When it’s time to get a website up and running, most business owners take the path of least resistance:
–Hand everything over to a web developer.
They register the domain, set up hosting, install WordPress (or another platform), and boom—your website is live.
But here’s the million-dollar question:
When the dust settles, who actually owns your website and domain?
You’d think it’s you. After all, you paid for it. But in reality? That’s not always the case—and it can turn into a massive nightmare later.
“I Paid for It, So It’s Mine… Right?”
Not necessarily.
If your developer registered the domain under their name or email, they legally own it—not you. The same goes for:
- Hosting accounts
- DNS settings
- SSL certificates
- Even your website’s backend
If your name and email aren’t on those accounts, you don’t hold the keys. You’re basically just renting your own website.
The Horror Story: When Your Developer Disappears
We’ve seen it happen too many times.
- A freelancer vanishes.
- An agency shuts down.
- That “helpful guy” from five years ago stops answering emails.
And suddenly—you can’t access your domain, switch hosting providers, or even prove ownership.
Worse? Some disgruntled contractors have literally held websites hostage, letting domains expire or redirecting them elsewhere out of spite.
The Easy Test: Who’s Listed as the Domain Owner?
This part is simple. Run a WHOIS search on your domain.
- If your business name and email pop up, great—you’re in control.
- If it shows someone else, or a name you don’t recognize: warning sign.
We’ve even seen domains still registered to ex-employees who left years ago. Yikes.
Do You Actually Know Where Everything Lives?
Your online presence isn’t just “a website.” It’s an entire ecosystem:
- Domain registration
- Website hosting
- DNS records
- SSL certificates
- Email hosting
- CMS logins
- Analytics + plugins
Each one has its own login, its own account, and its own billing cycle. If you don’t know where those keys are—or worse, if they’re scattered across multiple people—you’ve got a ticking time bomb on your hands.
What Happens If You Lose Access?
Simple: you lose control.
- Can’t renew your domain? Your site goes offline.
- DNS misconfigured? Your email crashes.
- Hosting inaccessible? You’re locked out of your own digital storefront.
Even if the website looks fine, it’s like running a shop where someone else controls the locks.
The Risk of Relying on One Person
Too many businesses trust a single person with all their tech keys. That’s fine—until that person leaves, goes on vacation, or forgets how things were set up.
No documentation.
No backups.
No way to get back in.
That “single point of failure” is a recipe for disaster.
How We Help You Take Back Control
This is where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) makes the difference. Unlike a freelancer or agency, our goal isn’t to become your new gatekeeper—it’s to put the keys firmly in your hands.
Here’s how we do it:
1. Full Audit
We map out every piece of your online presence: domain ownership, hosting, DNS, email, SSLs, logins—everything.
2. Transfer Ownership
If anything is under someone else’s name, we help transfer it back to you. You’ll finally own what’s yours.
3. Set It Up Right
- Business-controlled admin access (no personal logins)
- Secure password vaults
- Two-factor authentication
- Proper documentation (so nothing gets “lost”)
4. Keep It Running Smoothly
We track renewals, SSLs, DNS changes, and revoke access when people leave your team—so you stay in control without the chaos.
And if you ever decide to move on? You take everything with you. Clean, simple, no strings attached.
Not Sure Who Owns What? Time to Find Out.
If you’ve never checked who actually owns your domain or website, now’s the time.
We offer simple audits that give you clarity—what you own, what you don’t, and where you might be at risk.
Because here’s the truth:
Your online presence should belong to YOU. Not your old developer. Not a former employee. Not anyone else.
The keys to your digital business should always be in your pocket.
