Do You Own Your Website? 6 Questions to Ask Before You Sign With an Agency
By Luiz Baptista, Art Director & Principal, Sovic Creative. Updated October 2026.
You should own your website: the domain, the design, the content and the accounts it runs on. If an agency controls any of those and you cannot get them back with one email, you do not fully own your site. The fix is simple. Ask six questions before you sign, and get the answers in writing.
Most owners only check this when they want to switch agencies, and that is the worst time to find out. Here is how to check now.
What does "owning your website" actually mean?
A website is not one thing. It is a few separate pieces, and each one can be owned by a different person:
The domain name (yourbusiness.com). This is your address on the internet and the piece that matters most.
The hosting or platform account (Squarespace, WordPress hosting, Shopify). This is where the site lives.
The design and code. The layout, templates, custom code and build files.
The content. Your words, photos, videos and logos.
The connected accounts. Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Search Console, ad accounts, email and social profiles.
Owning your website means every one of those is in your name, or you have full admin access and can move it whenever you want. Anything less is renting.
Question 1: Whose name is the domain registered in?
The domain should be registered to your business, in an account you control, with your email as the owner contact. An agency can help you buy it or manage renewals, but it should not be the legal owner.
Ask: "If we stop working together, can I take my domain with me the same day?" The only right answer is yes.
Question 2: Whose account is the website built in?
On Squarespace, Shopify or managed WordPress, the site lives inside an account. If that account belongs to the agency, the agency can lock you out, move you to a higher plan or hold the site when the relationship ends.
The better setup: the account is yours, billed to you, and the agency is added as a contributor or admin. When the project is done, you can remove them.
Question 3: Do I own the design and the content when the project is done?
Read the contract for who owns the work after final payment. You want the design, custom graphics, copy and photos you paid for to be yours, with no license that expires or depends on staying on a retainer.
Watch for two exceptions that are normal and fair:
Stock photos and fonts are licensed, not owned. Make sure the license is in your name or transfers to you.
Themes and plugins are often licensed from a third party. That is fine as long as you can keep using them.
Question 4: Am I locked into a maintenance or hosting contract?
Ongoing support can be worth it. Security updates, backups and small edits take time, and many owners would rather hand that off. The problem is when maintenance is the only way to keep your site online.
Ask: "Can I cancel maintenance and keep my site running?" If canceling means losing the site, that is a lock-in, not a service. Our view: do the most with the least. Pay for support because it saves you time, not because you are stuck.
Question 5: Will I have admin access to Google and analytics?
This one gets missed constantly. Your Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Search Console and ad accounts hold years of data about your customers and your search traffic. If an agency set them up under its own email, that history can walk out the door with them.
Ask for owner or admin access to every account, set up under a business email you control. An agency should be a user on your accounts, not the other way around. Numbers don't lie, but only if you can see them.
Question 6: Will someone show me how to run it?
Owning a site you cannot update is only half the job. Before launch, you should get training on how to edit pages, swap photos, publish a blog post and check your traffic. Ideally it is recorded so new team members can watch it later.
Ask: "What does handoff look like, and what can I change on my own without calling you?"
What should be in writing?
Before you sign, the contract or proposal should state:
The domain is registered to your business.
The platform or hosting account is in your name, or will be transferred to you at launch.
You own the finished design and content after final payment.
Maintenance is optional and can be canceled without losing the site.
You get owner or admin access to Google, analytics and ad accounts.
Training and a handoff are included.
If an agency hesitates on any of these, ask why.
What if my current agency owns my site?
Start with a calm, written request. Ask for the domain transfer, admin access to the platform and access to your Google accounts. Most agencies will cooperate, especially if the request is clear and your invoices are paid.
Then list every account tied to your site, who owns it and who has access. Change passwords on anything you get back.
If the site is built on a platform you cannot move, you may need a rebuild. That is frustrating, but it is also a chance to start clean on a setup you control. If cost is a question, our post on how much a website costs in Fort Worth walks through real price ranges.
How we handle ownership at Sovic
Our stance is simple: you own your site. The domain, the platform account, the design and the content are yours. We build on Squarespace, WordPress and Shopify in your accounts, we provide training so your team can make updates on its own, and support is there if you want it, not required to keep the lights on.
Our prices are published on our pricing page, and common questions are answered on our FAQ. If you are vetting agencies right now, our guide on what to look for when hiring a creative agency pairs well with these six questions.
Not sure who owns your current site? Get in touch and we will help you sort out what you have and what you need.
FAQ
Who should own my website's domain name? Your business should. The domain should be registered in an account you control, with your email as the owner contact. An agency can manage it for you, but you should be able to take it with you at any time.
Does the web designer own my website after it is built? It depends on the contract. Look for language that gives you ownership of the finished design and content after final payment. Stock photos, fonts and themes are usually licensed, so make sure those licenses are in your name or transfer to you.
Can I leave my agency and keep my website? You should be able to. If the domain and platform account are in your name, you can remove the agency's access and keep running the site. If they are in the agency's name, ask for a transfer in writing.
Is a website maintenance contract a bad idea? No. Maintenance can save you time on updates, backups and security. It becomes a problem only when canceling it means losing your site. Make sure it is optional.
What accounts besides the website should I own? Your Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Search Console, any ad accounts, your business email and your social profiles. Ask for owner or admin access to each one under an email you control.
