Say you had a website built a few years ago. Now you want someone else to update it. They ask for access to your domain and hosting, and you realize you don't know where either one is. The person who built the site handled everything.

Having someone take care of the technical side is useful. But you should still know where your website lives, which accounts belong to you, and what happens if you decide to leave.

Here are the questions I'd ask before hiring someone to build a site.

Is the domain registered in your name?

Your domain is your web address, like yourbusiness.ca. It's registered through a company called a domain registrar, and you pay to renew it.

I recommend having it registered in your name or your business's name, in an account you can access. Your web designer can help set it up without being the only person who controls it.

Ask which company it's registered with, who is listed as the registrant, and where renewal notices go. Make sure you can sign in and that the recovery email is one you control.

Think about how much of your business points to that address: business cards, your Google listing, signs, maybe the side of your truck. It's worth keeping track of it.

What does “you own the website” include?

That phrase needs a bit more explanation than it usually gets.

Ask what happens to the text, photos, design, and code if you stop working together. Will you get the files? Can another developer work on them? Are there any fees or conditions for taking the site elsewhere?

Also ask about anything licensed from someone else, such as stock photos, fonts, themes, or plugins. Those may have their own terms. Having paid for the site doesn't tell you everything about what can be transferred.

You don't need to understand every file. You do need a clear answer about what you'll receive and what you'll be able to do with it. Get that answer in writing before the build starts.

Can the site move to another host?

Hosting is the service that keeps your website available online. It can be paid for separately or included in your designer's monthly plan.

Having your designer handle hosting can be convenient. The question is what happens when that arrangement ends.

Some sites can move to another host. Others depend on the platform they were built on, and moving means rebuilding part of the site. For example, Squarespace lets you export certain content, but that isn't a complete copy of the website you can host somewhere else.

Either approach can suit a business. Ask what moving would involve before you choose one, especially if being able to leave with the finished site matters to you.

What happens when you cancel?

This matters whether you're paying monthly or paying for the build upfront.

Ask about the initial commitment, notice period, and any remaining payments. Then ask how the handover works: who provides the files or account access, when hosting ends, and whether help with the move costs extra.

You want enough time to get the new arrangement working before the old site goes offline.

Check your business email too. If your designer manages that along with the website, ask what needs to happen to keep it working during the move. A website handover should account for the email address customers already use to reach you.

Keep a small record of your accounts

You don't have to manage the website yourself. Just keep a record of:

  • Where the domain is registered and when it renews.
  • Where the website is hosted and who pays for it.
  • Who manages your business email.
  • How to access those accounts, with passwords stored in a password manager.
  • Where to find your agreement and the handover terms.

If you're having a site built now, ask your designer to walk you through this when it's ready. If you already have one, it's a useful thing to sort out before you need to make a change.

How I handle it at Good Sites

I help you register the domain in your own name and account. Hosting and time for content updates are included in the monthly plans.

There's a 12-month commitment to start, then it's month-to-month with 30 days' notice to cancel. If you decide to move on, I'll help you take your content, images, and domain with you. You can read the details on the pricing page.

If you're unsure where your current domain or website is set up, get in touch. Tell me what you know so far and I'll help you figure out what to ask next.