It is a story we hear far too often. A business owner wants to update their website or move to a new agency, only to find out they do not have the login details for their own domain. Sometimes they discover the previous developer registered everything in the developer’s name, not the client’s.
For SMEs, your website and domain name are not just “tech.” They are business assets. If you do not have full control over them, your business is exposed to risk.
In this post, we explain the difference between access and ownership, and the key logins you should always have.
Your domain is your digital real estate
Your domain name (for example, lavendergiraffe.com) is your address on the internet. If you do not own the registration, you do not fully own your digital brand.
If a developer registers your domain under their own account and things go wrong later, they can technically block a transfer, stop renewals, or even take your website offline. At best, it is a messy delay. At worst, it disrupts your business.
What to do instead: make sure your domain is registered in your name or your company’s name, and that you have your own login to the domain registrar. That way, you can manage renewals and DNS settings whenever needed. (DNS settings also impact things like email deliverability, which we cover in why your business emails are ending up in spam and how your website can help.)
Who owns the content and the code?
When you pay for web design and development, you should own the final output. That includes your website copy, images you have paid for, and the site setup itself.
Some “all in one” website builders and low-cost agencies effectively rent you a website. If you stop paying their monthly fee, your website can disappear, and you cannot take it with you.
That is one reason we often recommend open platforms like WordPress. WordPress gives you the flexibility to move your site to another host and keep control of your assets. It also makes long-term support easier, especially when you have ongoing WordPress maintenance in place.
The keys you should always have
Even if you hire a partner to manage your site, you should still have administrator-level access and a record of the essentials. You might not use them every day, but you should have them.
At minimum, keep a secure record of:
- Your domain registrar login details
- Your website hosting credentials
- Your WordPress admin username and password
- Access to your analytics and tracking tools
A professional partner will not avoid sharing these details. Transparency is the foundation of a healthy working relationship.
Protecting your future
At Lavender Giraffe, we believe in empowering clients. We build your site on your “property,” and we make sure you have full ownership of everything we create together.
Our goal is to be a partner you choose to stay with because of our value, not because you are locked in. If you are unsure who currently owns your domain, or you do not have your logins, now is the time to find out. Solving it today prevents a major headache tomorrow.
