Your business should own its own domain name — registered in your name or your company’s name, with you as the contact. Your web developer should never be the legal owner of it. Your domain is one of your most valuable digital assets, and losing control of it can hold your whole business hostage.
Why domain ownership matters
Your domain (for example yourbusiness.co.nz) is your address on the internet. Your website, your email, your Google listing and years of search reputation all hang off it. If someone else legally owns that name, they control your online presence — and you’re renting your own identity from them.
The trap to avoid
Some web companies register the domain in their name “to make things easier”, then treat it as leverage. If you ever want to move to another provider, you can find yourself unable to take your own domain with you, facing a sudden “release fee”, or worse. It’s a surprisingly common story in New Zealand small business — and it’s completely avoidable.
A reputable developer registers the domain in your name, gives you the login, and is happy for you to control it. We build it that way as standard.
What good ownership looks like
- The domain is registered to your business name and your email as the registrant contact.
- You hold (or can access) the registrar login — the account where the domain lives.
- You can move providers any time without asking permission to take your own name.
If you’re not sure how yours is set up, our next guides show you how to check who really owns your .nz domain. Want a second opinion? Talk to us — we’ll tell you straight.
FAQ
Can my web developer own my domain?
They can technically register it, but they shouldn’t own it as the legal registrant. Best practice is that the domain belongs to your business, with the developer only managing it on your behalf.
What if my domain is already in someone else’s name?
You can usually request a transfer of the registrant details. If a provider resists, that’s a red flag. We can help you regain control.
Does this apply to .co.nz and .nz domains?
Yes — all .nz domains have a clear registrant record. The same ownership principles apply to .com and other domains too.
