Who owns copyright if I have paid for someone else to create something?

Unless it is in the commissioning contract that you or your business will own copyright in the work that you have paid for, the first owner of copyright is the person or organisation that was asked to create the work. You should note that the creator is under no obligation to agree to transfer copyright to you. You will need to negotiate such a transfer. In order to be legally effective, an agreement about transfer of ownership of copyright has to be in writing, signed by or on behalf of the transferor.