Website ownership should be written into the proposal. Confirm who controls the domain account, what paid-for work you receive, which software or assets have separate licences, and whether you can move hosting. Domain registration, website files, hosting and ongoing maintenance are different things. Ask for account access and clear handover terms before work starts.
“You own the website” sounds straightforward until you try to move it. The domain may be in someone else’s account. A plugin licence may belong to the agency. The site may depend on a hosted platform that cannot be moved as ordinary files. These are questions worth asking before you approve a quote.
Separate the four things you are paying for
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Domain | Who holds the registration and can renew or transfer it |
| Website work | What design, copy, files and access the agreement includes |
| Hosting or platform | Where the site runs and what a move would involve |
| Care | What backups, security, edits and support are included |
Keep control of the domain account
Use a business-controlled account and an email address you will retain. Give your developer the access needed for the job rather than handing over the only recovery route. Know where renewal notices go and when the domain expires. If someone else registered it for you, arrange the handover while you still have a working relationship.
Ask what paid-for work includes
The written agreement should describe what you receive and when. Ask about website files, design assets, approved copy, images, analytics access and handover instructions. Licensed fonts, stock photography and third-party software may have their own terms. Buying a website does not necessarily give you unrestricted ownership of every external component inside it.
Understand how moving the site would work
A custom site and a hosted website builder can have different migration options. Ask whether the whole site can move, whether only the content can be exported, and who would rebuild platform-specific features. Check ongoing subscription costs and whether the new host can run the technology used. “You can leave anytime” is more useful when you understand what leaving involves.
Make ongoing care a separate decision
Care should explain the work included: hosting, backups, security checks, support and an edit allowance. Ask how larger changes are quoted and what happens if you cancel. At Elliot Digital, you own your paid-for website and can choose a care plan or arrange your own hosting. Our pricing separates website projects from ongoing care.
Use this question before signing
Ask: “If we stop working together after launch, what do I receive, what access do I keep, and what would it cost to move?” Get the answer in writing. If you are comparing proposals, bring them to a discovery call and we can talk through the scope without turning it into a technical exercise.
Common questions
Is my domain the same thing as my website?
No. The domain is the address. The website is the content and software shown there. Hosting or a platform runs the site, and maintenance looks after it.
Can I move an Elliot Digital website to another host?
You own the paid-for website and can choose your hosting. The destination needs to support the site’s technology, and any migration work or third-party licence changes should be scoped separately.
Do I need a care plan?
You need someone responsible for hosting, backups, security and updates. That can be a care provider or your own arrangement. Confirm responsibility before launch.
Official guidance
For the platform rules and technical guidance behind this topic:
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