You should own your website: the design, the content, the code and the domain name. At KMC Spark LLC you do, with the domain registered in your name, and if you ever want to leave we hand the whole thing over.
The four things to own
- The domain. The address people type, such as yourcompany.com. It should be registered in your name, with you as the owner on the registrar account. If the designer registered it in their name, they control your address.
- The content. Your text, photos and project pictures. You should be able to take them with you.
- The design. The look of the site. Ask whether it is yours or licensed from a template or a platform.
- The code. The files that make the site work. If a platform keeps them, you cannot move the site.
How to check in five minutes
- Search your domain at a public lookup service and see whose name is the registrant.
- Ask your designer in writing: if I leave, what do I get and when?
- Check who holds the hosting and the registrar logins.
- Read the contract for the words license, lock-in, renewal and cancellation.
Why this goes wrong
Some website builders keep your site on their platform, so leaving means starting over. Some agencies register the domain in their own name, and some contracts say the agency owns the design. None of this is visible until you try to leave, which is why it is worth asking first.
How our handover works
Our FAQ and our Why Us page say the same thing: you own the design, content and code, the domain is in your name, we do not lock you in, and we export everything if you leave. Our plans are month to month and you can cancel in the billing portal. If you leave, you get an export of your content and media, the site’s code, and the domain stays in your name. We coordinate the transfer with whoever takes over.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the website once it is built?
You do. Design, content and code, with the domain in your name. If you ever want to leave, we hand the whole thing over.
Can I move my site to another company?
Yes. Because you own the design, content and code, you can take the site elsewhere.
What if my designer registered my domain?
Ask them to transfer it to an account in your name. If they refuse, ask a lawyer before you pay for anything further.
Do I own a site built on a drag-and-drop platform?
Usually you own your content, but the platform keeps the code and the design system, so you cannot move the site as it is. Check the platform’s terms.
Do I own my website?
You should own the design, the content, the code and the domain. At KMC Spark LLC you do. Anywhere else, check four things: whose name the domain is registered in, whether you can take your content with you, whether the design is yours or licensed, and whether you can get the code.
Do I own my website’s code?
It depends on who built it. A platform that hosts your site usually keeps the code, so you cannot move the site as it is. A site built for you should hand the files over if you leave; at KMC Spark LLC the code is yours and we export it.
Check your own site
Our free site audit looks at your current site’s performance, search basics and visibility, and it is yours to keep whether or not you work with us. Get your free site audit.