🕵️‍♀️ The "Wild West" of the HubSpot Ecosystem

You've decided to migrate to HubSpot. You know you can't do it alone. You need a partner.

So, you go to Google or the HubSpot Solutions Directory—and you are overwhelmed. Thousands of agencies, consultants, and freelancers all claim to be “HubSpot Experts.”

• Agency A quotes $5,000 for a “Quick Start.”
• Agency B quotes $50,000 for a “Digital Transformation.”
• Freelancer C charges $50/hour.

How do you choose?

Here’s the dirty secret: barriers to entry are low. Anyone can pass a few certifications and call themselves a “HubSpot Partner.”

But knowing how to use the software is not the same as knowing how to architect a revenue engine.

A bad partner will run a “Lift and Shift” migration—dump your messy data into HubSpot, charge you $10,000, and leave you with a broken system your sales team hates.

Don’t ask about price first. Ask about process.

❓ Question 1: Who is actually doing the work?

The Trap: Many agencies act as "sales fronts." You talk to a brilliant strategist during the sales process, but the moment you sign, your project is outsourced to a junior intern or a white-labeled offshore team who has never seen your business model before.

The Expert Answer You Want:

"We have a dedicated, in-house team. The Solution Architect you are speaking to right now will be the one designing your 'Configuration Plan.' We do not white-label our core architecture work."

Why it matters: Migration is strategic. You need the person pressing the buttons to understand why they are pressing them.

❓ Question 2: Do you migrate data or strategy?

The Trap: This is the "Lift and Shift" red flag. If the partner says, "Sure, send us your CSVs and we'll upload them," run away. They are just "moving the mess." They aren't fixing your problems; they are just changing the software where your problems live.

The Expert Answer Includes:

• Sales process audit
• Golden property definition
• Lifecycle stage mapping
• Strategy-first migration

Why it matters: A data-only migration guarantees a failed adoption. A strategy-first migration guarantees ROI.

❓ Question 3: What is your plan for “The Gap”?

The Trap: "The Gap" is the 24-48 hours during the actual migration.

• What happens to the leads that come in from your website on Friday night?
• What happens to the emails your sales team sends on Saturday?
• Most partners don't have a plan for this "Delta Data," resulting in lost leads and missing history.

The Expert Answer: "We execute a 'Delta Migration' protocol. We perform a 'Code Freeze' on Friday at 5 PM. We use API-based tools to migrate history. Then, right before 'Go Live' on Monday, we run a final 'Delta Sync' to catch any records created during the freeze, ensuring zero data loss."

Why it matters:This separates the "amateurs" (who use CSV imports) from the "pros" (who use API-based synchronization).

❓ Question 4: Training or Coaching?

The Trap: Most partners offer "2 hours of training" at the end of the project. This is usually a generic Zoom call showing your team where to click.

• Your sales reps don't care "how to click." They care "how to sell."
• Generic training leads to low adoption.

The Expert Answer: "We don't do 'generic' training. We build a custom 'SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Playbook' for your specific pipeline. We run role-based coaching sessions where we teach your reps how to execute your sales process inside HubSpot—how to enroll in your sequences, how to work your views."

Why it matters: The best portal in the world is worthless if your team doesn't use it. Adoption is a "change management" process, not a "software tutorial."

❓ Question 5: What happens after go-live?

The Trap: The "Ghost." The partner finishes the migration, collects the final check, and disappears.

• Two weeks later, a workflow breaks.
• A rep deletes a pipeline by accident.
• You are left stranded with a complex Ferrari and no mechanic.

The Expert Answer: "We include a 30-day 'Hypercare' period in every migration scope. We don't leave until the system is stable and the team is confident. After that, we offer a 'Managed Services' retainer (like our Credit System) to act as your long-term RevOps partner."

Why it matters: A migration isn't a "project"; it's a "product launch." It needs support.

Don’t Hire a “Mover.” Hire an “Architect.”

• A "Movers" talks about CSV files, timelines, and low prices.
• An "Architect" talks about Data Models, Change Management, and ROI.
• You are trusting this partner with your client database—your company's most valuable asset. You cannot afford to hire the lowest bidder.
• At ElanceMind, we want you to ask us these questions. In fact, we answer them before you even hire us.