The dependency trap
A common arrangement: the site was built by an agency, the domain is registered in their name, the content management system is one only they can use, and every change carries a fee and a two week wait.
So the hours go stale, the menu is a year old, and the news page still has last season's fixtures. Not because nobody cares, but because caring costs eighty pounds and a phone call.
What ownership should mean
The domain in your name. The content in your hands. A system you can use without training. No fee for changing a price or posting a result.
If you leave your provider you should be able to take everything with you the same week.
Ask three questions before you sign anything
Who will the domain be registered to. Can I edit the pages myself, and can you show me now. What happens if I stop paying you.
The answers tell you more about a supplier than the portfolio does.