How To Transition To A New Magento Developer Mid-Project

So, you hired a Magento developer, and things aren’t working out. 

Maybe you’re not communicating properly. 

Maybe they oversold their capabilities. 

Maybe they’re just not delivering the product you want on the timeframe you agreed upon.

Whatever the reason, you’ve decided that it’s time to get out. The last thing you want to do is fall victim to the “sunk cost fallacy,” and continue pouring time, money, and energy into working with a bad development team.

No. If things go wrong, it’s better to fire your developer, find a new one, and begin the process of a project rescue, which is one of our specialties at 121eCommerce. 

It may not be a simple, easy, or cheap process to start working with a new development team. But by firing your old developer and hiring a development team that knows what they’re doing, you’ll have the best chance of salvaging your project.

That’s why we’ve put together some advice and tips on firing your Magento developer mid-project. Read on, and see how you can navigate the logistics of this process with fewer headaches and less stress.

Make Sure You Own & Control All Credentials Associated With Your Website

First and foremost, make sure that you have access to all of the credentials associated with your website and your brand. Depending on the situation, these may include – but not be limited to – the following:

• Website credentials
  • Magento backend credentials
  • Magento.com credentials
• Server access
  • Hosting control panel
  • SSH access
• Domain name/DNS registrar
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• Bing Webmaster Tools
• Google Tag Manager
• Google AdWords
• Passwords for all systems integrated with Magento, such as:
  • Quickbooks
  • Shipstation
  • ShipperHQ
  • Netsuite
  • Etc.
• Social media accounts
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Etc.
• Any other passwords to specific sites associated with your project

Once you have possession and control over all of these passwords, you need to update and change them before you fire your developer. This will simplify the transition process, especially if you do not part on good terms with your old development team.

Take Further Security Precautions To Lock Down Your Site

Password updates are all well and good, but there are a few other steps you should take to boost security further and configure your Magento site, no matter what its development state may be.

• Remove all of your old whitelisted IP addresses from the hosting panel, including all unknown addresses
• Look through your SSH user list and remove all authorized_keys that are no longer relevant
• Change the MySQL password
• Change all API keys
  • Magento.com API keys
  • Magento backend API keys
  • Payment Gateway Transactional Keys/Tokens
  • All other third-party API keys being used in the store

Get Control Of All Relevant Assets Produced By Your Developer

You should also make sure you have access to and retrieve all relevant assets that your previous development agency produced for you, including:

• Design master files (.psd, .ai, etc.) 
• Newsletter designs
• Wireframes 
• Mockups
• Custom code and relevant documentation
• Stock photos/images purchased for your project

Work with your team to make a list of all of the assets and information that you will need from your developer during this transition time. 

This may be a complicated task if your developer is using multiple file storage solutions or you do not have direct access to specific assets, but it’s worth taking the time to request access and gain possession of all the assets you need. 

Know What You’re Obligated To Pay Based On Your Contract

It would be great if firing your Magento developer meant you got your money back – but building an eCommerce website is a little bit different than returning a spoiled bottle of milk to the grocery store. 

Even if you fire them, you’re going to owe your developer a certain sum of money – and this depends on your contract and your agreement with your developer. This is why it’s very important to work on an ironclad, mutually-beneficial contract before the project begins.

Commonly, Magento developers and other web developers include a clause in a contract that will require them to be paid out based on their hours worked during the project if the contract is terminated.

However, this is not always the case. We highly recommend consulting the contract you signed initially – this way, you’ll be clear on the amount you’re legally obligated to pay. 

This is also why it’s so important to go through the contract carefully before you sign it and hire a developer. You’ll be able to identify any unreasonable stipulations and address them before the project begins.

Be Polite And Be Professional When It’s Time To Fire Your Developer

Even if you’ve had a horrible time working with your developer and they’ve let you down in pretty much every way imaginable, be polite when it’s time to fire them and end the contract. You may be tempted to unleash your frustration on the project lead or owner of the development company, but that’s counter-productive. 

Venting at a developer who has let you down won’t accomplish anything – and at worst, you’ll burn the bridge with the developer completely, and they will refuse to do anything to help during your transition period.

In contrast, if you’re polite, courteous, and professional, you’ll have an easier time transitioning to a new developer. Your old developer may even volunteer to turn over assets, passwords, and other such things to you directly, making it a lot easier to get your new team started quickly.

Need More Advice Or Tips For Transitioning To A New Team? Contact 121eCommerce

At 121eCommerce, we know it can be intimidating, expensive, and difficult to throw in the towel and give up on your Magento developer mid-project. But we’ll tell you this – it’s worth it. 

You’ll only get great results by working with experts, and pouring more money and time into a failing project is never a good idea. So we’re here to help. If you’re looking to fire a Magento developer mid-project but you’re not sure what to do next, contact us for an appointment.

During your consultation, we can discuss the state of your project, the problems you’re having with your current developer, steps you’ll need to take to transition to a new team, and even provide an initial estimate for the time and cost of launching your website with our team of Magento developers. 

If you need help, you’re not alone. We’ll guide you through every step of the process. So get in touch with our team today, and see why we’re the #1 choice for Magento project rescues. 

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