Ask any business person the most important factor in a successful business, and you will always get the same answer, “Location, location, location!” On the internet, your domain name is your location. This is where your customers come to find you. Once your site is established, losing or having to change your domain name is the equivalent of hanging a “Closed” sign on the door with no forwarding address, so it is certainly a good idea to choose how your domain name is managed wisely.

Free domain names can be a great addition to your web hosting service. Many hosts offer multiple domains or even free domains for life, meaning they will continue to pay your yearly domain name subscriptions for you, but at what cost? Asking a few simple questions before taking the plunge can save you a lot of heartache down the road.

1. Who “owns” the domain?
   Full ownership of your domain is best, but either way, this is something you should know before beginning your transaction with a web host.
2. Can you change your domain settings?
   To change contact information or to move your website to another web hosting provider, you will need access to your domain settings.
3. This question is a derivative of the first two: If you leave that web hosting company, is the domain yours to keep? If not, can you pay a normal fee to have that domain transferred?

If you are not satisfied with the answers you receive from the web hosting company in question, it is better to purchase your domain name separately from a reputable, ICANN accredited domain registrar. Be sure to have other options if your web hosting provider doesn’t perform to your standards. Ensuring your domain name is actually yours is imperative to maintaining your identity on the internet.