Holding Your Business Hostage

The Website Trap

Published on June 5, 2025 by Chris Martin Chris Martin

Locked Out and Locked In: The Digital Hostage Game

Imagine trying to fire your agency and being told, “You can’t! We own your site.”

Yeah. That happens. A lot.

This tactic is a classic: agencies retain ownership of your domain, hosting, or CMS logins. Suddenly, the website you paid for becomes their bargaining chip.

How the Trap Works

They register your domain in their name. They build your site on their server. They create all the accounts under their email. And when it’s time to leave?

  • You can’t access your content.
  • You can’t transfer your domain.
  • You can’t update or migrate your site.

They’ll offer to “sell it back” or just ghost you completely.

Why They Do It

Unlock digital

Control. Power. And let’s be honest: lazy client retention.

Holding your website hostage makes it painful to leave. It’s like putting a bear trap on your digital future.

What You Actually Own (and Should)

If you paid for it, you should own it. That includes:

  • Domain name (registered under your account/email)
  • Hosting account and CMS admin access
  • Website content and design files
  • Google Analytics and Search Console access

If your agency refuses to give this up? That’s a red flag in neon.

How to Protect Yourself

  1. Register everything in your name: Domains, hosting, email accounts.
  2. Demand admin access: For your CMS, analytics, and ad platforms.
  3. Get it in writing: Contracts should clearly state ownership.
  4. Use third-party platforms: Avoid custom CMS tools you can’t take elsewhere.

Digital Rebel’s Take

We build it, you own it. Period. No lock-ins, no strings, no fine print. We believe your digital presence should work for you—not be held against you.

Need help untangling yourself from a digital hostage situation?

Let's Talk

The scenarios and examples described in this article reflect common industry practices that we believe small business owners should be aware of. They are not intended to accuse any specific company or competitor. At Digital Rebel, we believe that informed clients make the best partners, and our mission is to promote ethical, transparent, and results-driven digital marketing for all.

Get Clear Answers About Website Ownership and Access

If you’re unsure who really owns your site, you’re not alone. These common questions can help you take back control:

You should. Always. Your domain should be registered under an account you control with your contact information.

Only if your contract gives them ownership. If you paid for development, you should retain rights. Check your agreement.

Full admin access to your website CMS, domain registrar, hosting platform, Google Analytics, and Search Console.

That can be tricky. If your agency used a custom platform they own, you may not be able to move your site. Use open platforms like Craft CMS.

Start by requesting admin rights in writing. If they refuse, consider legal counsel or expert support. We can help you navigate it.

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Built for Brands That Are Done With Big-Box Marketing

Digital Rebel Marketing is not your typical agency. You know the ones. The big-box shops with cookie-cutter retainers, junior-level execution, and PowerPoints full of vanity metrics hoping you won’t notice pipeline is still flat. We were built as the antidote.

We engineer growth systems that make your brand the definitive answer everywhere buyers go to get actual answers. Google’s AI Overview. Bing Copilot. ChatGPT Search. All of it. And instead of tossing you into a bloated service menu, we build a streamlined, conversion-obsessed website backed by clean, accountable RevOps and HubSpot alignment that actually moves revenue.

Founders, growth leads, and service-based operators come to us when they’re done lighting money on fire with PPC or agencies who only optimize for impressions. Our work turns your website into a 24/7 sales asset and your MarTech into a unified machine that finally stops leaking leads.

From our home base in Texas, we partner with ambitious brands across the country looking to scale past the local grind and show up like the category leader they actually are. If you want your marketing to evolve, carry its weight, and operate like you're playing for national stakes, we’re the ones you call when you’re done with the big-box routine.