Key facts
- DIY hosting means you buy the plan and handle setup, updates and fixes yourself.
- Agency hosting means a web agency hosts and looks after the site for you.
- Whoever registers the domain controls it, so the domain should be in the business's name.
- Always keep copies of your hosting, domain and DNS logins, even if an agency manages them.
- Agencies that disappear can leave clients locked out of their own website.
- dijitul has been a UK web agency since 2006 and offers Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT.
- Multi-site agency and white-label hosting setups are quoted by dijitul.
Two ways to host a business website
You can buy hosting directly from a hosting company and look after it yourself, or you can let a web agency host the site as part of looking after it. Both are common. The right choice depends on your time, your skills and how much the website matters to your income.
The question is not just price. It is who notices when something breaks, who fixes it, and who holds the keys.
Agency hosting vs DIY hosting compared
| Factor | DIY hosting | Agency hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often lower headline price | Usually higher, but time saved |
| Setup and migration | You do it | Done for you |
| Updates and security | Your job, unless the host manages it | Handled by people who know the site |
| When something breaks | Host support, often server-level only | Agency fixes the website itself |
| Control of logins | Directly yours | Shared, so agree ownership in writing |
| Best for | Confident owners with time | Busy owners who want it handled |
When doing it yourself makes sense
DIY hosting suits you if you, or someone on your team, is comfortable with a control panel and a CMS. You should be happy to:
- Point DNS records at the new host and set up SSL.
- Update WordPress or your CMS, plus plugins and themes, every week or two.
- Check that backups run and know how to restore one.
- Change PHP versions when the host retires old ones.
- Investigate when email goes to spam or the site slows down.
If that sounds fine, DIY can be good value. Pick a host using our guide on how to choose a UK web host.
The ownership trap with agency hosting
The biggest risk with agency hosting is not cost. It is losing control. If an agency registers your domain in its own name, holds the only logins and then closes or stops replying, you can be locked out of your own website and email. Protect yourself:
- Make sure the domain is registered to your business, not the agency.
- Keep your own copy of the domain, hosting and DNS logins.
- Ask for a full backup of the site at least once a year.
- Agree in writing that the site and content belong to you.
If this has already happened, read my web developer has disappeared or see our abandoned website takeover service.
A middle route: managed hosting from an agency
You do not have to choose between doing everything yourself and handing everything over. Managed hosting from an agency that also builds websites gives you a bit of both:
- You keep your own domain, control panel login and DNS records.
- The provider handles server updates, security patches, monitoring and backups.
- When a plugin update breaks a page or a PHP version is retired, people who understand websites fix it.
- You can still log in, add an email address or upload files whenever you like.
This suits owners who want control on paper but do not want to spend evenings patching WordPress or chasing a support ticket that only covers the server.
How dijitul does it
dijitul is a UK web agency that has run hosting since 2006, so you get the agency approach without the lock-in. Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT includes managed hosting, your own Plesk login, 10 POP3/IMAP email accounts, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups kept for 14 days, free SSL, a domain registration or renewal each year and migration done for you. Your domain stays in your name.
Agencies hosting many client sites can ask about white-label hosting, which is quoted. Order online or call 01623 650333.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy hosting myself than through an agency?
The headline price is often lower when you buy directly. But DIY hosting means you spend your own time on setup, updates, backups and fixing problems. Once you count that time, and any emergency help you pay for, agency or managed hosting can work out similar or better value.
Should my web agency own my domain name?
No. Your domain should be registered in your business's name, with you as the registrant, even if the agency manages it for you. If the agency owns it and later closes or falls out with you, getting it back can be slow and difficult.
What happens if my agency goes out of business?
If you hold your own domain, hosting and DNS logins, another provider can usually take over quickly. If the agency held everything, you may need to prove ownership of the domain to the registrar and rebuild access. Keeping your own copies of logins avoids this.
Can I move from agency hosting to my own hosting?
Yes. Ask the agency for a full backup of files and databases, plus access to the domain and DNS. A new host can then migrate the site. If the agency is unresponsive, a specialist can often recover the site from the server or a backup.
Does dijitul keep the domain in my name?
Yes. With dijitul Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT, the domain is registered to you and you get your own Plesk login. dijitul manages the hosting, updates, DNS and backups, but you keep ownership and can see everything.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.