Domain name and hosting in the same company?

[Gasbern]

I need a website for my company. I have never encountered this before. Should I pre-purchase a domain name and hosting? Or what else should I do? Is it best to buy domain name and hosting from the same company or from different companies? What can you say about the choice of domain zones?

[Webwork]

I suggest that you detach hosting from domain registration. You should be in complete and exclusive control your your domain(s). That way, if the webhost proves problematic, all you will need to do is update the WhoIs record to repoint the DNS. I have read horror stories of webhosts and website developers "holding hostage" (for payment) the domains that the host or dev registered for their clients.

[Kendo]

I have read horror stories of webhosts

Some design their control panels to work that way, encouraging clients to transfer their domains to their system.

While it can be convenient for newbies to manage their site, DNS and mail from the one control panel, it can be limiting. Continually being listed on spam block service is one and that is not good for business at all.

[lucy24]

Some people hereabouts have recommended dividing your site among three separate bodies:

--registrar
--DNS
--hosting/colo

Do as I say, not as I do.

[brotherhood of LAN]

What webwork says, especially so with smaller hosting companies. Smaller hosting companies may not even be a real registrar but rather a reseller. Best to have a reputable registrar for the domain.

Can relate to what Kendo is saying. Some cpanel configurations will insist that you change your domain's nameservers to theirs in order to create a website for it. Understandable as it can prove you own the domain and they can set their local DNS server to point locally. Gets a bit weird if you sign up with your domain as wellknowndomain.com and they don't verify it.

Part of an old job involved signing up for dozens of hosting companies. Would put in a certain domain, helped me know if that particular host was some kind of whitelabel of another hosting provider (as there cpanel setup would indicate someone already owns/hosts that domain with them)

>DNS

Also heard you're better using at least two different providers, preferably on different TLDs.

[phranque]

what lucy24 said...

(i'm one of those "Some people hereabouts")

[tangor]

Sometimes it works okay, other times can be a night mare. That said, if you keep every thing separate the worst that can happen is you have a little more work to do for each renewal, WITH NO DOWNSIDES if things go south.

[robzilla]

The vast majority of sites have their domain registration and web hosting at the same company, and this is probably fine for you, too. A single bill and set-up tends to be less complicated. Just pick a reputable company, ask around and do a bit of research (don't trust the "top web hosting" comparison sites, they tend to promote the companies that give them the biggest commission on referred sales). As already noted, certainly avoid registering the domain through another party like a web developer or agency, it needs to be in your name and tied directly to an e-mail address you control; I've lost a few domains in my early years before I learned that lesson. So once you've found a hosting company, go ahead and register the domain and add a hosting plan. If it's a basic company website, you usually don't need more than the cheapest plan, and you can always upgrade. Then make sure you pay your bills on time and keep access to the e-mail address connected to the domain and hosting account.

[phranque]

if there is any disagreement whatsoever with a service provider, you could lose access to your account.

your domain registration is the "key to the kingdom".
if this was a money making site i had to rely on, i wouldn't do any business with my domain registrar other than domain registration.
if this is a hobby site, do whatever...

[RedBar]

^^^ What phranque says ^^^

This is true, I have quite a few names and sites, I have all the names registered at two registrars, it takes me very little time to look after these.

What do I do that is probably different to 99.99% of site owners?

Depending in which country you are, I'm in the UK, see what your ISP can offer you for hosting space. I host ALL my sites at my ISP for FREE, I have done so since the 2000s, they're 99.99% reliable and I have complete control over my Plesk account allocating whatever I need for any site.

Many, many ISPs could offer this but do not, I understand why, ask.