Company domain ownership records should identify the registered holder, registrar and authorised recovery owner when the business first obtains its website address. Website editing access alone does not establish control of the domain. Confirm the arrangement before the address becomes central to customer contact and business email.

Hands signing a document at an office desk
Illustrative photograph by Pavel Danilyuk.

Identify what the company obtained

Keep the registration confirmation, domain name, registrar and term. Ask whether the company, founder or agency is the registered holder under the actual arrangement. Do not assume that the party paying an invoice and the registered holder are always the same.

Separate domain registration from hosting, website design and email services. They may be supplied by different providers with different administrators and renewal dates.

Agree company-controlled responsibility

Identify who may request changes and how recovery is managed through the provider’s supported process. Keep authentication and recovery information in an approved secure store, not in the public website files or a widely shared document.

If the founder or agency registered the name before incorporation, obtain advice on the appropriate documented arrangement. This checklist does not determine legal title or authorise a domain transfer without the proper process.

Example: the agency controls renewal notices

The company uses the domain for email, but notices reach only the original designer. Confirm the registered details and establish an authorised company contact and backup. Losing contact with the designer should not be the first time the company checks recovery arrangements.

Retain an operational index

Record the verified provider route, renewal review owner and relationship with hosting and email. Give finance the invoice and service period for its accounting review. Test that an authorised company representative knows the support route without exposing passwords or confusing a website login with registrar control.

Related practical guidance

For the surrounding records and responsibilities, see maintaining statutory records, the company secretary role, company recordkeeping.

Official guidance: ACRA company guidance.

Help with your company records

For corporate secretarial and company administration support, contact Raffles Corporate Services at [email protected] or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. Tell us which records or process need attention so we can discuss the relevant next steps.