Separate the domain, website and hosting
A domain name is the address, such as your-business.ch. The website consists of its pages and files. Hosting makes them accessible. Email can use the same domain while depending on a different service.
Paying for a website does not, by itself, prove that its domain is registered in your name. Ask separately, even if renewal is included in a subscription.
Check the holder in the account
Ask your supplier to confirm the recorded holder and the registration company, called the registrar. Your account should let you verify the information that concerns you, or the supplier should provide clear confirmation.
For a .ch domain, the public Switch Internet Domains lookup can identify the registrar. This technical lookup should not be treated as complete public proof of the holder’s identity.
Use a contact address you check and can recover if the website has a problem. Agree who receives renewal notices and approves important requests.
Five questions before signing
- Which person or company will be listed as the domain holder?
- Which registrar will manage it, and who will have account access?
- Who renews it, on what date and at what price?
- How can I change suppliers and obtain a transfer code if needed?
- Which website files, text, photographs and account access will be handed over when I leave?
Keep the answers with your quotation and contract. Delegated management can be convenient; it should not leave your business without a way to recover its address.
Change suppliers without mixing up the steps
Transferring a domain, moving a website and migrating email are separate operations. Ask for a transition plan before changing technical settings or cancelling the old service.
A transfer between registrars generally uses an authorisation code supplied under the current registrar’s procedure. Share it privately with your chosen supplier, never on a public page or in a public document.
Have the website, mailboxes and relevant DNS settings inventoried. Arrange a backup and checks of the website and mail after the move. Do not remove the old service before knowing what still depends on it.
What TAO Labs provides
Our offer includes a domain name in your name. Service and exit provisions are described in our terms and conditions; the Plans page describes the packages. Those documents govern our service, rather than this general guide.
To compare creation fees and recurring costs, see how much a website costs. If you mostly use social media, see Instagram or a website for a local business.
Sources
- Switch Internet Domains: .ch registry and registrar lookup.
- Infomaniak: domain transfer code.
- Accessed 15 October 2026. Procedures and terms vary by domain and supplier; check those of your contract.