Who Owns My Website and Google Profile If I Leave My Marketing Agency?
Last updated: November 13, 2026 · By Kayce Sadler, Founder & CEO, Abode Marketing
You should own your domain, website, hosting account, Google Business Profile, analytics and ad accounts, with your agency added as a user. If any of those are in the agency’s name, you can usually get them back, but it’s much easier to fix while you’re still on good terms.
Key takeaways
- Check who is listed as the owner of your domain, hosting, Google profile, analytics and ad accounts.
- Read your contract for anything about who owns the website design and content.
- Some agencies build sites on platforms you can’t take with you. Ask before you sign.
- Google profiles can be recovered by the real business owner, but it takes time.
- A good agency will help you move things into your name without a fight.
How do I check who owns each account?
| Asset | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Domain name | Your registrar account, or a WHOIS lookup if details are public |
| Hosting | Who receives the hosting invoice and has the main login |
| Website files and content | Your contract, and whether you have an administrator login |
| Google Business Profile | Business Profile settings, then Managers, to see who is listed as Primary owner |
| Google Analytics and Search Console | Admin, then account and property access |
| Google Ads and Meta ads | Account access settings and who pays the bill |
What if the agency owns my domain?
Your domain is the address everything else depends on. If it’s registered in the agency’s name, ask them to transfer it to a registrar account in your name. Most registrars have a simple transfer process. Domain ownership disputes can get complicated, so it’s worth fixing early rather than at the end of a relationship.
What about a website built on the agency’s platform?
Some agencies build sites on their own proprietary systems or on rented templates. When you leave, you may be able to keep your content but not the site itself. Before signing, ask: if we part ways, do I get the site files, or just the text and images? A site built on a common platform like WordPress, in a hosting account you own, is the easiest to move.
Here’s my take: you should be able to fire your agency on a Friday and have everything still working on Monday. If that isn’t true, it’s worth fixing now.
How do I get my Google Business Profile back?
If you can still reach the agency, ask them to make you the primary owner and then remove themselves. If they won’t respond, Google has a process to request ownership of a profile as the real business. It can take a while, which is another reason to keep yourself as owner from the start. We covered related problems in fixing duplicate profiles and suspended profiles.
What should a fair agency agreement say?
- You own your domain, website content, profiles, accounts and data.
- The agency gets user access, not ownership.
- On cancellation, the agency hands over logins and removes itself within a set number of days.
- Any tracking numbers either transfer to you or forward to your main line for a period.
What we’d check first
We’d list every account your marketing runs on, check who owns each one, and show you how to move anything that isn’t in your name, whether or not you work with us.
If you’d like a second set of eyes, our free visibility audit covers this and shows where you stand on Google, Maps and AI search.
More owner questions we’ve answered: First 90 days with an agency · Agency or in-house hire? · Locking down your Google profile
Frequently asked questions
Does my marketing agency own my website?
It depends on your contract and how the site was built. Check who owns the domain, hosting and site files, and ask for anything in the agency’s name to be moved to yours.
Can I get my Google Business Profile back from my old agency?
Usually, yes. Ask them to transfer primary ownership. If they don’t respond, Google has a request process for the real business owner.
What happens to my call tracking numbers if I leave?
Ask before you leave. Some numbers can be ported to you; otherwise make sure your main number is on your website and profiles.
Should my agency be the owner of my Google Ads account?
No. You should own the account and the billing, with the agency added as a user or through a manager account you can disconnect.
Who should own my domain name?
You. Register it in your own name with a registrar account you control.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help: Manage users for your Business Profile — Owners vs managers
- Google Business Profile Help: Request ownership of a Business Profile — Recovering a profile
- ICANN: Transfer Policy — How domain transfers work
