Hosting and Ownership Explained

When you buy a Mini eCommerce Site from Djangify, you are not renting a tool you are receiving a complete Django-based system that you own outright. That ownership gives you full control of your store, your data, and your future. This article explains what that means in practice and how hosting works once your site is ready to go live.

What It Means to Own Your System

Most online platforms operate on a rental model: you pay a monthly fee, use their tools, and your site exists only as long as your subscription does. If the company changes its pricing or shuts down your account, your business goes with it.

Djangify works differently. When you purchase a Mini eCommerce Site, you receive:

• The complete Django project including all apps, templates, and configuration files.

• Access to your database and media files.

• A fully configured site branded to your business and ready for production.

You own the code, content, and database.
That means you can move your site and back it up  anytime you want.
Your business runs independently of any third-party platform.

How Hosting Works

Hosting is where your site lives on the internet.
Your Djangify system is delivered pre-configured and ready to host on any modern Django-compatible environment.

Djangify Setup Process

1. After purchase, you complete a questionnaire providing your domain, colours, logo, and product information.

2. Djangify configures your Mini eCommerce Site and prepares it for deployment.

3. The final version is installed on our own hosting server for three months free. During and after that time you can then move the site wherever you choose or keep it with djangify and pay a small monthly hosting fee.

Everything is set up for you. There are no manual installation steps required.

Recommended Hosting Option: VPS

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is the preferred choice for most Djangify clients because it provides:

• Full ownership and control.

• Direct file access and SSH management.

• Built-in SSL encryption and automated backups.

• Consistent performance without shared hosting limitations.

You will receive your credentials and site details once setup is complete, allowing you to manage and update your store after the first three months. During the first three months Djangify will take care of any updates needed.

Backup and Migration

Every Djangify Mini eCommerce Site is hosted on its own secure VPS (Virtual Private Server).
Your setup includes three months of managed hosting. During this time Djangify will handle updates and backups.
Your data belongs entirely to you and you always have the option to take a full copy of your site whenever you wish.

Your VPS hosting includes:

• Automatic weekly backups (server-level).

• Database backups (via pg_dump for PostgreSQL).

• Media and uploaded files stored in your /home/ directory.
  
  

These backups protect your products, pages, and orders in case of data loss.
If anything ever goes wrong, Djangify Support can restore your site from one of these backups during your hosting period.

 

Accessing Your VPS Login

You will receive your VPS login details if you decide to continue hosting your site with Djangify. Obviously, if you choose to move your site then we no longer have access to your domain or site and it is now the responsibility of your new hosting company.

However, if you choose to remain and pay monthly for your hosting you will receive log in details and you can:

• View your hosting dashboard.

• Check server usage.

• Access backups (if you wish to download them manually).
  
  

Your login gives you ownership. Djangify sets up the server but you remain in control of your data.

Exporting Your Site Data (Datadump)

If you decide to move your site to a new host or manage it independently, you can request a datadump.
A datadump is a complete export of your database and media files, which allows another server to recreate your site exactly as it is.

The datadump includes:

• All product and order data

• All Info Pages and documentation

• Uploaded media and digital files

• Site settings and structure

To generate this export, you can either:

• Ask Djangify Support to prepare it for you (recommended), or
  
  

Run it yourself using the Django management command:

python manage.py dumpdata --natural-foreign --natural-primary --indent 4 > datadump.json

•  This command creates a single file (datadump.json) containing your full database contents.
  
  

If you are not confident using the terminal, it is best to have your hosting provider or Djangify Support handle this process for you.

 

Moving Your Site to Another Host

Your site is built with Django, PostgreSQL, and Tailwind CSS.
To move it elsewhere, your new host must support:

• Python 3.10 or later

• PostgreSQL

• A Django-compatible environment

Because migration involves moving both files and databases, we strongly recommend letting your new hosting company perform the migration for you. They will know how to restore your datadump.json, configure your environment variables, and connect your domain securely.

Restoring a Backup (Advanced Users)

If you need to restore your own backup, your hosting control panel (or SSH access) allows you to:

Upload your latest backup or datadump file.

Restore the database using loaddata:

python manage.py loaddata datadump.json

Confirm all files are restored under /media/ and /static/.

Restart your web server for the changes to take effect.

However, if you are unsure, contact Djangify Support or your hosting provider because restoring incorrectly can overwrite data.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often are backups created?
A: Weekly by default, with extra backups made before any system updates or migrations.

Q: Can I download my datadump anytime?
A: Yes. You can request it from Djangify Support or generate it manually from your VPS terminal if you are comfortable with command-line tools.

Q: What happens after my three months of hosting ends?
A: You can either continue hosting with Djangify or move your site to another provider. You will receive your full datadump before your hosting expires.

Q: Will my products and orders be preserved if I move hosts?
A: Yes. Your datadump includes all orders, products, and site content, so your store can be restored exactly as it was.

Data Privacy and Control

Because your system is self-hosted, your customer information and sales data remain entirely under your control.
No third-party service can access or share your data. All sensitive details, including passwords and payment confirmations, are handled securely by Django and Stripe.

This setup protects both you and your customers while meeting GDPR compliance standards for UK and EU users.

Ownership vs Subscription

To understand why this model matters, compare the two approaches:

• Subscription platforms:
  You rent access. They control your site, your data, and your uptime. You must continue paying to keep your store online.

• Djangify Mini eCommerce Site:
  You own your system entirely. There are no hidden fees or monthly charges. Your store remains live as long as you maintain hosting and domain registration.

This means your website becomes a digital asset - something you control, expand, and keep long term.

Updates and Maintenance

Djangify provides clear documentation for routine maintenance. Most updates are handled automatically during your hosting setup. For system or security updates:

• You can follow provided instructions or request Djangify to apply them for you.

• Your store continues running during updates - no downtime or reconfiguration required.

Because the system has no plugins or third-party integrations, maintenance remains simple and predictable.

Why Ownership Future-Proofs Your Business

Owning your system gives you independence.
If a platform changes policy or prices, it does not affect your income.
If you grow beyond your current plan, you can scale the same codebase to a new server or add new functionality without rebuilding from scratch.

Your store becomes a long-term business asset, not a temporary subscription.

Summary

A Djangify Mini eCommerce Site gives you:

• Full ownership of your code, content, and customer data.

• Hosting freedom on your own VPS or compatible server.

• Secure backups and easy migration.

• No recurring platform fees or lock-ins.

• A self-contained system configured and installed for you.

When you buy from Djangify, you are not just getting a website, you are owning the full infrastructure of your online store.