Who Owns Your Website? The Question Every Business Should Ask

It sounds like a silly question, but who owns your website is one of the most important things to check.

It sounds like a silly question. You paid for the website, so you own it. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple. Ownership can be split across several accounts, and some of them may not be in your name.

Why this matters

Imagine you want to change supplier or fix a problem. However, if you cannot log in to your own domain or hosting, you are stuck. Consequently, you may have to wait, pay extra or even start again.

The six things to check

• Your domain name. Look up who is listed as the registrant. It should be you or your company.
• Your hosting account. Ask who holds the login and whether you can have access.
• Your website admin login. You should have an administrator account.
• Your analytics and search tools. Check that you are an owner, not just a guest.
• Your Google Business Profile. This should sit under an email address you control.
• Your ad accounts. These should belong to you, even if someone else manages them.

What a fair agency does

A fair agency gives you written details of every account and who owns it. Moreover, they make it easy to move away if you ever choose to. At GBD we aim to leave you in control from day one. If we buy a domain for you, there is no fee, and it is yours.

How to ask

Send a short email. Ask for a list of every account connected to your website, with the owner and login email for each. Then keep a copy somewhere safe, because you may need it later.

If the answer is vague or slow, treat that as a signal. On the other hand, a clear reply is a good sign.

Fixing a problem

If you find gaps, do not panic. Many can be solved with a polite request and a bit of paperwork. In some cases, we can help you take control back, so ask us if you are stuck. Contact us and we will talk it through.

You might also like our guide to reading an agency quote.

Ready to put this into practice?

Build a fixed-price package online in minutes, or talk it through with us first. Either way you get plain-English advice and one team looking after the work.