---
title: 'Transition from the project to long-term support'
description: 'How to seamlessly move into ongoing customer support after settling a project'
---
Finishing a project is often a milestone – but rarely the end of working together. Many digital service providers experience a smooth transition into long-term support after a successful initial project. This is where a proven best-practice approach comes in: moving from a single project into a separate, ongoing project.

![Illustration](/images/help-center/projects/core/transition-to-long-term-support-01.png)

All about projects

## Wrap up the initial project cleanly

In Leadtime, the first customer project is created as a **single project**. It has a clear goal, a defined end, and after completion is set to the status **"billed"**. In this status, the project isn't used actively for operational work anymore:

- No **new tickets** are created anymore.
- The project stays archived and traceable.
- **Subscription invoices can still be generated from it**, e.g. for hosting, license fees or flat-rate support contracts.

This clear separation brings order – both in the project structure and in communication with the client.

## Create a new, ongoing project

About the [structure of projects in Leadtime](/projects/project-structure)

At the same time as you wrap up the initial project, an **ongoing project** is created in Leadtime. This project stays open, with no set end date, and is used for further day-to-day collaboration.

Typical scenarios:

- The client submits new tickets spontaneously.
- There’s regular development or technical support.
- Billing is based on effort or via express quote

The advantage: The new project is **kept separate from the initial project**, but still keeps the relevant context. This means everything stays clear—for your team and the client.

### Why this approach works

- **Structure instead of chaos:** Historical and current work are neatly separated.
- **Billing security:** Subs and maintenance packages keep running, without accidentally being blocked by the project structure.
- **Flexibility:** The ongoing project gives you the perfect base for new requirements without the old baggage from the original setup.
- **Customer retention:** The handover from project to ongoing partnership is smooth and professional.

## Conclusion

One project ends—the collaboration doesn’t. By clearly marking a project's completion in Leadtime and starting a new, open project for ongoing support, you build a reliable structure for lasting customer relationships. That way, a one-off project easily becomes a long-term service model—no more organisational chaos.

All about projects