscription website at 120 CHF per month. Over five years, you paid CHF 7,200. You own nothing.

A website with a one-time payment of 5,000 CHF, hosting at 25 CHF per month. Over five years, you paid 6,500 CHF. You own the code. The total price difference over five years is small. The difference in control and flexibility is significant.

What some agencies don't say clearly

The subscription model is profitable for the agency because it creates dependency. You find it hard to leave because leaving means losing everything.

Some agencies go further: they register your domain name in their name, not yours. If the contract ends badly, getting your domain name back can become complicated.

Before signing with any provider, explicitly check: who owns the domain name, who has access to the hosting, and what happens to the code if the contract ends.

What to ask before signing

Three questions to ask any web agency before signing a contract in Switzerland:

First, is the site code delivered to me at the end of the project and do I own it? The answer must be yes, unambiguously.

Second, who registers my domain name and under what name? It must be registered in your name, with your contact details as technical and administrative contact.

Third, what happens if I want to change providers in two years? If the answer involves losing the site or paying an "exit" fee, that's a red flag.