TL;DR
- Own your domain. Webmaster For Hire recommends every business keep its domain in its own registrar account, in its own name, paid with its own card.
- Your domain is your web address. A registrar is the company you rent it from each year.
- Domain and website are billed separately because they’re separate products.
- If your domain lapses, your website and email go down with it.
Domain, Registrar, and Hosting: What’s What
- Domain – your website address, like yourbusiness.com.
- Registrar – the company you register your domain through and renew it with, usually each year.
- Hosting – where your website’s files are stored.
You need both a domain and hosting for your website to exist and be available to the public. They’re separate products, so they’re billed separately. We host your site, but we’re not your registrar.
What Webmaster For Hire Recommends
- Keep the domain in your account. Whether you use our services or another, keep your business name, your login, your card.
- Give us delegate access. A separate login just for us, so you never share your password.
- Don’t let it lapse. If your domain expires, your website and your email stop working. See Can You Set Up and Manage Business Email on My Domain?
- Keep the login where your business can find it. When someone who manages the account leaves, make sure they hand over the login. Otherwise you can get locked out.
- Check what else is renewing. Registrars sell add-ons that renew on their own. We can check your account for products you don’t need.
Can I Buy a Domain Through You?
Yes. We offer domain registration, and you can search for and buy domains through our domain store. Already have a domain somewhere else? We don’t move clients’ domains into our account just to have them in one place. There’s always a reason when we recommend a move.
:: Common Questions ::
Do You Renew My Domain, or Do I Pay the Registrar?
You pay the registrar online, with your own card. We don’t keep client card details anywhere we can access.
Can You Pay My Hosting or Domain Bills for Me?
Hosting on our WordPress Support Services is billed by us. Your domain you pay in a separate billing system for faster renewals. See Do You Host Websites, and Is Hosting Included in My Plan?
Not Sure Who Owns Your Domain?
Request a consultation and we’ll help you find out, or see our WordPress Support Services.
