Client Domain Management Usually Becomes a Problem Slowly, Then All at Once (1.Viewing)

What I’ve noticed with smaller agencies is that domain management rarely starts out as a system. It usually starts as a few client names registered wherever it felt convenient at the time. Then the client count grows, renewal dates pile up, ownership details aren’t always consistent, and suddenly what used to be a small admin task becomes something people have to actively clean up. The frustrating part is that none of it looks serious early on, which is probably why so many teams leave it too late.
Would be good to hear how others here handle this. Do you centralize early, or only once the mess becomes obvious?