Do You Actually Own Your Website?

Use this checklist before hiring a provider, leaving an agency, or rebuilding on a new platform.

[ ] Can your business log in to the domain registrar?
[ ] Is hosting billed directly to your business?
[ ] Do you control DNS records and SSL routing?
[ ] Do you have access to the site files or a clean export?
[ ] Are analytics and Search Console properties in your account?
[ ] Are contact form submissions routed to systems you control?
[ ] Can temporary vendor access be revoked after launch?
[ ] Do you have launch notes, QA notes, and handoff documentation?
[ ] Can another qualified developer understand how the site deploys?
[ ] Are ongoing fees optional rather than required to keep the site online?

If several answers are no, the site may function more like a rented dependency than a transferable business asset.