Why you should own your domain name (and how to manage it)

Your domain = your corporate identity

Imagine waking up tomorrow morning to find that your website has disappeared. There’s no technical glitch—your domain name is simply gone. Your web agency has closed its doors without warning, and you’ve lost the domain name it owned “for you.”

It happens more often than you might think. Businesses lose their domain every year, and with it, years of Google rankings, their online reputation, and all the links to their website. All because they didn’t own their own domain.

Your domain name is your address on the web. Without it, your site doesn’t exist. And if someone else owns it, you have no control over it.

Why YOU should own your domain

You retain complete control

When you own your domain, no one can take it away from you. You decide where it points, who has access to it, and how long you keep it.

Protection if things go wrong

Relationships with agencies and developers can end. Contracts expire, disagreements arise, companies close—it happens. If your agency owns your domain, you’re stuck. You can’t leave, even if you want to.

Business continuity assured

If your web provider disappears tomorrow, you want to be able to transfer your site elsewhere without losing your name. This is impossible if you don’t own the domain.

Red flags to watch out for

Be wary of agencies or developers who insist on “managing your domain for you.” This is often a way to keep you captive. An honest agency will always encourage you to own your own domain.

How to choose the right domain name

Golden rules for a good domain name:

• Short and memorable: The shorter, the better
• Easy to spell: Avoid hyphens and complicated spellings
• Reflects your company name: Ideally, your exact company name
• No numbers or special characters: It creates confusion.

.ca or .com? Both!

For businesses in Quebec and Canada, .ca is highly recommended. It builds local trust and shows that you are a genuine Canadian company.

But here’s the thing: buy both (.ca AND .com).

• If your clientele is in Quebec or Canada: Use .ca as your primary domain.
• The .com redirects to your .ca: You never lose anyone who types .com out of habit.
• Protecting your brand: No one else can take the .com and create confusion.

The cost? About C$15 per year for .ca and C$20 for .com. Less than $40 per year for complete protection of your web identity.

Where to buy your domain

We recommend Web Hosting Canada (WHC), a Montreal-based company, for these reasons:

• Prices in Canadian dollars: No currency conversion, no surprises on your credit card statement
• Domain privacy included: Your personal information stays protected, at no extra cost
• Bilingual interface and support: Website, Client Area and a team reachable 24/7 by phone, chat or email, in English or French
• Secure access sharing: You can give your developer access without sharing your password.
• Accredited registrar: Certified by CIRA for .ca domains and by ICANN for other extensions
• No aggressive sales tactics: You buy what you need, that’s all.

Avoid: GoDaddy. Their renewal prices skyrocket after the first year, and you’ll be bombarded with additional sales pitches every time you log in.

Step-by-step guide: Buy your domain at WHC

Step 1: Go to whc.ca

Step 2: Type the domain name you want in the search bar

Step 3: Add the .ca to your cart (and the .com if you want both). Check the renewal price shown under the purchase price, not just the first-year price

Step 4: IMPORTANT — Make sure domain privacy is enabled (included free of charge)

For .ca domains, CIRA (the Canadian registry) automatically redacts individuals’ contact details in WHOIS. If the domain is registered to a company, however, CIRA’s rules require the business contact details to remain public. For .com domains, the domain privacy included at WHC keeps your personal information out of the public WHOIS.

Step 5: Create an account. If you have a business email address, use that rather than a personal email address.

Step 6: Complete the purchase

Congratulations! You now own your domain.

CRITICAL: Secure your domain immediately

Once you’ve completed your purchase, take five minutes to secure your domain. These steps could save you from disaster.

✅ Enable auto-renewal

This is the most important step. If your domain expires, someone else can buy it immediately. You could lose it forever.

✅ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

WHC offers email-based 2FA in your Client Area. This prevents anyone from logging into your account even if they have your password.

✅ Use a business email address if you have one.

If you use a personal Gmail account and lose access to that account, you will also lose access to your domain.

✅ Keep your credit card up to date

If your card expires and automatic renewal fails, your domain may expire.

✅ Set up renewal reminders

Even with auto-renewal enabled, set a reminder in your calendar 2 months before expiration.

⚠️ Horror story: What happens when a domain expires

Here’s what can happen: you forget to renew your domain. Within 24 hours, a professional “squatter” automatically buys it. They know you want it back, so they ask you for thousands of dollars to give it back to you. If you refuse to pay, you have to buy a new domain, lose all your Google rankings, and start your marketing from scratch.

Don’t let this happen to you.

How to give your agency or developer access SAFELY

Now that you own your domain, your agency or developer must configure it to point to your website.

NEVER, ever share your password.

There is a better way.

The right method: add a user in your WHC Client Area

WHC allows you to give your developer access without giving them your account credentials.

Here’s how:

1. Log in to your WHC Client Area
2. Click your profile image at the top right, then select Account Settings
3. In the Users section, click Add User
4. Enter your agency’s email address
5. Choose the permissions to grant. Only give what’s needed: your developer doesn’t need access to your billing
6. Click Send Invite

Your agency receives an email, accepts access, and can now configure your domain without ever having your password.

If you’re still using the Classic Client Area: My Settings → User Management → Invite New User. WHC’s official guide, with screenshots: How to Add a User to Your WHC Account.

After configuration: You can revoke access at any time. It’s your domain, you’re in control.

What your agency will do with access

No need to understand all the technical details. Here’s what will happen:

Connect your domain to your website

Your developer configures the domain to point to your site. When someone types in your domain name, they see your site.

Test that everything works

They verify that the domain loads correctly everywhere in the world.

You retain complete control. Nothing changes hands. Your agency configures, you own.

Ongoing management: How to never lose your domain

Check your renewal emails

WHC will send you reminders before expiration. Never ignore them.

Update your credit card if it expires

Log in and update your payment information as soon as you receive a new card.

Recommended: Have at least 2 credit cards registered

If possible, add a backup card. If one card is declined, the other will automatically take over.

NEVER ignore expiration alerts

Even if you think it’s taken care of, always double-check.

Renew for several years

Most extensions can be registered or renewed up to 10 years in advance. Fewer renewals to keep track of AND peace of mind for years.

What should you do if you miss a renewal?

You usually have a 30-day grace period to renew after expiration. After that, the domain can be purchased by someone else. Act quickly.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

Approximately C$15/year for a .ca domain and C$20/year for a .com domain. Less than $40 per year to own your web identity.

Can I transfer a domain that I already own elsewhere?

Yes! You can transfer your domain from any registrar to WHC (or elsewhere). You’ll need the authorization code (EPP key) from your current registrar, and the domain will need to be unlocked. .ca transfers complete within minutes, while other extensions can take up to 5 days. A year is added to your expiry date when you transfer.

What if my current agency owns my domain?

Ask them to transfer it to you. If it’s a good agency, they’ll agree without any problems. If it becomes complicated, that’s a red flag.

Can I change registrars later?

Yes. You’re never stuck with WHC (or any other). You can transfer your domain elsewhere at any time.

Do I really need to buy both .ca AND .com?

For a business in Quebec or Canada, yes. The .ca builds trust locally, and the .com prevents someone else from creating confusion with your brand.

Conclusion: A small investment for permanent protection

For less than $40 a year, you own and control your web identity for life.

No dependence on an agency or developer. No risk of losing everything if a relationship ends.

It’s your company. It’s your domain.

AlphaClic helps you every step of the way, but you always remain the owner. That’s how it should be.

Need help setting up your domain?

Purchase your domain from Web Hosting Canada, then contact us. We take care of all the technical setup while you retain complete control.