How to Buy a Domain Already Registered
- The best domain names are almost always already registered — but taken doesn't mean permanently unavailable
- Start with a WHOIS lookup (ICANN Lookup, WhoisFreaks) to identify the owner or their proxy contact
- Research comparable sales on NameBio before making any offer — going in blind leads to overpaying
- Use Escrow.com for every transaction, regardless of deal size — never wire money directly to a seller
- For domains worth $5,000+, a domain broker typically saves more than their commission through expert negotiation
- If the owner won't sell, backorder services (SnapNames, DropCatch) let you claim the domain when it lapses
Finding the perfect domain name only to discover it's already registered is one of the most common frustrations in building an online brand. But "taken" rarely means permanently unavailable. Millions of domains change hands every year — through direct negotiation, domain broker services, and aftermarket platforms. This step-by-step guide explains exactly how to buy a domain name from someone else, what to pay, and how to complete the transfer safely.
Step 1: Find Out Who Owns the Domain
Before making any approach, you need to know who you are dealing with. The primary tool is a WHOIS lookup:
- ICANN Lookup (lookup.icann.org) — the official ICANN WHOIS tool, always accurate
- WhoisFreaks — provides historical WHOIS data and current registrant information
- Your registrar's WHOIS search — GoDaddy, Namecheap, and others include built-in WHOIS tools
If WHOIS privacy protection is enabled (most registrants use this), the contact details will belong to a privacy proxy service like "Domains By Proxy" or "WhoisGuard." These services forward emails to the real owner. Send a clear, professional inquiry through the proxy — most privacy services forward messages to domain owners.
If the domain has no website and no WHOIS contact responds, a domain broker can use industry relationships and alternative outreach channels to locate the owner directly.
Step 2: Research the Domain's Market Value
Never make an offer without knowing what the domain is worth. Sellers who receive an uninformed offer often assume the buyer knows something they don't — and inflate their asking price accordingly.
- NameBio.com — search historical sales of domains with similar length, extension, and keywords to establish a realistic price range
- GoDaddy Domain Appraisal — free automated estimate; useful as a rough baseline but often inaccurate for premium names
- DN Journal sales data — tracks publicly reported domain sales, particularly useful for five- and six-figure .com transactions
Understanding fair market value before opening negotiations is the single most important step in avoiding overpayment. See our guide on how to value a domain name for the full methodology.
Step 3: Make Your Initial Approach
How you contact a domain owner matters enormously. Common mistakes include revealing that you urgently need this specific domain, mentioning your company name or budget, making an insultingly low offer, or opening dramatically above market value. The best initial approach is brief and professional: express interest, ask if the domain is for sale, and let the seller name their asking price first when possible.
Step 4: Decide — Negotiate Directly or Use a Broker
| Approach | Best For | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct negotiation | Domains under $5,000 that are publicly listed for sale | No broker commission; faster for simple deals | Your identity is revealed; limited negotiation expertise |
| Domain broker | Domains $5,000+, unlisted domains, confidential acquisitions | Anonymous approach; expert negotiation; industry relationships; often reduces final price significantly | Commission (typically 10–20%); adds time to some transactions |
For any domain with meaningful commercial value, a broker's commission typically costs far less than the premium you would pay negotiating without expertise. Brokers know how domain owners think, what comparable sales justify, and when to walk away.
Let Name Experts Acquire It For You
Negotiating with domain owners takes time, expertise, and discretion. Name Experts handles the entire process — identifying owners, making confidential approaches, negotiating fair value, and managing escrow. Over $150 million in completed domain acquisitions.
Step 5: Negotiate the Price
Most domain negotiations involve multiple rounds of offers and counter-offers. Key principles:
- Anchor low, but not insultingly so — start at 40–60% of your maximum budget
- Use comparable sales as justification — "Based on similar sales on NameBio, the market value appears to be X"
- Know your walk-away price — and actually walk away if the seller exceeds it
- Consider timing — domains approaching renewal dates may have more motivated sellers
- Offer installment payments — some sellers prefer structured payments; this can unlock deals that cash offers cannot
Step 6: Use Escrow to Complete the Transfer Safely
Never wire money directly to a domain seller. Always use an accredited escrow service — Escrow.com is the industry standard, used in thousands of domain transactions every year. The process:
- Buyer and seller agree on terms; an escrow account is opened at Escrow.com
- Buyer deposits funds into escrow (held securely until conditions are met)
- Seller initiates the domain transfer using the authorization (EPP) code from their registrar
- Buyer confirms receipt and verifies the domain has transferred correctly
- Escrow.com releases payment to the seller
Domain transfers typically complete within 3–7 business days after the seller initiates. Most gTLD transfers require a 5-day ICANN waiting period by default.
Step 7: Secure the Domain After Transfer
Once the domain is in your registrar account, take these steps immediately:
- Enable registrar lock to prevent unauthorized transfer out
- Update WHOIS registrant information to reflect your ownership
- Enable WHOIS privacy protection
- Enable two-factor authentication on your registrar account
- Point DNS nameservers to your hosting provider
- Set the domain to auto-renew to prevent accidental expiration
What to Do If the Owner Won't Sell
If the current registrant declines or does not respond, you have several options:
- Backorder services — use SnapNames, DropCatch, or NameJet to automatically attempt registration the moment the domain expires
- Monitor the expiration date — some owners eventually let registrations lapse; set an alert and be ready to register immediately
- UDRP complaint — only applicable if you hold a registered trademark that predates the domain registration AND the owner registered in bad faith. Not applicable to legitimate registrants
- Consider alternatives — a close variant (different TLD, singular vs plural, adding a word) may serve your brand equally well at a fraction of the cost
Let Us Acquire the Perfect Domain for You
Negotiating with domain owners, navigating escrow, and managing transfers takes time and expertise. Our team handles the entire acquisition process so you can focus on building your brand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest way is to perform a WHOIS lookup using a tool such as ICANN Lookup, WhoisFreaks, or your registrar's built-in search. WHOIS records list the registrant's name, email address, and organization -- or, if privacy protection is enabled, the contact details of the proxy service that forwards messages to the owner. If the WHOIS data is redacted, you can also try reaching the owner through the contact form on the website itself or by using a domain broker who has experience contacting domain holders through alternative channels.
Prices vary enormously depending on the domain's length, extension, keyword value, and existing traffic. A typical aftermarket .COM sells for anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, while premium one-word or two-word .COMs regularly trade for five or six figures. To get an accurate estimate before you negotiate, review recent comparable sales on platforms like NameBio, use automated appraisal tools such as GoDaddy's Domain Value Estimator, and factor in the revenue or branding advantage the domain will provide to your business.
If the current owner refuses to sell, your options are more limited but not nonexistent. You can place a backorder through a service like SnapNames or DropCatch so you are first in line if the registration lapses. You can also monitor the domain's expiration date and attempt to register it the moment it drops. In rare cases where you hold a registered trademark that predates the domain registration, you may be able to file a UDRP complaint, but this only applies to clear cases of cybersquatting -- not to legitimate owners who simply prefer to keep the domain.
Hiring a professional domain broker is generally the smarter choice when the domain is high value, the owner is unresponsive, or you want to remain anonymous during negotiations. Brokers have established relationships across the industry, access to private sales channels, and deep knowledge of market pricing -- all of which can result in a lower final price despite the broker's commission. Negotiating directly makes sense for lower-value domains where the owner is clearly open to selling, such as domains listed on aftermarket platforms like Sedo, Afternic, or Dan.com.
The safest method is to use an accredited escrow service such as Escrow.com, which holds the buyer's payment in a secure account until the domain has been successfully transferred and verified. Once both parties agree to terms, the buyer deposits funds, the seller initiates the domain transfer using an authorization code, and the escrow provider releases payment only after the buyer confirms receipt. This process protects against fraud, ensures neither party can back out mid-transaction, and provides a clear legal record of the sale.
The timeline depends on how quickly you can locate the owner and reach an agreement. Simple negotiations for domains already listed on marketplace platforms can close in as little as three to five business days, including escrow and transfer time. More complex deals -- especially those involving unresponsive owners, broker outreach, or high-value negotiations -- can take anywhere from two weeks to several months. Planning ahead and having your budget and registrar account ready before you begin will help you close faster once terms are agreed.
