Who Owns Your Website?
A Small Business Owner's Website Ownership Checklist
We continue to see the same issue come up with new clients. Most recently, we spoke with a business owner who had invested a significant amount in a new services website, only to discover they didn't have access to it. The site was built on a platform they couldn't identify, they had no way to log into the backend, and the domain wasn't under their control. They were completely dependent on the vendor for even the smallest changes. To make matters worse, they were now being asked to pay a substantial monthly fee just to keep the website online.
Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated situation. We've also worked with clients who couldn't access their hosting account, domain registrar, Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or Google Business Profile because those accounts had been created and controlled by someone else. Sometimes it was a former employee. Sometimes it was a web developer or marketing agency. In most cases, the business owner assumed everything had been set up correctly until they needed to make a change, switch vendors, or recover an account.
Quick Test
If your website developer disappeared tomorrow, could you:
☐ Log into your website?
☐ Access your domain?
☐ Update your DNS records?
☐ Move your website to another provider?
☐ Access Google Search Console & Analytics?
☐ Explain who owns each of those accounts?
If the answer to any of these is "no" or "I'm not sure," this checklist is for you.
Website Ownership Checklist
Before You Build a New Website
A new website is an investment. Before you hire a developer or sign a proposal, ask these questions and make sure you understand the answers.
1. Ownership
Website Platform
What platform is my website built on (Squarespace, Shopify, WordPress, etc.)?
Is it a standard platform or a proprietary system owned by the vendor?
Am I the primary account owner?
Can I move my website to another platform if needed?
Domain Name
Who owns the domain?
Which company is the domain registered with?
Do I have the login credentials?
Is automatic renewal enabled?
2. Access
Website
Can I log into the website myself?
Do I have administrator access?
Can I add or remove users?
Google Accounts
Do I have owner or administrator access to:
Google Business Profile
Google Search Console
Google Analytics
Google Ads
Google Tag Manager
Hosting
Who provides website hosting?
What is included in the monthly fee?
Do I have access to the hosting account?
Other Services
Email platform
CRM
Social media accounts
Payment processors
Scheduling software
Any other connected business tools
3. Maintenance & Continuity
Website Maintenance
Who installs updates?
Who renews the SSL certificate?
Who is responsible for ongoing website maintenance?
Backups & Recovery
Are backups being created?
How often?
If something goes wrong tomorrow, how would the website be restored?
Who is responsible for restoring it?
Vendor Relationship
If I stop working with my current vendor, can I move my website?
What happens to my content?
What happens to my hosting?
Are there any contracts or restrictions?
Your website is one of your most important digital assets. Along with your domain, hosting, Google Business Profile, and analytics accounts, it should remain under your control. Give vendors the access they need to do their work, but keep ownership with your business. A little diligence upfront can save a great deal of time, expense, and frustration later. ●
Download the Website Ownership Checklist (PDF)
Planning a new website or changing vendors?
A little guidance upfront can save a lot of time later.