Buying URL and webspace for clients

[derekjackson]

Hiya,
with the first job I ever did, I bought the URL and webspace for the client, but then I owned thr URL (rather than the client). All bills and so on ended up with me instead - I had to fill in a form transfering ownership to the client for them to get all the paperwork and to take ownership of the URL.

All the jobs since, I've sat with the client and helped them fill in their details so that it was in their name, but this doesn't seem logical to me. Luckily, they've all been in the same town as me so I could do that.

How is it done in 'big business'? Do you guys making the site somehow buy the URL and hosting on behalf of the client? If so, how do you ensure all future bills and paperwork relating to the hosting end up with the client rather than yourself?!

I'm sure I'm missing something here!

[derekjackson]

C'mon guys! Is it a really stupid question?

Your client wants a website at www.stupidquestion.com, do you tell them how to purchase the URL, or do you do it yourself? If you do it, do you then just pass the username and password on to them and let them figure out emails and the like?

If you purchase it on their behalf (with the URL / webspace cost covered in your fee), what's to stop you receiving a request for more payment a year later when the URL expires, when it should go to them?

Or do you just expect the client to come to you with the URL and webspace already purchased, and you just make the thing, leaving it up to them to upload it?

[JayM]

You're making it complicated on yourself. This is what I do:

1. Ask the customer for credit card details.
2. Manually process his/her credit card using my merchant account with the agreed amount for my work.
3. Purchase a site under his/her name with the credit card details I was given. I add myself as the technical contact, and the client as the billing contact.
4. Upload everything, create the e-mail accounts, etc.
5. Hand them a copy of all the documents, information, backup of the website, etc.

Its simple, really.

[derekjackson]

Cool - that's all I was after! Cheers!

[JPnyc]

It's really up to you. I make them get the domain and hosting themselves. That's not part of designing a site. I'll make a recommendation concerning who to go to and what it should cost, what kind of support the host has to have, but the rest is up to them.

[LiLcRaZyFuZzY]

Another option would be reselling, check if your host has reseller plans

[derekjackson]

Cool - it was so hard to find some idea of what was standard in the industry, so cheers!

[comptech520]

Be sure to possibly sign a contract with them saying that their card will be billed for x amount each year to renew the domain unless canceled.