How much does a domain name cost per year?

What are you actually buying?

A domain name is your website's address.

It's what customers type into their browser when they want to visit your business online.

For example, a business might use a domain like yourbusiness.com.

The domain isn't the website itself.

It's the address that points people to the website.

You still need somewhere to host the website, and you may need someone to build it.

Think of the domain as the address on a building.

Owning the address doesn't mean you've built the building.

When you register a domain, you're paying for the right to use that name for a specific period, subject to the registrar's terms and the rules governing domain registrations.

You aren't buying it permanently.

You have to renew the registration to keep using it.

That's why we wouldn't think of a domain as a one-time purchase.

It's an ongoing business expense, even if you only pay once a year.

How much does a .com domain cost?

For most small businesses, a standard .com domain is a reasonable place to start. For the name itself, see what domain name should I choose.

A typical registration might cost around $10 to $20 per year, which is the range Squarespace Domains gives for a standard .com.

When we checked on 2026-11-14, Porkbun listed .com at $11.81 for both registration and renewal, and Squarespace's help center listed $20 per year.

But the price you see when searching for a domain isn't always what you'll pay every year.

Some registrars offer inexpensive introductory pricing.

You might see a domain advertised for $1.99 or $4.99 during the first year, only to discover that the renewal price is $18 or more. That's the example Squarespace Domains gives.

That's not automatically a problem.

Promotional pricing can be useful.

But you should know what happens when the promotion ends.

Before buying, check:

• The first-year registration price.
• The regular renewal price.
• Whether privacy protection costs extra.
• Whether the price includes taxes or additional fees.
• What it costs to transfer the domain elsewhere.
• Whether the domain is a standard registration or a premium name.

If the domain costs $12 today and $18 next year, that's probably not going to make or break your business.

But if you're considering a name that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars, you should understand exactly why.

Why are some domain names so expensive?

Because not every domain is available for standard registration.

Some names are already owned by individuals or businesses.

Others are classified as premium domains by the registry, the company that runs the extension.

That can make a big difference in price.

You might search for a short, memorable name and see a price of $3,000.

Then you search for a slightly different name and find one available for $15.

The expensive name isn't necessarily better for your business.

It's just being sold under different circumstances.

Some domain owners purchase names because they believe another business will eventually want them.

They may list those domains for hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

You don't have to participate in that market.

A new business with a limited budget usually has better things to spend money on than an expensive domain.

A memorable name matters.

But it doesn't need to be the shortest word in the dictionary.

And it definitely doesn't need to cost more than your website.

Does the domain extension affect the price?

Yes.

The extension is the part after the name.

Common examples include .com, .net, .org and .co.

There are also industry-specific extensions and newer options.

Each extension can have different registration and renewal pricing.

Some cost less than a standard .com domain.

Others can cost significantly more.

At Porkbun, for example, .co renews at $31.20 per year and .ai at $82.70 (checked 2026-11-14).

We'd usually start by looking for a .com.

Not because other extensions are automatically bad, but because .com is familiar to many customers.

If someone hears your business name and tries to find your website, a familiar extension can make the address easier to remember.

That doesn't mean you should force yourself into a bad name just to get a .com.

A clear, memorable domain with another extension can be better than a confusing .com.

The extension should make sense for your business.

And you should be comfortable saying the entire domain out loud.

If you constantly have to explain how to spell it, you might want to keep looking.

Should you buy a premium domain?

Sometimes, but we'd be careful.

A premium domain might make sense for an established business with a recognizable brand.

It could also make sense if you're building a company around a specific name and the domain is an important part of that identity.

But for a new local business, we wouldn't recommend spending thousands of dollars just to get a particular domain.

You can build a strong business around a name that costs very little to register.

Customers care about whether you do good work, communicate clearly and deliver what you promise.

A premium domain doesn't fix a bad service.

It doesn't make an outdated website better.

And it doesn't automatically bring customers to your business.

Before spending serious money on a domain, ask what that money could accomplish elsewhere.

Could it pay for your website?

Could it help you improve your booking process?

Could it go toward marketing or equipment?

There's an opportunity cost to every purchase.

If a domain is affordable and fits your brand, great.

If someone wants $10,000 for it, you should have a very good reason to pay that amount.

Can you buy a domain for multiple years?

Yes.

Many registrars allow you to register a domain for multiple years at once, subject to the rules for that extension.

ICANN, the group that oversees domain names, says a registration period is typically between one and ten years.

That can be convenient if you know you'll keep using the name.

It also reduces the number of times you need to think about renewal.

But registering for multiple years doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a discount.

Compare the total cost.

And make sure the registrar is reputable.

We'd also recommend enabling automatic renewal if you plan to keep the domain.

You don't want to lose access to your business website because a renewal reminder went unnoticed.

Just make sure the payment method stays current.

Keep the domain account associated with an email address you can access. A domain also lets you set up a business email address.

And save your login information somewhere secure.

Those small details become important when it's time to change hosting providers or work with a new developer.

Who should own your business domain?

Your business should control its own domain.

This is one of the simplest ways to avoid unnecessary problems later.

If you hire someone to build your website, don't automatically let them register the domain in an account only they control.

They can help you purchase it.

They can help configure it.

They can connect it to your website.

But you should know which company manages the registration and have access to that account.

We've worked with businesses that needed help sorting out website systems and outside services.

One of the first things worth understanding is who controls what.

If you don't have access to your domain, even a simple website change can become unnecessarily complicated.

Ask for the registrar's name.

Make sure your business information is correct.

Confirm that you can renew or transfer the domain without depending on someone else.

And don't confuse paying for a domain with owning the custom website built around it.

Those are separate things.

How do you choose a good domain without overspending?

Keep it simple.

Your domain should be easy to remember, easy to spell and closely connected to your business.

You don't need to force keywords into it.

You don't need to buy every extension.

And you don't need a clever spelling that customers will struggle to remember.

A few things we'd look for:

• A name that's short enough to remember.
• Spelling that makes sense when spoken.
• A clear connection to your business or brand.
• A reasonable annual renewal price.
• No obvious conflict with another business's name.
• A domain you can keep using as the business grows.

Before purchasing, search for existing businesses using the same or similar names.

A domain being available doesn't mean the name is free of trademark concerns.

If you're building a serious brand, checking that early can save you from a much bigger problem later.

At Veshtera, domain and hosting setup are included in our Launch ($3,500) and Pro ($6,500) website packages. Once the project is paid in full, the custom work is yours, with the accounts, code and access handed over.