Owning your website vs. renting it on a builder platform

The four things you should own

A website is really four separate things, and each one can be owned by you or by someone else.

• 01The domain name, registered in your business's name with your email as the contact
• 02The hosting account, or at least admin access to it in your name
• 03The site files and content: text, images and code you can export
• 04The accounts connected to it: analytics, Google Business Profile, forms, email

What builder platforms are good at

Website builders are a reasonable choice for many small businesses. They are quick to start, the platform handles hosting and security updates, and a business owner can make simple edits without help.

The trade-off is that you are renting. The site exists on that platform, under that platform's rules and pricing. If the price goes up, a feature you rely on changes, or you outgrow what the builder can do, moving usually means rebuilding the site rather than moving it.

What owning a custom site means

A custom site built on standard tools can be moved between hosts, handed to another developer, or extended without starting over. You pay for the build up front, and for hosting and maintenance over time, but the result is an asset that belongs to the business.

Ownership helps when the handoff is real. You should receive the admin logins, the files or repository, and short written notes on how the site is put together.

Questions to ask any web designer before you sign

These questions apply whether you hire a freelancer, an agency or a studio like ours. Clear answers in writing are a good sign.

• 01Whose name will the domain be registered in?
• 02Whose account will the hosting be in, and will I have admin access?
• 03If we stop working together, what do I receive, and in what format?
• 04Is the price fixed, and what exactly does it include?
• 05What does ongoing maintenance cost, and can I cancel it?

If you already have a site you do not control

Start with the domain, because it is the hardest thing to replace. Look it up in a public WHOIS search or ask your current provider who the registrant is. If it is not your business, ask for it to be transferred into your own registrar account. Then request admin access to hosting and analytics, and export a copy of your content. Do this while the relationship is friendly; it is much harder later.

Costs to compare over time

Comparing a builder subscription with a custom build on the first invoice alone is misleading. Look at what you will pay over several years: the platform subscription or hosting, any paid add-ons for forms, booking or e-commerce, the cost of your own time spent on edits, and the cost of rebuilding if you outgrow the platform.

A custom site costs more at the start. A builder costs less at the start but can cost more later if the business needs features the platform does not offer, or if a move to another platform means paying for a full rebuild.

How a proper handoff works

At the end of a build, you should be able to answer three questions without calling your designer: where the domain is registered and how to log in, where the site is hosted and how to log in, and how to make a routine edit such as changing hours or adding a photo.

Ask for a short written handoff that covers each account, who has access, how backups work and how to reach the developer for anything larger. Store it somewhere the business controls, not in one person's inbox.

Questions.

Do I own my website if I paid a designer to build it?

Not automatically. Check whose name the domain and hosting are in, and whether your contract gives you the site files and admin access.

Can I move a site off a website builder?

Usually you can export content such as text and images, but the design and layout generally have to be rebuilt on the new platform.

What should I get at handoff?

Admin access to the domain, hosting and site, a copy of the files or repository, and short notes on how to update the site.