When hiring a web designer, one of the most important—and often overlooked—questions is:
Who should own your website hosting and domain name?
Some web designers bundle hosting into their services as resellers. Others—like The Website Guy—recommend that you purchase your hosting and domain directly through trusted providers like GoDaddy, SiteGround, or Bluehost.
Let’s break down the pros, cons, and best practices so you can make the right decision.
Why You Should Own Your Website Hosting and Domain
Owning your hosting account and domain name is the best practice for most small businesses. Here’s why:
1. Full Ownership and Control
When your hosting and domain are in your name, you are the legal and technical owner of your website.
- Full access to files, backups, and settings
- Control over renewals and billing
- Freedom to manage your online presence
👉 This protects your business from losing access to your website.
2. Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Website
Unfortunately, some business owners experience “hostage” situations where a designer controls the hosting account.
Owning your hosting prevents:
- Losing access to your website
- Being forced to stay with a provider
- Paying unexpected fees to regain control
3. Easier to Switch Web Designers
If your business grows or your needs change, you may want to hire a new web designer.
When you own your hosting:
- No migration headaches
- No downtime risks
- Simply grant access to a new developer
4. Transparent Hosting Costs
When you pay your hosting provider directly, you know exactly what you're paying for:
- Storage and bandwidth
- SSL certificates
- Backups and security
- Performance features
No markups. No hidden fees.
5. Scalability for Business Growth
As your website grows, your hosting needs will change.
Owning your account allows you to:
- Upgrade plans easily
- Switch providers if needed
- Add features like staging, CDN, or email hosting
- Potential Drawbacks of Managing Hosting Yourself
While ownership is ideal, there are a few considerations:
1. You’re Responsible for Account Management
You’ll need to:
- Handle renewals and billing
- Keep login credentials secure
- Share access with your web designer when needed
2. Some Technical Knowledge Helps
Tasks like DNS, SSL, and email setup can feel overwhelming if you're not familiar.
The good news: 👉 A good web designer will guide you through this.
3. Split Support Between Providers
If something goes wrong, you may need to work with:
- Your hosting company
- Your web designer
A reseller setup offers one contact—but reduces your independence.
Should Your Web Designer Host Your Website?
Short answer: Sometimes—but usually not recommended for long-term control.
Designer-managed hosting may work if:
- You want a fully hands-off experience
- You trust the provider long-term
- You don’t anticipate switching developers
However, it comes with risks:
- Limited control
- Harder migrations
- Potential vendor lock-in
- Best Practice for Small Businesses
For most small businesses:
👉 You should own your domain name and hosting account.
This gives you:
- Long-term flexibility
- Better security
- Full control of your digital assets
- How The Website Guy Handles Hosting
At The Website Guy (Minnesota-based web design services), we believe:
Your website should belong to you—not your developer.
That’s why we:
- Help you set up hosting in your own name
- Build your website directly on your account
- Provide ongoing support without locking you in
You get expert help + full ownership.
Key Takeaway
Your website is your digital real estate.
If you don’t control your hosting and domain, you don’t fully control your business online.
👉 Own it from day one.
FAQ: Website Hosting Ownership
Who should own my domain name? You should always own your domain name. It’s your brand identity and online address.
Is it bad if my web designer hosts my website? Not always—but it can create risks like lack of control and difficulty switching providers.
Can I transfer hosting later? Yes, but it’s much easier if you already own the account.
What’s the safest setup for small businesses?
- You own the domain
- You own the hosting
- Your designer has access (not ownership)
This post written in part by AI, and verified by Rob Shurtleff, The Website Guy.