The checklist
- Fast hosting with a security certificate that renews on its own.
- Backups every night, kept for at least two weeks.
- Updates and security patches applied for you.
- Someone watching uptime and speed.
- Small changes, like new hours or a new service, done quickly.
- Your domain, hosting, and accounts registered in your name.
Red flags
- Your web person owns your domain.
- No one can tell you when the last backup ran.
- Changes take weeks.
- Leaving requires a long contract or a fee to get your files.
Owning your stuff
The single most important line in any hosting plan is who owns the domain. It should be you. Everything else can be fixed later.