Short answer: Ask five things in writing: who owns the domain, whose name the Google profile is in, what the monthly fee covers, how and when you can leave, and the exact price to buy the site outright. If a provider won't put those answers in the contract, keep looking. A printed exit is a good sign.
The five questions
- 1. Who owns the domain? Your web address is the one thing every link, card and directory listing points to. Ask whose account it's registered in and what it costs to move it to you.
- 2. Whose name is the Google profile in? It should be yours, with the provider added as a manager.
- 3. What does the monthly fee cover? Hosting, security, edits, the Google profile, reports? Ask what costs extra.
- 4. How do I leave? How long is the first term, and how much notice do you need after that?
- 5. What does it cost to buy the site outright? A number, in the contract. "We'll work something out" isn't an answer.
Also ask who you'll actually talk to, and whether you can see the site before you pay. And be careful with anyone who promises you new customers. No one can.
How AP Visible answers them
- Domain: we register and manage it during the partnership. The yearly renewal isn’t part of the $199; it’s billed to you separately, $25 a year, starting in year two. If you leave, we hand it over within 14 days, free with your site if you buy it after your six-month review with your account in good standing, or for $25 at most otherwise.
- Google profile: in your name from day one.
- What $199 a month covers: your website, hosting, security, same-week small edits, your managed Google profile, full Spanish pages if you want them, an English and Spanish booking request form and chat assistant, a plain-English monthly report and a six-month review.
- Leaving: a twelve-month partnership, then month-to-month with 30 days' notice.
- Buyout: $1,250, printed in the contract and never negotiated. Available once your six-month review is in good standing, with your $450 start fee counted as credit.
You see a working preview for $0 before the $450 build fee. See pricing or compare options in agency vs. DIY builder vs. freelancer. For the details, read what $199 a month covers and monthly plan vs. one-time build.
Also asked
Can I see my website before I pay AP Visible anything?
Yes. You see a real, working preview for $0. If you say yes, a $450 build fee starts the work, and the $199 monthly starts when the site goes live.
What happens to my content if I leave AP Visible?
The words and photos made about your business go with you, free. Your Google profile, reviews and photos stay under your control, and the domain is handed over within 14 days.
More answers: Should my web designer own my Google Business Profile? · How do I check my website's speed for free? · Is my website link in the chamber directory still right? · All answers →
Sources
- AP Visible pricing and contract terms: apvisible.com/#pricing