Magento Takeover and Code Review

We take over Magento online stores from other agencies after conducting a thorough technical assessment. We’ll tell you what’s working well and where improvements are needed before we get started. No smooth sales pitches—just an honest assessment of what you have and what’s required.

//01 — What is a Magento takeover?

The most important thing is knowing what you’re taking over.

A Magento takeover means that we, as the new agency, assume technical responsibility for the existing online store. That sounds simpler than it is. Every Magento installation has its own history: decisions made under time pressure, extensions installed without a long-term vision, poorly documented customizations, or code that doesn’t comply with Magento standards.

Before your agency takes on a project, you want to know exactly what you’re taking on.

That’s why at Factor Blue, we always start with a code review. Not as a formality, but as the most honest way to ensure a smooth transition. We assess the technical condition of the codebase, the extensions, performance, security, and the quality of any custom development. We document our findings and provide clear advice: what can be done immediately, what needs to be addressed first, and what the risks are if you don’t.

We don’t begin the takeover until after that code review. That way, we both know exactly what the scope is, what the priorities are, and what you can expect from our collaboration.

Our work is supported by a strong network of technical partners, complemented by expertise in e-commerce and technology that we continuously develop and refine.

//02 — Magento audit and takeover

What do we do during an acquisition?

Switching Magento agencies is a big step. You don’t always know what’s in the codebase, whether documentation is available, or how the previous agency built the site. We work in four clear steps.

Code Review & Technical Audit

We analyze the entire codebase: architecture, code quality, extensions used, custom development, and security status. We assess whether the code complies with Magento standards and whether extensions are compatible with the current Magento version.

The result is a documented report with an honest assessment, without sugarcoating.

Technical handover

We handle the transfer of hosting, repositories, credentials, and documentation. We prefer to be in contact with the previous development team.

We set up the development environment, verify the deployment procedure, and ensure that our team fully understands the online store before implementing the first change.

Cleanup & Stabilization

Based on the code review, we work with you to determine what needs to be addressed first. Outdated extensions, security vulnerabilities, performance issues—we tackle them in a structured manner, in an order that poses the least risk to your live online store.

We prioritize stability before blindly pursuing further development.

Roadmap & Further Development

After the stabilization phase, we continue building. Based on your goals, we draw up a roadmap: new functionality, Hyvä migration, data integrations, or performance optimization.

You’ll work with a single team that knows the codebase, understands your business, and takes responsibility for what’s being built.

From the moment you start working with us, we take full responsibility for your online store. We ensure that everything is set up optimally, and our goal is to leave your store in better shape than when we first took it on.

Not just a vendor, but a partner

Trusted by ambitious brands

//04 — Why Factor Blue?

Why switch
to Factor Blue?

Specialization

Not a general-purpose agency that dabbles in everything, but specialists who truly solve your complex challenges.

15 years of industry expertise

We know the ins and outs: large product catalogs, pricing and inventory logic for B2B and B2C, and data that has to be accurate. You don’t need to explain your market to us.

Direct communication, no interference

You’ll work directly with the developers. Honest feedback, clear agreements, and no surprises down the road.

Not just a time-billing agency, but a partnership

We help shape the roadmap, not just address today’s issues. Code that grows with your business instead of getting in your way later on.

//05 — Customer Feedback

Real customer experiences

Choosing a new technical partner isn’t something you do lightly. That’s why we let our clients and partners share their experiences working with us.

TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON

We’re the technical team that lies awake at night worrying about your uptime, your performance, and your next steps. Not as a contractor. Not as a supplier. But as the people who have just as much at stake in your success as you do.

You tell us what’s going on; we’ll tell you what we see.

//07 — Our Approach

From initial inquiry to
a successful partnership

01.

Introduction & Intake

We start with a discussion about your situation: why do you want to switch, what isn’t working well, and what are your goals for the online store? Based on that, we determine the scope of the code review and the approach for the takeover.

02.

Code Review & Report

We conduct the code review and deliver a documented report. This report includes an assessment of the technical condition, a prioritization of what needs to be addressed, and recommendations on the most logical direction for further development.

03.

Discussion & Decision

We’ll go over the report together. You ask questions; we provide answers. Then you decide whether you want to proceed. There’s no obligation to proceed with the acquisition if the review’s findings make you hesitate—that’s part of giving honest advice.

04.

Transfer & Onboarding

We handle the technical handover: hosting, repositories, credentials, and documentation. We set up the environment and ensure that our team can work completely independently before we implement the first change.

05.

Stabilization & Further Development

Based on the code review, we take a structured approach. We then continue to build on the roadmap we’ve developed together with a team that understands the online store and takes responsibility for what’s being built.

//08 — Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
about Magento takeovers

Frequently Asked Questions. Can’t find your question here? We’d be happy to answer it personally.

01. How much does a Magento code review cost?

A code review for a Magento online store typically costs between €2,500 at Factor Blue, depending on the size of the installation, the number of extensions, and the amount of custom development.

We always provide a documented report—not just a verbal assessment, but a written evaluation that you can keep and use as a basis for your next steps.

The technical handover—including access to hosting, repositories, and environments—typically takes one to two weeks. The onboarding process, during which our team thoroughly familiarizes itself with the online store and sets up the development environment, takes another one to two weeks.

After that, the team is up and running and can safely continue development. The speed of this process depends heavily on the cooperation of the previous party and the quality of the existing documentation.

Yes. We take over online stores that run on the standard Luma frontend, an existing Hyvä theme, or another frontend solution.

As part of the code review, we always assess whether a migration to Hyvä is a logical next step based on the current state of the frontend, performance goals, and future development plans.

That advice is part of the review; you decide for yourself if and when you want to take that step.

Sometimes, an ongoing partnership ends on a rocky note, and the previous party is slow to respond to handover requests or delays access to repositories and hosting.

In such cases, we’ll guide you through the process: we’ll help you draft the appropriate transfer requests, verify which access rights you already hold as the owner—such as your hosting account and domain registration—and assess what options are available.

The situation can almost always be resolved, though it sometimes takes longer than desired.

Many online stores that are acquired run on an outdated version of Magento—sometimes even on a version that no longer receives security updates.

This is a risk that we always identify and prioritize during the code review. An outdated version doesn’t mean the online store is immediately unusable, but it increases the risk of security vulnerabilities and limits compatibility with new extensions and features.

As part of the stabilization phase following the acquisition, we perform the upgrade to the most recent stable version of Magento—carefully checked and tested—with minimal disruption to the live store.