You want potential customers to find you online, but where should you start? The answer is with a branded website, including a customized domain name.
Before you build your online presence, though, you should have a complete understanding of how much it will cost to own and manage a domain name. This article will walk you through the costs associated with this important purchase and things to consider as you select the right domain for your business.
How much does a new domain name cost?
Owning a domain name will typically cost between $10 and $20 per year. This cost can vary widely depending on several factors, including:
- How popular the domain is
- The extension (e.g., “.org,” “.com,” or “.news”)
- How long did you purchase the domain for
- The seller of the domain
Note also that the pricing you see for the domain registration doesn’t include the cost of renewing the domain. We provide a more in-depth explanation of the different factors that influence domain name cost below.
6 factors that influence domain name cost
As we touched on, different factors will impact the cost of your domain. It’s important to remember that, while you may want to minimize costs, make sure that the domain you select can be easily remembered by customers and connects to your business and industry.
Below are some of the biggest factors that can influence your domain name cost.
Domain name popularity
The domain name you choose will have a significant impact on the final cost. Extremely popular domains can come with high costs. For example, Voice.com sold for over $30 million in 2022—one of the most expensive domains ever.
This is the same principle that applies to paid advertising. When setting up a paid search campaign, popular keywords that many businesses want to rank for will typically cost more to bid on than less popular keywords that fewer businesses have an interest in. With both paid search and domain names, high interest drives the price up.
You may also find that certain domain names with common words or phrases are already purchased; however, the owner might be willing to sell them to you. Just keep in mind that you might have to pay a pretty penny for these, as well.
Check domain availability
As you begin to think about the domain name you want to have for your business, there are a few sites you can use to check for domain availability. These searches will help you see if your preferred domain is available for sale and common variations that you can potentially use that might impact price. You might also see that one version of your domain has been taken but another is available.
Some great sites to begin this search include:
Your top-level domain (TLD)
The top-level domain is the part of the URL that comes after your specialized domain name. For example, Upwork.com has a top-level domain of “.com.”
Top-level domains can fit into a few categories. You can have country top-level domains, such as “.ca” for Canada or “.uk” for the United Kingdom. Other top-level domains might indicate a particular type of domain, such as “.mil” for a domain with the military or “.gov” for a governmental organization. You can also get specialized top-level domains, such as “.travel.”
While many TLDs exist, some carry more credibility than others. For example, customers tend to be more trusting of websites ending in “.com,” “.edu,” or “.gov” than TLDs like “.ing” or .am.” While less common top-level domains might be more affordable, it’s important to consider how customers will view the ending. The best domain will be one that customers remember and can, therefore, visit often.
Also understand that some TLDs are sponsored, meaning that the ending indicates a particular affiliation for the domain carrying it. When you register for a sponsored top-level domain, you should expect an approval process from the governing entity.
Some common top-level domains you might encounter include:
- .com: .com domains are one of the most common and most recognized TLDs. It stands for “dot commercial,” although a website doesn’t have to be commercial- or e-commerce-based to use it.
- .org: This is another highly recognizable domain ending and stands for “dot organization.”
- .net: The name of this top-level domain comes from “network,” originally for infrastructure companies. Now, however, usage is more general.
- .edu: This indicates that the domain is for an educational institution that has been accredited in the United States. This is a sponsored TLD.
- .gov: This TLD is used to indicate a U.S. governmental organization and is also a sponsored TLD.
- .co: This TLD indicates “dot company” and is used to designate a company or corporation.
- .biz: The abbreviation found in this TLD is used for “dot business.”
- .mil: This top-level domain indicates that the website is associated with the U.S. military. This is also a sponsored domain.
Your domain registrar
A domain registrar sells you the domain, often offers web hosting, and will typically serve as your domain host. It’s the company that handles the reservation of internet domain names. You want to make sure that you work with a domain registrar that you can trust. You can find the most reputable options through the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). You can find the full list of available domain registrars here, but we’ll provide the most popular domain registrars below.
As you look at the different domain registrars, you’ll see that each one offers different features and packages depending on what add-ons you want to receive with your domain purchase. For example, you might want:
- SSL certificates
- DNS management
- VPS hosting
- Email hosting
If you need additional support, such as implementing DNS management, consider turning to an independent DNS specialist on Upwork. We have the largest pool of proven, remote experts with experience accomplishing goals just like yours.
Domain registrars cost
Here are the most popular domain registrar options and the cost associated with each of them. Explore each to see the packages they offer as hosting companies and how their hosting services fit with your domain purchase.
Renewal fees and contract length
Once you purchase your domain name, keep in mind that you also have to renew the name after the first year or whenever your contract expires. The frequency with which you need to renew your domain name will vary depending on your initial contract. Sometimes, you can get a discount on the domain when you purchase it for a longer time frame.
Regardless of your contract, make sure that you set your domain purchase to auto-renew upfront. An expired domain can be costly and troublesome to your business. While you can still renew your domain for a few weeks after it expires, the site will not be displayed to customers, which can result in lost business. A site that doesn’t work can also damage your brand’s credibility and SEO. The registrar might also charge additional fees for websites not renewed within a particular window of time. You even run the risk of someone else purchasing the domain name if you wait too long after the expiration to renew.
WHOIS protection
With a domain name registration, you’ll need to register and provide your personal contact information, such as your name and email address. The registrar needs to track the web properties of each domain owner to help them resolve any disputes that arise. This information becomes part of the public directory called, “WHOIS.” This directory records the ownership of different domains.
If you don’t want your information to appear in this directory, you can get WHOIS protection. When you choose this privacy protection option, the information recorded in the actual directory is a proxy, such as a proxy email address. The registrar still has your real information, but they don’t provide it to the directory.
Some people who own websites want to use this service to limit the publicity of their information. They don’t want their email addresses ending up on spam lists, for example. If this issue concerns you, make sure you verify with your registrar that they offer hosting plans with WHOIS protection and that you understand any costs associated with it.
If you have questions about maintaining your privacy and security online, working with a web hosting specialist can help. With an understanding of how to integrate and manage hosting issues, these professionals can assist you in creating a site that works well and provides customers with a good user experience.
Business email accounts
Many businesses find it helpful to create a domain-based email to connect to their URL. This can make it easy for customers to recognize your business’s email in their inbox. If you want to get started with an email marketing campaign, a branded email address can help.
Some domain registrars offer email storage along with domain-based email services. The costs associated with this type of service will vary; carefully investigate the email packages available through the different registrars for your domain if this is something that interests you.
Start on your website today
Your website can make a big difference in your efforts to build your online presence. Leveraging the full potential of your website will give you a chance to reach customers through their online searches and encourage them to enter your sales funnel.
Registering your domain is the first step in creating a highly effective website that will help you grow your business. To help your brand stand out, consider how hiring freelancers on Upwork can help maximize your potential for brand growth.
