A typical story: a company stops working with its developer and finds out that the domain is registered to the developer, the hosting invoice goes to their account and nobody knows the admin password. Getting the site back can take weeks. Check these things today, while everything is still fine.
1. Domain
The domain should be registered to your company, not to a developer or employee. For .ee domains you can check the details in the Estonian Internet Foundation’s lookup. Watch renewals too: an expired domain can end up with someone else.
2. Hosting
Ideally the hosting contract is in your company’s name and the invoice comes to you. The developer gets separate access for their work. If hosting is on the developer’s account, agree in writing how it will be handed over if needed.
3. Access
- A website admin account in your name, with your email.
- Access to the hosting and domain control panels.
- Google Analytics, Search Console and your Google Business Profile, with you as owner and the developer as a user.
Keep passwords in a password manager, not in emails or an Excel sheet.
4. Backups
Ask where backups are stored, how often they’re made and whether anyone has ever tried restoring from them. An untested backup is just a hope.
5. Ownership in the contract
The contract should state that rights to the design, content and custom code pass to you once paid. Licences for paid plugins and themes should be in your name, or at least transferable.
A quick test
If you can log in to the domain, hosting and website admin yourself, without the developer, you’re fine. If not, ask for access now. It’s a normal, fair request.
Our clients’ domains, hosting and access are always in the client’s name. If you’d like to check your site’s situation, see our maintenance services or get in touch.