Selling a Domain: The Complete Guide

Preparing to Sell

Before listing a domain, ensure it is ready for sale. Verify your contact information in WHOIS is accurate (or privacy-protected with a clear contact path). Ensure the domain is unlocked and the auth code is accessible. If the domain has any content, ensure it is presentable. A domain with a broken or spammy website makes a poor impression.

Pricing Your Domain

Pricing is the most critical decision. Overprice and you receive no inquiries. Underprice and you leave money on the table.

Research comparable sales on NameBio for domains with similar characteristics. Consider the domain's length, extension, keyword value, traffic, and brandability. Factor in the buyer type: end users typically pay 5-10x what another investor would pay.

Pricing strategies:

• Fixed price (Buy It Now): Best for domains in the $500-$10,000 range where you want quick sales
• Make Offer: Best for premium domains where you want to feel out market demand
• Minimum offer with negotiation: Sets a floor while allowing negotiation

Where to List

Major Marketplaces

• Dan.com: Clean interface, handles payment and transfer automatically. 9% commission for non-premium domains.
• Afternic: Integrated with GoDaddy's enormous buyer network. Fast transfers for domains at GoDaddy.
• Sedo: Strong European buyer base. Offers auction and fixed-price options.
• Squadhelp: Brand-focused marketplace with a curated selection. Good for brandable domains.

Your Own Landing Page

Every domain for sale should have a professional landing page with a clear call to action. Most marketplaces provide landing page templates. Include a "Buy Now" button or "Make Offer" form.

Outbound Sales

For high-value domains, proactive outbound sales to potential end users can be the most effective strategy. Identify companies, startups, or individuals who would benefit from owning the domain and reach out professionally.

Negotiation

When offers come in, respond promptly and professionally. If the offer is too low, counter with a price supported by comparable sales data. Be patient; negotiations for premium domains can take weeks or months.

Avoid revealing personal information about why you need to sell or how long you have held the domain. These create leverage for the buyer.

Closing the Transaction

Use Escrow

For any transaction above a few hundred dollars, use Escrow.com or the built-in escrow services of Dan.com or Sedo. The buyer deposits funds, you transfer the domain, and the escrow service releases payment upon confirmed transfer.

Domain Transfer

The two common transfer methods are registrar transfer (the domain moves to the buyer's registrar account) and push (the domain moves to the buyer's account at the same registrar). Push is faster but requires both parties to use the same registrar. Registrar transfer takes 5-7 days but works across any registrars.

After the Sale

Confirm the transfer is complete, ensure payment has been received, and keep records for tax purposes. Domain sales are taxable income in most jurisdictions.