My mom pays $400 a month for a business website and email. The site mostly needs to be a small gallery with descriptions, and the recent redesign has some obvious content problems.
Could we move to cheaper hosting and keep her existing email address? What should we check before leaving the current provider?
First, find out who controls the domain. Keeping the same domain is key to keeping the email address people already use. Check the registrar account and who can change the DNS records, and ask the current provider for access or transfer details if needed.
Set up the replacement email and migrate the existing mail before switching the mail records. Test sending and receiving, then keep the old service running until you're confident nothing is missing. Don't cancel the current contract as the first step.
Before calling it a hosting bill, ask for an itemized breakdown and a copy of the agreement. That price might include a support retainer, maintenance, guaranteed response times, or work beyond the site and mailbox. We don't know whether she's actually getting or using those services.
If she only needs occasional help, she could compare a cheaper hosting setup plus support billed when needed. Also check the cancellation terms before making plans.
For a genuinely static gallery with low traffic, the hosting itself can be very cheap, and some platforms have free plans. A simple site builder is another option if she wants to change text and images without dealing with code.
Separate the costs when comparing options: website hosting, domain renewal, email, and any paid help. Check the plan limits and whether she needs anything the current site does beyond displaying content.
Email is a separate decision from the website. A business email provider can usually use her existing domain, but compare mailbox count, storage, and migration options rather than just the advertised starting price.
Make sure the old messages are copied over if she needs them, and check that each address still sends and receives after the switch. Moving the website doesn't have to happen on the same day.
Figure out how she wants to maintain the gallery after the move. A static site can be simple to host, but somebody still has to make updates. If she'll be adding work regularly, an editor she can use herself may be worth a modest monthly fee.
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Kavrik.3w:
It may help to keep the request neutral while sorting out access. You can ask for account and transfer details without accusing the provider of anything.