This question is more important than most business owners realize — and the answer is not always obvious.

You should own your domain name, your hosting account, your website files, and all content on the site. Some designers register domains in their own name, maintain hosting accounts in their own name, or use proprietary platforms that make it difficult or impossible to transfer the site to another designer.

Ask explicitly: If I want to move to a different designer in the future, can I take my site with me? Who holds the login credentials for the domain registrar and hosting account? Make sure the answers are in writing in your contract.