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Should I register domains for my clients?

by sitekrafters
10 replies
Should I register domains for my clients or have them register them themselves?

I use Namecheap for domain registration. Should I just register my clients domains on my account? Or should I create an account for each of my clients and then give it to them?

Any site where I can find the appropriate contracts for this situation?
#clients #domains #register
  • Profile picture of the author Ralf Skirr
    Clients will appreciate if you do it for them.

    Taking care of the technical and administrative stuff is a major selling point because most clients don't want to have anything to do with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author shane_k
    What I do is create a new account for each business and just register under their names.

    This is just because I alway like an "exit strategy" and if it comes down to it, this makes it easier to part ways (if that happens)

    if you do decide to register it in your account just make sure that if they do happen to end a contract with you and no longer want your services that you give them their domain name.

    I know that there has been some stories of people who decided to hold the domain name hostage from an ex-client, either as a way to get revenge or just being stubborn.

    For me personally if a client of my decides it's time to part ways I would rather turn my attention on getting new clients instead of playing little games like that.

    and creating separate accounts just makes it easier. (In my opinion, anyway)
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    • Profile picture of the author RayJAnde
      I think if you do register the domains for clients, It will be very helpful for them because most of the clients will not be familiar with domain registrations and setting up of name servers etc... Also it will help you to earn you some more bucks.. :rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    It's a hassle and Shane has the right idea. If you want ownership and control, then register them under your name. But it does make it tough to separate you and your client when it's time to part ways.

    Chasing clients for renewal payments can be annoying. If you're the primary person who makes changes to their site, it's good to have this access though. And if you got a generic (plumberswilmington.com, say) domain, you probably want to keep ownership so you can rent it to someone else later.
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  • Profile picture of the author cheddarben
    If you can register it and make them the admin, that would be best in my opinion. In fact, if you are doing this as a contracted position, I would specifically walk through this with them and have them hold the ownership on the domain.

    YES... clients don't want the hassle, but explain to them how in X years - if you get hit by a bus, it is going to be THAT much more of a pain for them.

    In addition, that gives you some long term responsibility and accountability to that client - are you ready to work for free for that client in a year or two? Or accept the liability if for some reason a multimillion dollar website stops generating cash for whatever reason?

    While you want to be as customer friendly to them and make this as seemless as possible, it is my opinion is that you are doing them a short and long term favor by empowering them to take control of these things.

    If you were thier accountant, chances are you still would want them to be able to write the checks and not have that solely in your hands.
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  • Profile picture of the author ADRD
    I've registered domain names for clients in the past, and then had problems. Make sure you perform monthly backups of their sites too (should be a given), so you can just send them the link to download, give them their domain information, and should they no longer require your services, laters!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kreator517
      Originally Posted by ADRD View Post

      I've registered domain names for clients in the past, and then had problems. Make sure you perform monthly backups of their sites too (should be a given), so you can just send them the link to download, give them their domain information, and should they no longer require your services, laters!
      The nightmares possible when you DON'T take a proactive position with the domains far outweigh the liabilities of holding the domain yourself.

      Our company recently saw 18 hours of web design get flushed when their former web designers (related through the wife) went and locked us AND the domain owner out and switched their namservers back to the old one!

      We usually provide the domain acquisition free of charge with any of our packages, with free renewal for the life of their subscription.

      If you're worried about legal and ownership issues, just place your terms on your TOS and Bobs your uncle.
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  • Profile picture of the author tristatemedia
    NO.......NO.............NO BE HONEST MAN. DOMAIN UNDER YOUR NAME MEANS THEY CAN NOT GO ANYWHERE ELSE WITH OUT YOU GIVING THEM DOMAIN BACK. SOMEONE DID THAT TO ME BEFORE. AFTER 3 YEARS I WANTED TO LEAVE AND THEY WANTED TO SELL ME THE DOMAIN FOR ALOT OF MONEY. NOT KOOL
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  • Profile picture of the author WebdevelopmentGroup
    I would get an NDA signed, then proceed 100% the safest I can think of.
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  • Profile picture of the author qu4rk
    For all of you who are scared to register a domain for your clients. It's time to ask yourselves, "what kind of business you are running?" What gives you this fear? And more importantly, for those of you who have run into problems, how are you treating your clients?

    It's a simple as this:
    Client: I no longer want to use your hosting (or I want to control my domain now).
    You: Ok, what account would you like it transferred to?

    Yikes for those who don't see this as something else to take off the customers plate (and thus provide value to your client)...which is the only reason they would want to do business with you in the first place, no?
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