Who Should Own Your Website and Domain?

The short answer

You should. Your domain, your hosting or store account and your business email should all be in your name and paid for with your card. A designer can be given access to do the work, and that access can be removed when they're done.

Why it matters

I've talked with a business owner whose old designer went quiet, which left access to their domain in question. If your domain is in someone else's account, you can lose your web address and email, or spend a lot of time trying to get them back. It's much easier to avoid than to fix.

What should be in your name

• Your domain: the account at a registrar like Porkbun, Namecheap or GoDaddy.
• Your website or store: your Shopify, Wix, WordPress hosting or other account.
• Your email: so your business email stays with your business.
• Your Google Business Profile and analytics: you should be the main owner, and a designer can be added as a manager.
• The final website files: if your site is custom-built, your agreement should say what you get to keep.

Can you update it yourself?

Ask this before you hire anybody, because the answer depends on how your site is built:

• Platforms like Shopify and WordPress let you change text, photos and products yourself. Good setups should let you do most day-to-day updates without calling anyone.
• Fully custom-coded sites can be very fast, but updates usually need someone technical. That can be fine if your site rarely changes, or if you've got a care plan like mine, from $49 a month.

More on that choice in my WordPress vs. custom website guide.

How I handle it

You register your own domain, in your name and with your own card. For Shopify stores, I build the store and transfer ownership to you, and you enter your own payment and bank details. My one small request is a "Website by Joshua Humphreys" credit link in your footer.

If an old designer disappeared

1. Look up your domain with a WHOIS or ICANN lookup to see where it's registered.
2. Check old emails and invoices for any account details.
3. Contact that registrar's support and ask what they need to prove the domain is yours.
4. If you can't get it back, you may need a new domain. That's annoying, but it's not the end of the world.

Common questions

Should my web designer buy my domain for me?

I wouldn't recommend it. Buy it yourself in your own name, then give your designer access or have them walk you through the setup. Domains are usually inexpensive.

Do I own my website if someone else built it?

It depends on your agreement and on where the site is hosted. Before you pay, ask if you'll own the domain, the account and the final files, and get the answer in writing.

How do I get my domain back from an old web designer?

Find out where it's registered using a WHOIS lookup, then contact that company's support to ask what proof they need. If it's in your designer's account, you may need their cooperation.