Is Your Agency Holding Your Domain? What Every Business Needs to Know
- Sep 26
- 5 min read
Your domain is more than a web address; it’s the foundation of your online identity. In Italy, it’s still common for agencies to register domains under their own accounts. While this may seem convenient, it leaves businesses vulnerable to potential risks.
If they control it, they control part of your brand. This article builds on the concepts covered in 'Your Domain Is Part of Your Brand' and 'How to Check Who Owns Your Domain', focusing on why Italian businesses, in particular, need to stay vigilant.
I take a different approach: when I design websites, I always register domains in the client’s name so ownership is never in question.
Quick Points:
If an agency controls your domain, they also control your online visibility.
If you lose access, you risk compromising your brand, email, and credibility.
Ownership belongs with you, not your agency.
Ask yourself: If you needed to change providers tomorrow, could you transfer your domain without needing to ask permission?
Why a Web Agency Might Keep Domain Control
Agencies often keep domain control because it’s “easier” for them to manage technical steps that clients may not understand. One example is Domain Control Validation (DCV), a required step before issuing an SSL/TLS certificate (the little padlock in your browser bar).
How DCV usually works:
A confirmation email is sent to the domain’s admin address.
A special DNS record is added to prove ownership.
A small verification file is uploaded to the site.
Once completed, the certificate authority grants an SSL/TLS certificate, securing the site. If the agency owns the domain, it handles this automatically, but at the cost of keeping you dependent.
This doesn’t mean you have to handle DNS or SSL yourself; what matters is that ownership is in your name. A good web designer can support you with the technical parts without keeping your domain hostage.
Ask yourself: Who validated your SSL certificate, your agency or you? And do you know how to repeat the process if you ever need to?
What “Control” Really Means (and Why It Matters)
It’s easy to assume control is just about technical access. But control isn’t just technical; it’s about who receives renewal emails, billing notices, and transfer rights. If your registrar account is in your name, you’re safe. If it’s not, you’re relying on someone else to keep your brand online.
Why this matters:
Renewal notices must be sent to your email address, not your agency’s.
Billing details should reflect your business, not theirs.
Transfer requests should be possible at any time.
Imagine your email suddenly stops working, and the renewal notice goes only to your agency. Without access, you’re stuck waiting on them. Control is about preventing these bottlenecks.
Ask yourself: Are renewal emails, billing details, and transfer rights set up in your name, or your agency’s?
Red Flags to Watch For
If you’re not sure who owns your domain, look for these warning signs:
You’ve never received renewal emails directly.
You don’t know where your domain is registered (Aruba, Register.it, Wix, GoDaddy, etc.).
Your agency refuses to give you login details.
Your invoices list only “website design” but don’t mention domain registration in your name.
Tip: If one of these applies to you, do you really own your domain?
The Italian Context: Transparency and Responsibility
In Italy, businesses are required to meet strict transparency standards, including publishing a Partita IVA and adhering to the GDPR.
That means public WHOIS records may not display your details for privacy reasons, but that doesn’t mean you don’t own the domain. What matters is that your business name is listed in the registrar account for your domain and that renewal emails are sent directly to you.
Agencies should support you in staying compliant, not replace you as the official owner. For more information on the broader compliance landscape, see my article: Hidden Risks on Your Website: Are You Compliant?
Ask yourself: Does your current setup reflect your business identity or someone else’s?
How to Protect Yourself
Taking control doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a few key steps:
Ask your agency directly: “Is the domain registered in my business name?”
Request login details for the registrar account.
Confirm that renewal emails are sent to your inbox, not your agency’s.
If needed, request a transfer into an account you control (Aruba, Wix, GoDaddy, etc.).
Ask yourself: If you asked tomorrow, could you log in to your registrar account and update your domain?
How a Transparent Setup Looks
The best arrangement is straightforward: the domain is registered in your name or the name of your business. Renewal emails are sent to you, and payment is tied to your account. Your agency or web designer can be added as a collaborator for technical work, such as DNS updates, SSL, email routing, and migrations, but you remain the owner.
Platforms like Wix Studio or WordPress make this easy since the domain, hosting, and site can all be managed together. If you use Aruba or GoDaddy instead, that’s fine too, as long as the account is in your name.
Ask yourself: Could you add or remove collaborators today without losing ownership of your domain?
If You Discover Your Agency Owns It
If your checks reveal that the domain is in the agency’s name, don’t panic. The solution is straightforward: ask them (in writing) to transfer ownership to you or update the registration details to your business. Ensure the registrar account and renewal contact email are tied to you, not them. Most agencies will cooperate once expectations are clear.
I recently worked with a client whose domain was still under their agency’s name. When we attempted to transfer the site, the process became unnecessarily complicated. We resolved it, but it was a clear example of why ownership should always sit with the business.
Ask yourself: Do you have written proof that the domain is registered in your business name and can be transferred at any time?
Take Ownership Today
Your domain is one of your most valuable assets. It’s not just a technical detail; it’s the foundation of your brand identity. Losing control can compromise your credibility, email, and online visibility.
Keep ownership in your name, and give your agency access only when needed. That way, you secure your brand for the future.
For practical steps, revisit How to Check Who Owns Your Domain. And if you want to understand why your domain matters so much for branding, see Your Domain Is Part of Your Brand.
Next Step
If you’re struggling with naming or branding, don’t leave it to chance. Let’s create something that reflects your business and connects with your audience.
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