Who Owns Your Website, Domain, and Accounts?

It's a common nightmare: a business wants to change web designers, and discovers the old one registered the domain in their own name, controls the hosting, and owns the design files. Ownership isn't always obvious, and it's easier to sort out at the beginning than in a dispute. This is general information, not legal advice.

What you should own or control

Domain name. You should be the registrant, with the registrar account in your business's name and an email address you control. See domain privacy and WHOIS.

Hosting account. The account should be in your name, with you as the owner, even if your designer has a login.

Website content. Your text, photos, logos, and videos should belong to you, or be properly licensed to you.

Design and code. Depending on your agreement, you may own the finished design and code, or receive a license to use it. This is a matter for your contract. Be clear.

Third-party licenses. Themes, plugins, fonts, stock images, and software are often licensed, not owned, and may renew annually. Know which are in your name.

Analytics and marketing accounts. Google Analytics, Search Console, Google Business Profile, advertising accounts, email marketing tools, and social profiles should be owned by your business, with others added as users.

Email accounts and DNS. You should control where your email is hosted and where your DNS is managed. See how DNS works.

How to check

1. Look up your domain and see who the registrar is. Log in to the registrar account. Does it exist, and can you get in?
2. Check the registrant details and renewal date.
3. Log in to your hosting control panel. Whose name and email are on the account? Who pays?
4. Check the CMS admin. Do you have an administrator login?
5. Review analytics and profile accounts. Are you an owner, or merely a user?
6. Look at your contract. What does it say about ownership, handover, and support? See website contract checklist.

Common problems

• Agency registered the domain under their account or name
• Hosting is on the designer's reseller account
• Only the designer has the admin login
• A freelancer used a personal email for key accounts, which is now unavailable
• Source files were never handed over
• Licenses lapse because no one tracked renewals
• The site is on a proprietary platform that can't be exported

Fixes

Ask for a handover. Request account transfers and exports politely, citing your contract. Many agencies cooperate.

Transfer the domain. See how to transfer a domain name.

Move the hosting. Use backups and a migration plan. See how to migrate a website without losing SEO.

Use legal advice if a supplier refuses to hand over assets you paid for.

Prevent problems

• Register the domain and hosting yourself, then give your designer access as needed
• Use a shared business email for key accounts, not a personal one. See password managers for small teams
• Write down ownership terms before work starts, including IP, source files, licenses, handover, and what happens if the relationship ends
• Keep a register listing each account, the login owner, the email used, the renewal date, and the cost
• Enable two-factor authentication, and store recovery codes safely
• Make backups you control. See website backups
• Set renewals to automatic and keep billing details current
• Make sure staff changes trigger account reviews. Remove access for departing people

Ask good questions

When hiring, ask who will own the domain, hosting, design, and code, and what you receive at launch. See questions to ask a web designer before hiring and how to compare web design quotes.

Ongoing support

Agree what ongoing maintenance includes and who is responsible for updates and security. See website maintenance checklist.

The bottom line

You should own your domain, hosting, content, and accounts, and know exactly what you're licensed to use. Check today, write it down, and keep a register.