Your domain name is your web address, and usually your email address too. Most business owners assume it's theirs. Often it is. But sometimes it was registered by a web designer, a former colleague or a hosting company, in their account, and nobody noticed until something went wrong.
Why it matters
Whoever controls the domain account controls where your website and email point. If that isn't you, then:
- you may not be able to move your website without their help
- a missed renewal can take your website and email offline
- if the relationship ends badly, they still hold your web address
It's usually how things were set up years ago, and it's easier to fix while everyone is on good terms.
Who's usually in charge
A domain is registered through a company called a registrar, such as 123 Reg, GoDaddy or Namecheap. Two things matter:
- The registrant: the person or business the domain is registered to. This should be you or your business.
- The account: the login at the registrar where the domain is managed. You should be able to get into it, or know who can.
How to check
- Look it up. Search for a "WHOIS lookup" (for .co.uk and .uk domains, Nominet runs one). It shows which registrar your domain is with and when it expires. For privacy, it often won't show the owner's name.
- Find the invoice. Whoever pays the renewal is usually whoever holds the account. If you've never seen a domain renewal invoice, someone else is probably paying it.
- Log in. If you have an account with that registrar, log in and check the domain is listed, and that the registrant details are your business's.
- Ask. If it's not in your account, ask your web designer or old host whose name it's registered in.
If it's not in your name
Ask whoever holds it to move it into your name, or into an account you control. Domains can be moved between accounts and between registrars. For .uk domains this uses a code called an IPS tag. For .com domains you need a transfer code from the current registrar.
If you can't reach the person who registered it, contact the registrar directly. They can explain how to prove the domain belongs to your business. Keep anything that shows you've used it, like invoices and letterheads.
Keeping it safe
- Use an email address you'll always have access to on the registrar account. Not a personal address of someone who might leave.
- Turn on auto-renew, and keep the payment card up to date.
- Note the expiry date somewhere you'll see it.
You don't need to move your domain to a different company to be safe. I never recommend moving a domain provider unless it saves you money. What matters is that it's in your name and you can get into the account.