How to Buy a Registered Domain

You know a great domain name should be simple, memorable, and provide an instant connection to your brand.^{[1]XResearch source} But what if you figure out your perfect domain name only to discover that it's already taken by someone else? Fortunately, it's usually pretty easy to buy a registered domain—the question is whether the current owner is willing to sell it to you. If they've already abandoned it, you'll have a much easier time than you would if they're actively using the domain and committed to their spot on the web.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Evaluating the Existing Domain

1
Look for any trademarks in the brand. Before you get your heart set on the domain, go to the USPTO website and search to see if that name is registered in the US. If you live in another country, check the trademark database of your country as well.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If it turns out there's a trademark for the URL or something similar to it, you're typically better off choosing a different name rather than pursuing the existing domain.
2
Go to the existing website and see what's there. Type the URL into your browser window and see what comes up. If you're looking at an active, developed website that was recently updated, it's unlikely that the owner will be willing to sell the domain. However, if the site hasn't been updated in years or has a landing page, you might be in luck.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Scroll to the bottom of the home page and look for dates that will tell you when the page was designed or last updated. Generally, if it uses an older design, it's probably an inactive site.
- If the site has a blog, look for the last date. If it hasn't been updated in a couple of years, or if the most recent post talks about the owner of the webpage taking a break, that's also a good sign for you.
3
Do a Google site search of the domain. On Google, search for "site:" followed by the domain name with no spaces. Check for any penalties that have been assessed to the domain. If the domain has been penalized, that means it might not be the best purchase for you.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Even if the domain changes hands, that penalty status will stay with the domain, which means the domain might be banned from search results or wouldn't appear on the first page of search results, which is important if you're trying to build a brand.
4
Check the Wayback Machine to see what content used to be there. Head over to archive.org and type in the domain name to see what comes up. Scroll through to make sure there's nothing there that could negatively impact your brand.^{[5]XResearch source}
- For example, if you see content that looks scammy or fraudulent, it might not be a good idea to try to buy that domain.
- It's up to you to decide if the content that used to be at that domain would negatively affect your brand, and you might not even be able to tell at first. If it's in the gray area or you're not sure, you might decide just to keep it simple and not pursue the domain.
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Contacting the Domain Owner Directly

1
Look for a contact page on the existing website. If there's an active website at the domain, see if there's a contact page that will give you direct contact information for the owner of the domain. You don't want a generic email address or a webmaster address, as these likely won't get you to the owner.^{[6]XResearch source}
- An address or phone number works as well, although it's usually easier to make first contact with the owner through email.
- If you can't find direct contact information on the website, you might be able to find enough information that you can search for direct contact information elsewhere. For example, the owner might have social media accounts that you could use to make contact with them.
2
Search WHOIS to find out who owns the domain if nothing's there. If the domain doesn't lead you to an active website, use a WHOIS service to get registration information for the domain. Domain registrars and web hosts typically offer this service or you can search directly at https://lookup.icann.org/.^{[7]XResearch source}
- This search will typically give you the name of the registered owner, when they registered the domain, when the registration expires, and how you can contact them.
- If the domain owner has purchased privacy protection, you'll only get the name of the domain registrar rather than the owner. For example, if the owner registered the domain through GoDaddy, you'd get the name and contact information for GoDaddy. If there's no active website at the domain, you'll likely be unable to contact the domain owner directly.
3
Send a message directly to the owner expressing your intent. Tell the owner that you're interested in buying their domain, but don't make them an offer—yet. Simply ask if they'd be open to selling it and that if they are, you'd potentially be interested in buying it.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If there's no active website at the domain, instead of writing to the person and expressing an active interest in buying it, you might send them a message asking what their plans are for the site. While your intent might be implied, it won't be obvious.^{[9]XResearch source}
4
Figure out how much you're willing to pay for the domain. Domains can go for a few hundred dollars or a few million. Ultimately, this comes down to how much money you have and how important it is for you to have this specific domain.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You can search for sites online that will perform a valuation of a domain, but these results are speculative at best. Typically, they're based on what similar domain names have sold for. Depending on the specific domain, they might not be that much help to you.
5
Negotiate with the owner over the price of the domain. If the owner gets back to you and tells you they are potentially interested in selling the domain, you're in luck! They might tell you what they want for it, or ask you to make an offer. If they ask you to make an offer, go with a low-ball—they might not know how much it's worth and be willing to take less.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Expect a bit of back and forth if the owner actively wants to sell the domain and has been looking for a buyer. They might even have someone else interested, in which case they'll likely try to start a bidding war. Be careful not to go over your budget.
- If the owner also has social media accounts using the same domain name, ask if you can purchase those as well. They'll be necessary to help build your brand.^{[12]XResearch source}
6
Draft a contract for the sale of the domain. When you and the current owner of the domain agree on a sale price, use a written contract to finalize the sale. You can find free templates online at websites such as IP Watchdog that were drafted by attorneys who specialize in intellectual property law.^{[13]XResearch source}
- If the domain name is a larger purchase (several thousand dollars or more, although this also depends on your overall budget), get an attorney who specializes in intellectual property and internet law to draw up the contract for you rather than using a template.^{[14]XResearch source}
7
Transfer funds for the purchase using a secure service. Use escrow.com or a similar third-party service to send your money to the current domain owner. Never use money transfer apps or wire transfer services unless the owner agrees to transfer the domain name to you before you send the money. Otherwise, you might send your money and never hear from them again. While these third-party services do charge a fee, it's worth it for the peace of mind.^{[15]XResearch source}
- If the owner of the domain refuses to use a secure service, back away from the transfer—it's likely a scam.
- Domain registrars, such as GoDaddy, also offer domain purchase services. If you've already chosen a registrar, find out if you can run the purchase through them as well. Although they'll charge a fee, it might be worth it to keep everything streamlined with one company.
8
Complete the transfer through a domain registrar. The domain registrar where the original owner registered the domain typically handles the transfer of ownership. If you already have an account with another domain registrar, you might also be able to initiate the transfer from there. Simply search for "transfer domain ownership" on your registrar's help page.^{[16]XResearch source}
- If the domain is already registered with one of the registrars that offers a free transfer service, all you have to do is create an account with that registrar to simplify the transfer process. You can later move it to a different registrar if there's another that you prefer.^{[17]XResearch source}
Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Domain Broker

1
Click the link on the domain's landing page. If there's no website set up at the domain, it will typically have some sort of landing page with a link that you can click to buy it. The landing page is hosted by whatever broker or auction site has the right to sell the domain.^{[18]XResearch source}
- The landing page will typically take you to the site of the broker. Take a look around and make sure it's a legitimate site and not a scam. If you're not sure, do a search for the name of the company and check results to see if there have been any complaints or negative reviews about the site before you set up an account.
2
Compare several popular domain brokers. If there's no landing page to take you to the site of a specific broker or marketplace, choose your own. All brokers charge fees, so pick the one that best suits your needs and budget. Avoid sites that make any promises to get the domain for you—there's no way they can guarantee that, and it's likely to be a scam. Some popular, above-board domain brokers to check out are:^{[19]XResearch source}
- Sedo
- GoDaddy
- Flippa
- Efty
- Namecheap
3
Create an account with the domain broker of your choice. To set up an account, you usually only have to provide your name, physical address, and email address. You may have to provide additional information to verify your identity. However, you shouldn't have to provide payment information until after the broker has made a deal.^{[20]XResearch source}
- Make sure you use an email address that you have immediate access to, since you'll likely have to verify that address before you can complete your account registration.
- It's a good idea to whitelist the email address of the domain broker so you can be sure all of their notifications arrive in your inbox.
4
Tell the broker your budget for purchasing the domain. Generally, you'll start the brokerage process by providing the domain name you want and the maximum amount you're willing to spend on it. You might want to give a figure slightly lower than your actual maximum so you have a little wiggle room.^{[21]XResearch source}
- Some brokers also value the domain as part of their service to you, but that valuation might not be 100% accurate—it's simply based on what similar domains have sold for on the secondary market.
5
Wait for the broker to negotiate with the current owner. The broker will attempt to contact the domain owner and convey your offer to buy the domain. If the owner has privacy protection that restricts their name from public records, a broker can typically work through the owner's registrar (which is something you wouldn't be able to do on your own).^{[22]XResearch source}
- Some brokers give a deadline for negotiations. For example, GoDaddy typically completes their negotiations for purchase of a domain within 30 days. If the transaction isn't complete within that time period, they'll send you an email and give you the choice of whether to continue the process.
6
Complete the transfer of the domain if the broker was successful. If the broker is able to secure the purchase of the domain for you, they'll send you an email and let you know. Most brokers are also registrars, so they can complete the transfer of the domain as well as handle the exchange of funds for its purchase.^{[23]XResearch source}
- The email from your broker will walk you through what you need to do to complete the transaction. Every broker has its own process, so make sure you read this email carefully, even if you've done this before.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

If you already have a trademark in the brand associated with the domain, you might be able to sue the current owner of the domain for trademark infringement and get it.^{[24]XResearch source} Talk to an intellectual property attorney who specializes in trademark infringement for more information.
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0
The process of buying a registered domain can take anywhere from a few days to several months or even years. Give yourself a deadline and resolve to find another domain to use if you don't close on the registered domain by that date.^{[25]XResearch source}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0
If you're unsuccessful in buying the domain you want, you might try back-ordering it. Many registrars offer back-ordering services that allow you to purchase a domain when it expires. However, keep in mind it could be years before that happens, so this might not be the best option if you want to get started right away.^{[26]XResearch source}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0

Warnings

Even if a different suffix, such as .net, is available, avoid simply choosing that domain before trying to buy the one that's already registered. Usually, going with .com is your best choice because that's what your customers will default to when they search for your business.
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0