Domain name and hosting: what to look out for
Who owns it, what does it cost and what happens when you switch? The points to settle before your website goes live.
Domain name and hosting are the least exciting parts of a website, until something goes wrong. A domain registered in your previous web builder's name, or a host you can no longer access, can bring down your site and your email. These points help you prevent that.
What is the difference?
| What it is | Cost indication | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Your site's address, such as yourcompany.nl | A .nl domain usually less than 20 euros per year |
| Hosting | The server your site runs on | For an ordinary business site often 5 to 25 euros per month |
| Email addresses on your own domain | Depends on the provider and the number of addresses | |
| Certificate (https) | The secure connection with the padlock | Free to arrange these days |
A free certificate comes from Let's Encrypt, for example (Let's Encrypt website). All .nl domains are managed by SIDN (SIDN website); you register them through a registered party, such as a hosting company.
Who owns your domain name?
The holder of a domain name is the person or company it is registered to. If your domain is in your web builder's name, they are formally the holder, even if you pay. You only notice when you want to switch. So always have it put in your name, and make sure you can log in yourself.
Seven points before your site goes live
- The domain name is in your name, or your company's name.
- You have your own login at the party where the domain is registered.
- The domain renews automatically, so it does not expire by accident.
- You know where the DNS settings are managed: they determine where your site and your email go.
- The host makes backups, and you know how to get them back.
- Your site has a certificate, so there is a padlock in the address bar.
- You know how to switch: which transfer code you need and who can request it.
Switching to another party
You can always switch, if the domain is in your name. You request a transfer code from the current party and give it to the new one. Do not plan a move just before a busy period, and check afterwards that both your site and your email work. If the addresses of your pages also change during the move, read when should you renew your website about redirecting old addresses.
How we approach it
You can have MDJI arrange domain, hosting, email and certificate completely. The registration is always in your name, so ownership stays with you, and after payment the code of your site is yours too. If you have already arranged this, we work with what is there. A one-page website starts at 750 euros, a website at 1,250 euros.
Frequently asked questions
What do a domain name and hosting cost per year?
A .nl domain usually costs less than 20 euros per year. Hosting for an ordinary business site often costs 5 to 25 euros per month, depending on what the site does.
Who owns my domain name if my web builder registers it?
Whoever it is registered to. So always have it put in your name or your company's.
Can I take my domain to another party?
Yes, if it is in your name. You request a transfer code from the current party and give it to the new one.
Do you arrange domain and hosting?
Yes, including email and the certificate. The registration is always in your name.