[mtmail]

Try to offer code escrow (for a fee) instead. Larger companies are worried that small services go out of business. In case you close your business (or get hit by a bus) the customer then has the legal right to get a copy of the code from the escrow.

[frankferma]

This is one of the things I want to avoid, I don't want to be out off business and generate a problem for my current client, the service is critical for them

[Someone]

But choice is between, both currently and with a perpetual license, “if I get hit by a bus, my customer is hosed” and, with escrow, ”if I get hit by a bus, my customer at least has a fighting chance, however small”.

With escrow, your customer certainly isn’t worse of.