Yes—at Webxcell, you own 100% of your website. But not every agency works this way, and that’s a problem. After nearly 30 years in this industry, I’ve seen too many businesses trapped by agencies that hold their websites hostage. Let me explain what website ownership actually means and why it matters more than you think.
When you truly own your website, you control five critical things:
1. The Source Code – All custom code, templates, and functionality – You can download it, modify it, or move it anytime – No proprietary systems locking you in
2. The Design Files – Original design mockups and assets – Logo files, images, and graphics – Brand guidelines and visual elements
3. The Content – All text, images, and videos – Blog posts and articles – Product descriptions and pages
4. The Domain Name – Your website address (e.g., yourbusiness.co.uk) – Registered in YOUR name, not the agency’s – Full control to transfer or point elsewhere
5. The Hosting Account – Where your website files live – Direct access to your server – Ability to move to any hosting provider
At Webxcell, you get all five from day one. No strings attached, no hidden clauses, no lock-in contracts.
Let me be honest about why this practice exists:
Reason 1: Recurring Revenue Lock-In Some agencies register your domain in their name and host your site on their servers. If you want to leave, they charge exorbitant “transfer fees” or refuse to hand over your files. You’re forced to keep paying them or lose your website entirely.
Reason 2: Proprietary Systems They build your site on custom platforms only they can edit. Want to make changes? You have to pay them. Want to switch agencies? You have to rebuild from scratch.
Reason 3: Protecting Low-Quality Work If they give you the source code, you’ll see how poorly it’s built—template spam, bloated code, security vulnerabilities. Keeping it locked prevents you from discovering this.
The real cost: One client came to us after their previous agency refused to hand over their domain. They’d invested £15,000 in the website and £8,000 in SEO. The agency wanted £5,000 to “transfer” files they legally owned. We helped them recover everything and rebuilt their site properly. They now own it outright
Here’s our ownership guarantee:
Day 1: Domain Registration – We register your domain in YOUR name (or transfer it if you already own it) – You receive all login credentials immediately – You can transfer it to another registrar anytime
During Build: Full Transparency – You have access to staging site throughout development – We use open-source platforms (WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify) – No proprietary code or locked systems
Launch Day: Complete Handover – All source code and design files delivered – Hosting account in your name (or we help you set one up) – Full admin access to everything – Training on how to manage it yourself
Ongoing: No Lock-In Contracts – Month-to-month maintenance agreements – Cancel anytime with 30 days’ notice – No exit fees, no transfer charges – We WANT you to stay because we deliver value, not because you’re trapped
Let me show you what can go wrong:
Scenario 1: Agency Goes Out of Business If the agency owns your domain and hosting, and they shut down, your website disappears overnight. You have no backup, no access, nothing. We’ve rescued dozens of businesses from this nightmare.
Scenario 2: Price Increases Without ownership, you have zero negotiating power. One client was paying £200/month for basic hosting because their agency knew they couldn’t leave. Industry-standard hosting costs £10-£50/month.
Scenario 3: Poor Service If your agency takes days to respond or refuses to make updates, what can you do? Nothing—they own your site. You’re stuck until you pay someone to rebuild from scratch.
Scenario 4: Business Sale Want to sell your business? Buyers want to see that you own all digital assets. If your agency owns your website, it complicates or kills the deal.
Scenario 5: Rebranding or Pivoting Need to make major changes quickly? If you don’t own your site, you’re at the mercy of the agency’s timeline and pricing.
Protect yourself by asking these questions upfront:
About Domain Ownership: – “Will the domain be registered in my name or yours?” – “Will I receive all domain login credentials?” – “Can I transfer the domain to another registrar anytime?”
About Hosting: – “Will the hosting account be in my name?” – “Can I access the server directly?” – “What happens to my website if I stop working with you?”
About Source Code: – “Will I receive all source code and design files?” – “Is the website built on open-source platforms or proprietary systems?” – “Can I hire another developer to make changes?”
About Contracts: – “Is there a lock-in contract?” – “What are the cancellation terms?” – “Are there any exit fees or transfer charges?”
Red flags if they say: – “We need to keep the domain in our name for technical reasons” (Lie) – “Our proprietary system is better than WordPress” (Lock-in tactic) – “You’ll get ownership after the contract ends” (You should own it from day one) – “Transfer fees apply if you leave” (Hostage situation)
Here’s exactly what happens if you decide to stop working with us:
Step 1: 30 Days’ Notice Give us 30 days’ notice (no penalties, no questions asked).
Step 2: Final Backup We provide a complete backup of your website files and database.
Step 3: Documentation We hand over all login credentials, documentation, and instructions.
Step 4: Transfer Assistance We help you move to your new hosting provider or agency (yes, really).
Step 5: Clean Break No exit fees, no transfer charges, no drama. You walk away with everything you paid for.
Why we do this: We believe in earning your business every month through great work, not trapping you with legal tricks. Our client retention rate is 92%—not because they can’t leave, but because they don’t want to.
We build exclusively on open-source platforms for one reason: your freedom.
WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento – Used by 40%+ of all websites globally – Thousands of developers can work on them – No vendor lock-in – Massive plugin/extension ecosystems – Regular security updates
Proprietary Systems (What We Avoid) – Only one company can edit them – Expensive ongoing fees – Limited functionality – Risky if the company shuts down
Real example: A client came to us from an agency that built their site on a proprietary CMS. They were paying £400/month for basic updates. We rebuilt it on WordPress for £8,500. Now they pay £50/month for hosting and can make updates themselves or hire any developer at £50-£100/hour.
Ownership doesn’t mean you’re on your own. Here’s how it works:
Hosting (Required) Your website needs to live somewhere. Options: – We manage it: £50-£200/month depending on traffic (you still own the account) – You manage it: We help you set up with any provider (Cloudways, SiteGround, WP Engine) – Another provider: You can use any hosting company you want
Maintenance (Optional but Recommended) Websites need ongoing care: – Security monitoring and updates – Backups – Performance optimization – Technical support
Our maintenance: £50-£200/month (cancel anytime) DIY: You can do it yourself or hire anyone you want
The key difference: Even if we manage your hosting and maintenance, YOU still own everything. We’re providing a service, not holding your assets hostage.
After your website launches, verify ownership immediately:
Domain Check: 1. Go to who.is and search your domain 2. Verify YOUR name and email are listed as registrant 3. Log into your domain registrar account 4. Confirm you can change DNS settings
Hosting Check: 1. Log into your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or custom dashboard) 2. Verify you can access all files 3. Download a backup to confirm access 4. Check that billing is in your name
Website Check: 1. Log into your website admin (WordPress, Shopify, etc.) 2. Verify you have full administrator access 3. Test making a small change (edit a page) 4. Confirm you can install plugins/themes
Files Check: 1. Request all source code and design files 2. Store them securely (Google Drive, Dropbox, external hard drive) 3. Verify you have original design mockups and brand assets
If you can’t do all of the above, you don’t truly own your website.
After 30 years, here’s what sets us apart:
✅ 100% ownership from day one – Domain, hosting, code, design, content—all yours ✅ No lock-in contracts – Month-to-month agreements, cancel anytime ✅ No exit fees – Leave whenever you want, no penalties ✅ Open-source platforms – WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce—never proprietary ✅ Full transparency – All credentials and documentation provided upfront ✅ Transfer assistance – We’ll even help you move to another agency if you leave ✅ 92% retention rate – Clients stay because we deliver, not because they’re trapped
Legal Firm (Trapped for 5 Years) Previous agency owned their domain and hosting. Wanted £8,000 to “transfer” files. We helped them recover everything legally, rebuilt their site for £6,500, and set up proper ownership. They’ve been with us 4 years—by choice.
E-Commerce Business (Proprietary Platform) Built on agency’s custom CMS. Couldn’t add products without paying £150/hour. Couldn’t switch agencies without rebuilding. We migrated them to WooCommerce for £12,000. Now they manage products themselves and saved £18,000/year in update fees.
B2B SaaS (Domain Hostage) Agency registered domain in their name. Refused to transfer without £5,000 fee. We helped them file a complaint with ICANN and recover the domain. Rebuilt their site on WordPress for £9,500. They now own everything outright.
Whether you work with us or another agency, protect yourself:
Option 1: Free Ownership Audit (High-Intent) Already have a website? We’ll audit your ownership situation and identify risks—free, no obligation.
Option 2: Download Our Ownership Checklist (Mid-Intent) Get our complete checklist for verifying website ownership, plus contract red flags to watch for.
Option 3: Explore Our Ownership Guarantee (Low-Intent) See our full ownership policy, client testimonials, and how we’re different from typical agencies.
What if I already have a website but don’t own it? We can help you recover ownership or rebuild with proper ownership from the start. [Learn about website rescue services →]
Do I need technical knowledge to own my website? No. Ownership means you have the legal rights and access. You can still hire us (or anyone) to manage the technical stuff. [See our management packages →]
What happens to my website if Webxcell goes out of business? Nothing—you own everything. Your website keeps running, and you can hire any developer to maintain it. That’s the point of ownership.
Can I make changes myself if I own it? Absolutely. We provide training and documentation. Make as many changes as you want, or hire us for updates at transparent hourly rates.
Is there any reason NOT to own my website? None. Any agency that says otherwise is trying to lock you in. Run.
Ready to own your digital assets? Contact us at contact@webxcell.com or call +44 800 195 7512. Let’s build something you actually own.
Webxcell Digital | Nottingham | Birmingham | London 30 years of building websites our clients actually own.
