Who owns your website: domain, hosting, code and accounts
A website has four parts that can each belong to a different person: the domain name, the hosting account, the code and design files, and the accounts that connect them. Many owners find out who holds what only when they want to leave. This page explains each part and how we handle it.
The four parts, and how we handle each
| Part | What it is | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Your web address, such as yourbusiness.com. | Registered or connected in your name. We are added as admin to manage it. |
| Hosting account | The service that keeps the site online. | In your name, with us as admin. On the Starter Page you buy domain and hosting yourself, in your own name. |
| Code and design files | The finished site itself. | Each project has its own written agreement covering ownership. The final files and the live site are handed over after the final payment. |
| Business accounts | Email, analytics and payment-gateway accounts. | These belong to your business, and some need your business papers to open, so they are in your name by their nature. |
What “admin” means
An admin can manage settings, but the account belongs to someone else. When we are admin on an account in your name, the account is still yours. If you leave, you take everything with you.
Domain facts for Bangladesh
A .com domain costs about ৳1,000–1,500 a year, according to CCBD. BTCL, which runs .bd, announced reduced fees in January 2026: ৳700 to register and ৳1,020 to renew a .com.bd, for a limited period and subject to conditions. Sources disagree on which documents a .bd registration needs, so confirm with BTCL or an authorised reseller before you apply.
Ten questions to ask any studio before you pay
- Whose name is the domain registered in?
- Whose name is the hosting account in?
- Do I get the logins, and can I remove you as admin?
- Will I receive the full source files, and not only the live site?
- When do I receive them: before or after the final payment?
- Who pays for renewals, and how much are they?
- Is any part of the site on a platform you rent to me by the month?
- What happens to the site if I stop paying for a care plan?
- Who owns the text, photos and logo, and may you reuse my site in your portfolio?
- Is all of this written in the agreement?
Red flags
- The domain is registered under the studio’s name or personal email.
- The studio will not name the hosting provider.
- Files are “available on request” but not in the written agreement.
Ownership is one of the things we put in writing for every project. See the FAQ and the terms, or book a free 15-minute call and ask us anything on the list above.
Written and reviewed by Kh Raj Rahman.
Common questions
Who owns the domain and hosting?
You do. We register or connect them in your name and are added as admin to manage them. If you leave, you take everything with you.
Can I move my site to another company later?
Yes. Because the domain and hosting are in your name, you can move to another provider or developer. The final files are handed over after the final payment.
What about the Starter Page?
On the Starter Page you buy the domain and hosting yourself, in your own name, so there is no question about who owns them.
Is ownership in writing?
Yes. Each project has its own written agreement that covers payments, ownership and revisions.
Sources
Facts and prices from other organisations were checked on 16 October 2026. Prices change, so check the source before you rely on a number.
Kh Raj RahmanFounder. You talk to me directly.Tell us about your business
Send your page link or a few lines on WhatsApp. We will tell you honestly what you need and what it costs.
Last updated: 19 October 2026
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