Is it acceptable to have the registrant of a domain name also host a website or should the website be hosted separately by another company? Any thoughts? Pros and cons?

Xtreme1

It really doesn't matter where your domain is registered. Just be sure your email is set as the administrative contact.

As far as hosting and domain registration through one company is concerned, it really makes no difference. It is a little easier as you only have one company to deal with. Most domain registrars suck at hosting, but anybody can register a domain for you.

I, and quite a few others, prefer to use a well known registrar for domain registering purposes, and a well known host for their hosting needs. It's simply a matter fo minimizing the potential risks.

What I had in mind was to purchase the domain name through a very reputable and large company (company A) and then host the site with another reputable company (company B) who has already hosted a site for us with no problems.

Company B said they would look after the domain name purchase through a registrar they have recently bought, and it would be easy for me this way.

Company A is much more expensive to buy a domain name from and offered to host the site at the same price Company B had given me.

I guess my next question is - is it best if you have control of the domain name yourself? Company A, if I purchased through them, allows people to set up their own accounts to control the domain name.

My feeling was that to keep them separate might make any future possible moving of the website easier and quicker.

Is there much involved in controlling a domain name? I'm a newbie in this game.

Xtreme1

Is there much involved in controlling a domain name? I'm a newbie in this game.

Nope, not at all.

Of course, things do depend on the person's general background. For example, for my mother it would be pretty hard.

A lot of people use the registrant to host the site. Some of the registrants have an ordering process so convoluted that its hard NOT to use them if you aren't carefull. My opinion is fully biased, but I wouldn't recommend it due to the non personalized service you get. We have had more than a few customers quit and move to godaddy for their pie in the sky promises, only to be back in a month, wore out from the trauma. :-)