WordPress Website Rescue Iowa
Trapped by GoDaddy? Locked out of your own site? We can fix that.
You built a business. Somewhere along the way, someone else ended up holding the keys to your website: your domain, your hosting, your Google Business Profile. Maybe it was a web developer who went quiet. Maybe it was GoDaddy. Maybe you are not entirely sure who has what. We do this kind of work every week for Iowa businesses, and we have not found a situation we could not untangle.
Real Rescues. Real Iowa Businesses.
What we walked into, and what we handed back
Before
- Site on Squarespace after the Google Domains sale
- Nobody knew who the actual registrar was
- Paying for services they did not need or understand
- No path forward. Could not move, could not make changes
- Stuck
After
- Found the registrar buried in the account history
- Domain transferred to Porkbun, registered in the client's name
- Hosting set up in client's name only, nothing in ours
- Unnecessary services identified and cancelled
- Full control handed back, completely
The vendor was still around. They just weren't listening.
Before
- Hardy Lawn Furniture's site was in the hands of a vendor who technically still existed
- Requests for changes went unanswered or took weeks to get a response
- The client couldnt make updates themselves: no access, no credentials
- Domain and hosting were registered to the vendor, not the business
- Stuck waiting on someone else to care about their website
After
- Audited every access point: domain, hosting, DNS, Google Business Profile
- Worked with the vendor to initiate a clean transfer of domain and hosting
- Everything moved to accounts registered in Hardy Lawn Furniture's name
- Client briefed on credentials, access, and what they now fully own
- Site moved to faster, client-controlled hosting at a lower annual cost
If either of those sounds familiar, you are not alone. These are the two calls we get most often. There is almost always a path forward, even when it feels like there is not.
Sound familiar? Tell us what you're dealing with. No obligation, no sales pitch.
Get in touch →How It Works
What a Website Rescue engagement looks like
No two rescues are identical, but the process is consistent. Here is exactly what we do from the first call to the final handoff.
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We audit what you own and what you don't.
Domain registrar, hosting account, DNS records, Google Business Profile: we map every access point and document exactly who controls what. Most clients are surprised by how much they do not actually own yet.
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We identify who controls what.
Sometimes it is a former developer. Sometimes it is a billing address that never got updated. Sometimes it is GoDaddy's account structure, which is deliberately confusing. We track it down so you don't have to make those calls.
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We transfer your domain to an account in your name.
We use registrars you control, not ours. You get the credentials. We do not hold anything. Porkbun is our preferred registrar for Iowa clients: clean interface, no dark patterns, and a fraction of what most businesses are currently paying.
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We migrate your site to clean, affordable hosting.
Most Iowa businesses are paying two to three times more than they should for hosting that is slower than what is available today. We move you to hosting that is faster, priced fairly, and registered in your name. Not ours.
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We rebuild or repair what needs fixing.
If the rescue uncovers broken plugins, outdated WordPress core, or security problems, we fix them. If a full rebuild is warranted, we will tell you honestly and give you a separate estimate for that work. Our WordPress repair services and WordPress care plans are available if you want ongoing support after the rescue, but neither is required.
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We hand everything back. Your credentials, not ours.
No dependency on Team 218. You own your digital assets outright. If you want ongoing care after the rescue, that is a separate conversation you initiate on your terms. We would rather you be in full control than feel obligated to stay.
Does This Sound Familiar?
The situations we see most often
We work exclusively with Iowa businesses, and the calls we get tend to follow familiar patterns. If one of these sounds like your situation, you are in the right place.
You're paying GoDaddy far too much.
Hundreds of dollars a year for hosting that should cost a fraction of that. Renewal surprises. Cancellation options buried three menus deep. Add-ons you do not remember agreeing to. GoDaddy is designed to make leaving feel harder than it is. It is not.
Your old web designer stopped returning calls and still controls your site.
Your domain, your hosting, your DNS records. All sitting in someone else's account. You cannot make changes, you cannot move on, and you are not sure you have any recourse. You almost certainly do.
Your domain moved platforms and your rates went up.
When Google sold Google Domains to Squarespace, a lot of Iowa businesses ended up somewhere they did not choose. If you want out but are not sure how to move without breaking your email or your site, we handle that transition regularly.
You have outgrown your platform.
Your site is limited by what Wix or Squarespace will allow: performance, SEO, content ownership. You are ready for something you actually control. We can get you there without starting from zero.
We are an Iowa-based studio, not a national agency with an Iowa URL. Chuck and Kim Hersey have been doing this work in Iowa since 2014. When you call, you talk to us.
By the Numbers
What you're probably paying vs. what you should be paying
The markup on hosting and domain registration through GoDaddy is not subtle. Here is a straight comparison.
| GoDaddy | Porkbun | |
|---|---|---|
| .com domain renewal | ~$20–$22/yr | ~$9–$10/yr |
| DNS management | Included, but locked to GoDaddy | Included |
| Transfer friction | Common: authorization delays, buried options | None |
| Auto-renewal dark patterns | Yes | No |
| Whose account is it? | Theirs by default | Yours |
Hosting pricing varies by provider and plan. We match clients to hosting that fits their actual traffic and needs. Most Iowa small business sites land well below what GoDaddy charges at post-promotional rates, with better performance.
Common Questions
Questions we hear every time
How do I get my domain back from GoDaddy?
GoDaddy domain transfers are intentionally buried, but they are doable. We initiate the transfer request, handle the authorization codes, and move your domain to a registrar you control, typically Porkbun, within 5 to 7 business days. The same process applies if your domain ended up at Squarespace after the Google Domains acquisition.
What does a website rescue cost?
It depends on what needs untangling. We give you a straight estimate after a free 15-minute call. No deposit required to get started, and no obligation to rebuild with us afterward.
My old web developer won't respond. Can I get my domain back without their cooperation?
Yes, in most cases. Most domains and hosting accounts have a recovery path through the registrar or host, even when the developer's account is unresponsive. We have completed this process many times. If the domain was registered in your name or your business name, recovery is straightforward. If it was registered in the developer's name, there are still options. We will tell you honestly what applies to your situation after a short call.
How do I reclaim my website from a developer who has gone silent?
Start by checking WHOIS records for your domain name to see who it is registered to and which registrar holds it. From there, you have options: registrar dispute processes, hosting account recovery, and in some cases, direct intervention. We have navigated all of these. Bring us the domain name and we will tell you what we are working with.
How long does a domain transfer take?
The technical transfer takes 5 to 7 days once initiated. DNS propagation after a hosting move typically resolves within 24 to 48 hours. We manage the whole sequence so nothing goes dark or offline during the move.
Do I have to rebuild my site after a rescue?
No. Many rescue clients just need the untangling: domain, hosting, and access sorted. Then they manage the site themselves or hire someone else locally. There is no obligation to rebuild with us. We would rather you be in full control of your own digital asset than stay stuck because you didn't know who to call.
Can you rescue a Wix or Squarespace site?
We can transfer your domain away from Wix or Squarespace and migrate your content to WordPress. The platform itself cannot be moved as-is, but your domain and content can. We will tell you honestly what is portable and what would need rebuilding, before you commit to anything.
What should I do after I get access back?
Once you have full control again, change every password associated with the account: hosting, registrar, WordPress admin, and Google Business Profile. Enable two-factor authentication on all of them. Remove any admin users or authorized parties who should no longer have access. We walk every rescue client through this checklist before we close out an engagement.