Site Tip · Owning & protecting your site

Don't let your domain expire

Imagine waking up to a phone full of messages because your website is gone and your email bounces. It happens more than people think, and the cause is often just a missed renewal.

What happens when a domain expires

Your domain name is your web address, like yourbusiness.com. You do not buy it once and own it forever. You pay to register it for a set period, often one year, and you have to renew it.

If it lapses, your website can stop loading. If your business email uses the same domain, email can stop working too, and messages from customers may bounce back. Depending on the registrar, there may be a short grace period, but you should not count on it.

Why renewals get missed

Registrars send reminders by email. The trouble is where those emails go. Many domains were set up years ago by a former employee, a friend or a web designer who has since moved on. The notices land in an inbox nobody checks, or in a spam folder.

Do this now: a two-minute checklist

Find out where your domain is registered. If you do not know, look for billing emails or ask whoever built your site. Then log in and check these things:

• Turn on auto-renew, so the domain renews on its own
• Check that a valid payment card is on file and has not expired
• Make sure the account email is one you actually read, ideally a business address you control
• Note the expiration date in your calendar, with a reminder a month ahead
• Make sure you, the owner, have the login, not only a freelancer

Own your account

A common mistake is letting a web designer register your domain under their own account. If they disappear, you may struggle to prove it is yours. Ask for the domain to be registered in your name or transferred to an account you control. If something does not look right, contact your registrar's support.

Also note that your domain and your hosting are separate things, and each may need its own renewal. Write down both renewal dates in the same place so neither one sneaks up on you. If you ever change your business email address, update it in the registrar account the same day. Modestius builds and fixes websites for small businesses, and we can help you find out where everything lives.

Questions owners ask

What if I cannot remember where I registered my domain?

Search your email for words like "domain," "renewal" or "registration." You can also ask the person who built your site, or ask a web professional to look it up.

Is auto-renew safe to turn on?

For most small businesses, yes. Just keep your payment card current, and review the account once a year.

Can I get my domain back after it expires?

Sometimes, but it depends on the registrar and how much time has passed. It can be harder and costlier, so it is better to renew on time.