The real cost of a cheap website /
Do you own your website? A 2-minute check
Most owners find out who owns their website on the worst possible day: when the developer stops answering, or the price doubles, or you want to move. Answer these six questions now, while everyone is still friendly.
1. Whose name is on the domain?
Look up your domain in the registrar account or in a public lookup. The registrant should be your business and the contact email should be one you control. If it is the freelancer's name, they can move or lose your address, and you cannot prove it is yours.
2. Can you log in to the domain and DNS settings yourself?
Ownership is not a name in a record; it is the login. If you cannot sign in to where the domain is managed, you cannot change where it points. Try it now. If you do not know where it is managed, that is your answer.
3. Is the hosting account in your name, billed to you?
The account that serves your site should belong to you, with billing to your business. If it sits on the agency's account, your site lives or dies with their payments, and moving means asking permission.
4. Do you have the right to the code and a copy of it?
Read what your agreement says about the source code. Does it say who owns it, who may use it, and whether you can receive a copy? If the answer is silence, assume the worst. This is the question where wording matters most, so get it in writing.
5. Do you own the content and the licences?
Texts, photos, logos, fonts and plugins each have a source. Stock images and fonts are often licensed to the developer, not to you. Ask for a list of what is used and under whose licence.
6. Do you hold the other accounts?
Google Business Profile, Search Console, Analytics, your social pages, your email provider and your payment account. Each should be under your own login, with your agency added as a user, not the other way around.
How to read your score
Six yes answers: you are in good shape. Three to five: fix the gaps this month, starting with the domain. Two or fewer: treat it as urgent, because the person holding those keys is not you.
How we handle it: we settle ownership in writing before the first line of code. Your brand, your data and your accounts stay yours, and the product is licensed to you in plain terms, with a full source buy-out available as an option in the agreement.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For your own contracts, speak to a lawyer.
FAQ
How do I check who owns my domain?
Sign in to the registrar account where it was bought, or use a public domain lookup. Look for the registrant name and the contact email. If neither is yours, ask for the domain to be transferred to you.
My developer says they own the site. Is that normal?
It is common, and it is a risk. What matters is what the contract says. If it is silent, ask for the terms in writing: who owns the code, what you are licensed to do, and what happens if you part ways.
Do I need the source code?
Not always, but you need a clear answer. Many businesses are fine with a licence to use the product, as long as the domain, data and accounts are theirs and the terms are written down. Some want a buy-out option for the source, and that should be in the agreement.
What does VantyRex do differently?
We put ownership in writing before work starts. Brand, data and accounts stay yours, the product is licensed to you in plain terms, and a full source buy-out is available as an option. Ask us about it on the 15-minute call.