Registering a domain for your business isn’t hard, but it is an important decision because the domain you use for your website and email becomes an integral part of your brand. We explain how to register a business domain name below in four steps, from finding the perfect (available) .com to where and how to create a domain name for your business. Let’s get started.
Not sure exactly what a domain name is? In simple terms, a domain name is a website’s URL or internet address, such as fitsmallbusiness.com. Domains are also used for business email, e.g., myname@fitsmallbusiness.com. As such, having a branded domain is a crucial part of building brand awareness and credibility for your company.
1. Choose a Business Domain Name to Register
To register a website domain name, you need to choose one that will help you build a brand presence and determine if it’s available. For branding purposes, your domain will ideally include your business’ name. However, you may find that your top choice is already taken. If this happens, try out variations, add keywords, or incorporate the name of your location (e.g., city or state) to come up with an alternative that will work.
Follow these steps to choose the best domain name for your small business.
Your choice of domain is crucial. It should be memorable, on-brand, and help you build a strong brand presence. Here are some different ways to come up with the perfect domain name for your small business:
- Start with your brand/business name: The most memorable website address (URL) for your website will usually be your business name. Create a short list of potential domain names that include your business name.
- Come up with viable alternatives: Most domain name registrars have domain search engines that offer suggestions if your top choice is taken. Type in your first option (or multiple options), and it will show you a list of alternatives, including alternate domain extensions (e.g., .org, .net, .co, and so on) that could allow you to get the exact domain name you want.
- Keywords: If your business name isn’t available, consider adding a keyword that offers search engine optimization (SEO) benefits. This could be a word related to your products or services, industry, or the quality of your offering, such as adding the word “best.” Basically, think of the types of searches someone would type into Google when looking for a business like yours. (You can also find keywords with high search volume related to your business using free keyword research tools like Semrush.)
- Locations: For businesses that serve a local client or customer base, using a city or state abbreviation in the domain name can be useful for customers searching for your products or services in your area, and may also provide additional SEO benefits.
- Choose the right extension: The domain extension is the part of your domain name that appears after the main part, such as .com, .org, .store, or .net. There are several extensions you can choose from, depending on your business type or industry, but the most common is .com. Read more about .org vs .com extensions and decide which is best for your domain name.
If you’re still not sure you have the perfect URL in mind yet, read through the six steps for choosing a domain name that is best for your brand and business.
2. Search Availability & Domain History
Now that you have one or more potential domain names in mind, the next step in how to register a business domain name is to research them. Start with your top pick.
Research the History of the Domain You Want to Register
Domains aren’t purchased—they are registered, usually on an annual basis. As such, once someone no longer has a need for a domain name, they may stop renewing its registration. When that happens, it becomes available again. Now that the internet is—well—older, this could mean that the business domain name you want to create is available, but has been used before.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to research whether a domain has been registered and used previously before you create a domain name for your business. This can alert you to any potential issues with your chosen domain, such as previous use by a company that had low ratings or even legal issues. The last thing you want is to be mistaken for a subpar brand.
On the upside, if a domain has a previous existence, it could help your website to rank more quickly. Google considers the age of a domain name in determining website authority, just as you might ascribe credibility to a company that has been in business longer than a new startup.
Use the Whois Domain Lookup to research domain names.
The easiest way to start researching the history of a domain name before registering it is to check the Whois directory. This is a free lookup service that will tell you the date the domain was originally created, information about who you could contact with questions about whether you could acquire the domain, and more.
Another free online tool for researching domain history is the Wayback Machine, which is basically an internet archive. Other resources for researching business domain name history is to look for listings in online business directories like Google Business Pages, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
3. Find the Best Place to Register a Business Domain Name
There are several options for registering a domain name, and which is best for your business depends on how you plan to use the domain and what other services you need. For example, if you simply want to create a domain name for a business to use in the future, a standalone domain registrar might be the best option.
If you plan to build a website and use your new domain for business email right away, choosing the provider you want for those might be your first consideration, for two reasons. One, many web hosting companies and all-in-one website building plans include a free domain name for the first year, and you can register your domain during account setup.
Two, getting your domain with web and email hosting makes it easy to connect your domain to your website and business email, since everything is in one place. If you get a domain through a standalone registry, for example, you may have to jump through some hoops to move it or direct it so that you can use it with your website and business email.
Here are five solid use cases and recommendations for registering a domain for your business:
Solution | Cost | When to Use | Recommended Domain Registration Service |
|---|---|---|---|
Domain Registrar | $10-$15/year | When you just need a domain name and plan to “park” it for a while, buy a domain from domain registrars like IONOS or Domain.com. | |
Website Builders | $12-$16/month plus renewal cost after the first year | The best website builders (e.g., Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly) bundle hosting and no-code site builder in plans that come with a free domain the first year. | |
WordPress Hosting | From $2.95/month the first year, plus renewal cost for plan and domain after the first year | Top WordPress hosting providers like DreamHost and InMotion include a free domain (for 1 year) and a no-code page builder in WordPress hosting plans. | |
Email Hosting | From $12/year | If you want a dedicated domain to use just for email, IONOS includes a free domain in email hosting from $12/year. | |
Gmail Business Email + Office Software | From $6/month plus the cost of domain registration and annual renewal | You can register a domain to use for Gmail business email when signing up for a paid Google Workspace plan with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, and Meet apps. |
While our product guides offer the providers we consider to be the best for small businesses, you may already have a domain registry service in mind. Make sure whichever service you go with is an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)-accredited registry and (preferably) includes private domain registration free or as an add-on.
Pro tip: Domain name privacy is strongly suggested to keep your info private and reduce spam. Some providers offer it as a paid add-on. However, registering a domain name through IONOS or DreamHost or site builders like Wix and Squarespace includes free private registration to protect your personal contact information.
4. Create a Domain Name for Your Business
In terms of how to register a business domain name, the last step is to create a domain name with your chosen solution. In most cases, you’ll do this as part of your account setup process with a provider. Simply add your desired domain name to the cart at the provider you decided was best for your business and follow the checkout procedures.
When you create a domain name for your company, the information you provide in your domain registration may be displayed publicly, which is not optimal. If you want this information hidden, make sure you opt for domain name privacy with your hosting plan (this might cost more), or use a registrar that includes domain privacy at no extra cost.
When registering a domain, you will see Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) mentioned at some point during the registration process. ICANN is a nonprofit organization that manages all namespaces (domain names) in an online database. Whether your ICANN registration includes your contact information depends on whether your provider offers private registration.
Website Domain Stats & Insights for Registering a Domain
Registering a domain for your business’ website and email is one of the most important things you can do to establish and build your brand’s presence online. Make sure you take the time to choose a URL that represents your business well, and is unique, memorable, and easy to spell.
Here are some website domain statistics that may influence your choice of URL and registrar:
- There are 1,591 top-level domains (TLDs, e.g., .com, .net, .org, and so on) available. Going with a .com is often optimal as it’s the easiest to remember, but there are other options you can go with if your preferred .com isn’t available.
- Business domains that end in .com are also 33% more memorable than their counterparts—a testament to this domain extension’s consistent popularity. (Source: Growth Badger)
- Statista data shows that .com domains are by far the most popular (and competitive). In fact, more than 47% of registered URLs are .com, followed by .org (4.7%), .ru (3.7%), and .net (2.9%). See which is better for your business, .com or .net.
- .org is another popular TLD, with 10.5 million registrations (per Siteefy). Read our article comparing the .org vs .com differences to learn more.
- Though it may be tempting to go for a less popular TLD to get the exact name you want, some TLDs may paint your business in a negative light. For example, the .gdn extension has over 46,000 registrations, with nearly 42,000 considered to be malicious links. Likewise, 56.3% of .shop domains are spammy links. (Source: UK Web Host Review)
- The registrar you choose doesn’t affect your URL as long as it’s ICANN-accredited: there are 1,000-plus ICANN-accredited registrars around.
- GoDaddy is the most popular of these registrars, with nearly 83 million registered domain names (as of the time of this update, per domainnamestat.com).
Need more inspiration before deciding? Check out our list of the most insightful domain name ideas for business websites and discover what makes them work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can’t permanently buy a domain, but you can register it and auto-renew it indefinitely as long as you continue to pay for your domain or hosting-with-domain plan. Usually, registration is yearly, subject to renewal, but some providers allow you to register a business domain name for up to 10 years.
Yes, depending on availability, your business name can be your domain name. In fact, it’s optimal for brand awareness and to ensure your website URL is memorable. After you create a domain name for your business, setting up email addresses on your branded domain conveys instant credibility.
The easiest way to find out who owns a domain name is to head to the website URL and see if there’s a contact form. Reach out to the owner and see if they’re willing to sell you the domain name. If there’s no way to contact the owner (or if the owner is unresponsive), you can conduct a Whois search to get publicly listed contact information through ICANN.
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to register a business domain name, you’ve got the first building block for getting your brand online. Once registered, you can use it to build your website and set up a business email, giving your brand instant professional credibility. Take the next steps:
- Discover how to make a small business website on your domain
- See how to create a business email address in three steps
