Before You Start a Website Project: Essential Questions About Domain and Hosting Ownership

Dear potential client,

Thank you for your interest in our services and for taking the time to ask such important questions. It shows you are a savvy business owner who values transparency, and we believe a thoughtful client makes for a great collaboration. We are happy to provide detailed answers to your questions about domain and hosting, and we will also explain our approach.

We do things this way because it is the only method that fully protects your digital assets, provides you with complete control, and prevents the kind of web design disputes that are far too common for SMEs.

Domain & Hosting: Your Ownership and Our Process

Our philosophy is simple: you should own your business’s digital assets from day one. Many web designers and agencies register domain names and hosting accounts on behalf of their clients, often listing themselves as the owner.

This practice, while convenient in the short term, can create major problems for the business owner down the road. If the relationship with the designer sours or the designer becomes unresponsive, the business can find itself locked out of its own website and domain, effectively losing its online identity.

We do things differently to ensure you are always in control.

1. Will the domain be registered in my name with my email on the registrar account?

Yes, absolutely. We will walk you through the process of registering the domain with a registrar, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap. The domain will be registered under your name and your company’s information. Your email address will be the primary contact on the registrar account. This ensures that you, and only you, are the legally recognised owner of your domain name. As stated in our article on News Ghana, the “Registrant” field is legally paramount, and the business owner should always be listed in this capacity.

2. Can I choose the domain URL I want to use?

Yes, the choice of your domain URL is completely up to you. We can offer expert advice on choosing a domain that is memorable, relevant to your brand, and beneficial for search engine optimisation. However, the final decision is always yours. We will simply guide you through the process of registering it.

3. Will I have full access to the domain registrar and hosting control panel (logins provided)?

Yes, you will have complete access. We believe that you should have full administrative control over your digital assets. We will help you set up an independent hosting account with a distinct login for you. Once the accounts are created, we will ask you for the login credentials to begin our work. This is a crucial step that ensures you always have the master keys to your online presence. This practice also aligns with industry best practices, as highlighted in the News Ghana article, because it allows you to maintain, transfer, or manage your website without any dependency on us.

4. What are the renewal costs after the first year for your “free domain & hosting”?

Our “free domain & hosting” offer applies to the first year of your website. After that initial period, you are responsible for the renewal costs. These costs are the standard rates charged by your chosen domain registrar and our hosting partner, StellerHost. We do not add any additional fees or markups. We will be transparent with you about these costs from the very beginning, so there are no surprises. For example, a .com or .org domain name typically renews at a cost of around $20 to $25 per year. Hosting costs vary depending on the plan you choose, but we will provide you with all the pricing details before the project begins.

5. If I choose to move my site to another host later, are there any restrictions or fees?

There are absolutely no restrictions or fees from our end. Because you have full administrative access to your domain registrar and hosting control panel, moving your site to another host is straightforward. You will simply need to initiate the transfer with your new host. Your website files will be in your hosting account, and your domain will be in your registrar account. In the case of custom-coded websites, you’ll receive full source code and media files. There are no proprietary systems, locked-in platforms, or hidden charges. We believe this is the fairest and most ethical way to operate, and it is a powerful way for SMEs to protect their digital assets.

We hope these answers provide you with the clarity and peace of mind you need. Our goal is to not only build you a great website but to also empower you as a business owner with complete control over your digital future.