Purchasing a Domain Name

How to select and buy a domain name for your new company.

1 min read · Written by Grant Rayner on 03 Jan 2025

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Once you’ve decided on your company name, the next step is to secure the related domain names.

Prioritise the .com Domain

Your first priority should be to purchase a .com domain for your company. It’s the most widely recognised and trusted domain extension, making it ideal for establishing credibility and professionalism.

If the exact .com domain for your company name isn’t available, consider slight variations, such as abbreviations or adding a word (e.g., mycompanyonline.com or trymycompany.com). However, avoid overly complex or hard-to-remember alternatives.

As a last resort, you may need to reconsider your company name to find a suitable domain. It’s better to adapt early than struggle with branding inconsistencies later.

Avoid Conflicts with Existing Domains

Never purchase a domain with an alternative extension (e.g., .net, .org) if another company owns the corresponding .com. For example, owning mycompany.net when someone else already operates mycompany.com can confuse clients and harm your brand’s credibility.

Once you’ve secured your preferred .com domain, consider purchasing related domains such as:

  • .net
  • .org
  • Common misspellings of your domain name

Redirect these domains to your .com. This strategy protects your brand by preventing others from using similar domains to compete with or impersonate your business.

We recommend purchasing your domain through Namecheap. Namecheap is reliable and widely supported. Many services, like Render and other hosting providers, offer step-by-step guides specifically for Namecheap, simplifying the setup process.

The Purchasing Process

If you’ve never purchased a domain before, the process is straightforward:

  1. Visit a domain registrar like Namecheap.
  2. Search for your desired domain name.
  3. Add the domain to your shopping cart and complete payment with your credit card.
  4. Set up automatic renewal to avoid losing your domain.

Tip: Keep your payment details up to date to ensure uninterrupted ownership. Losing a domain can have serious consequences, as it may be snapped up by others.

Plan Ahead

Selecting a domain name is usually simple, especially if you’ve already put thought into your company name. However, domain availability may require some flexibility. Be prepared to adjust your company name slightly if needed to secure the ideal domain.

Tip: If you think of a great company name, purchase the domain as soon as possible—even if you’re not ready to launch. Domains are inexpensive, and it’s better to secure them early than risk losing them later.