Domain guides from working brokers.
15 long-form guides to selling, buying and valuing domain names. Each starts with a short answer and lists the sources we checked.
Selling a domain
- How to Sell a Domain Name: A Broker's Step-by-Step GuideTo sell a domain name, set a realistic price from comparable sales, then reach buyers through a marketplace, a broker, or direct outreach. Agree on a price, close through a third-party escrow service, transfer the name to the buyer's registrar account, and collect payment once the transfer is verified.Read the guide
- How Much Is My Domain Worth? Domain Valuation ExplainedA domain is worth what a specific buyer will pay for it. Start with comparable sales of similar names, then adjust for length, extension, keywords, and brand fit. Treat automated appraisals as rough guides. The same name can be worth far more to an end user than to an investor.Read the guide
- Domain Marketplaces vs Domain Brokers: Which One Should You Use?A marketplace lists your domain and waits for buyers to find it. A broker finds likely buyers, contacts them and negotiates for you. Marketplaces suit lower-priced and brandable names at low cost. Brokers fit premium names where the right buyer will not search for you. You can often use both.Read the guide
Buying a domain
- How to Buy a Domain Name That Someone Already OwnsYou buy a taken domain from its current owner, not from a registrar. Check if it is listed for sale, find the owner or their broker, make a short offer, agree on a price, and close through third-party escrow. A buy-side broker can do the outreach quietly for you.Read the guide
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name (WHOIS, RDAP, and Privacy)Search the domain in ICANN Lookup, which uses RDAP, the system that replaced WHOIS for most domains. Since GDPR, most records hide the owner's name and show a relay email or web form instead. Use that relay, the website, or a broker to reach the owner.Read the guide
- How to Negotiate a Domain Name Purchase Without OverpayingSet a walk-away price before you write. Open below your target, but not insultingly low. Use comparable sales as evidence, keep your identity and budget private, move up in small steps, and close through escrow. If the price passes your ceiling, walk away.Read the guide
- .com vs .ai vs .io vs .co: How to Choose a Domain Extension.com is still the safest default because buyers, investors and email systems expect it. Choose .ai if your product is AI and you accept higher renewals. Choose .io for developer tools with some registry risk. Choose .co mainly as a cheaper fallback. Whatever you pick, try to own the .com too.Read the guide
- When Should a Startup Upgrade to a Better Domain Name?Upgrade when the weak domain costs you more than the better one would: customers mistype it, investors or partners question it, or you are about to spend on brand and marketing. Most startups do it right after a funding round or before a major launch, using a broker so the owner does not see a funded buyer.Read the guide
For owners and buyers
- Domain Broker Fees and Commissions: What You Will Actually PayDomain brokers usually charge a commission on the sale price, often in the range of 10% to 30% depending on the model. Some add an upfront fee, such as GoDaddy's $99.99 for buyers. Escrow adds a separate fee. Each broker sets its own terms, so ask for them in writing.Read the guide
- How Domain Escrow Works (and Why Every Deal Should Use It)Domain escrow means a neutral third party holds the buyer's money until the domain is transferred to the buyer. The buyer pays the escrow agent, the seller moves the domain, the buyer confirms, and then the agent pays the seller. Neither side has to trust the other with money or the name.Read the guide
- How Domain Transfers Work: Auth Codes, Transfer Locks, and Push vs TransferA domain transfer moves a name to a new registrar, or to a new owner, using an auth code and a domain with the registrar lock off. A registrar transfer usually finishes in 5 to 7 days. A push between accounts at one registrar is usually faster. A 60-day lock can block registrar transfers after some changes.Read the guide
- Domain Sale Scams: How to Spot Fake Buyers, Appraisal Scams, and Fake EscrowIn a domain appraisal scam, a fake buyer says they will pay the appraised value, then asks you to buy an appraisal from a service they name. The buyer owns that service. You pay a fee and never hear from them again. A real buyer makes an offer and does not ask you to pay for anything first.Read the guide
- Domain Names and Trademarks: UDRP, Cybersquatting, and How to Buy SafelyThe UDRP is a fast, low-cost ICANN process that lets a trademark owner ask a panel to transfer a domain name. The owner must prove three things: the name is confusingly similar to its mark, you have no legitimate interest, and you registered and used it in bad faith. Owning a brand word alone is not enough.Read the guide
- Domain Lease-to-Own and Payment Plans: How They WorkDomain lease to own lets a buyer pay for a domain in monthly installments. The domain stays locked, held by the platform or an escrow service, until the last payment. The buyer can usually use it during the plan. After the final payment, ownership transfers. Terms differ by provider, so read the agreement.Read the guide
- LLL, NNN, and 4-Letter Domains: How Short Domains Are ValuedA three-letter .com is usually worth what a corporate acronym buyer will pay, not a fixed multiple. Public sales run from under $20,000 for weak letter sets to well over $100,000 for strong ones. Value depends on the letters, whether they form an acronym or word, and how many companies could use them.Read the guide
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