Guidelines help startup entrepreneurs understand how much a domain name costs on the aftermarket.
Educating end users about the value of domain names is a regular challenge for domain name investors. So it’s helpful to have domain buyer broker Name Ninja issue guidelines that domain owners can refer to.
Name Ninja’s pricing guidelines are designed for startups looking to acquire a domain for their business but can apply to established businesses as well. It sets reasonable price expectations for popular types of domains such as one-word .com, two-word .com, and invented names in .com.
I’m sure Name Ninja founder Bill Sweetman is frequently contacted by people who want to buy a one-word .com for their business but haven’t set aside enough money. This guide (pictured below) will help set expectations. I will definitely refer to it when I’m negotiating to sell one of my domains.
Of course, there are will always be exceptions to each price range, but this is a great overview.
Alan Dodd says
I’d disagree with this. You should be able to get a good two word dot com quite easily for under a grand.
Koosah says
I’d disagree with this.
Adam says
In my experiences clients will typically choose a name like GreenRocket.com which is a prime example of a “NOT-$1k-name”. They don’t choose things like GreenishRocket.com which is still “2 words” but definitely a sub $1k name. Bill notes that prices will vary heavily in this category. I’d say great swings occur mostly in this area. For example if Mike Mann owns it, you’re in the 5 figures automatically. If a name is on the “aftermarket” and a quality 2 word combination, you’re going to face more than $1000. Even for the most ridiculous combinations, domainers will try to squeeze it up to that “average sale price” that most aftermarkets tout, which is in the $1000-2000 range
billsweetman says
Well said, Adam. Who owns the domain will greatly impact the potential price. There’s a vast price expectation delta between a domain Huge Domains owns versus a domain owned by Rick Schwartz. Each owner has a different sales strategy, and both strategies are valid when looked at objectively. This is where a domain buyer broker such as myself can help a client understand and navigate the nuances of buying a domain on the aftermarket.
Ron says
This is just stupid, every letter, every niche, every trend prices different, first I got to deal with know it all types throwing namebio at me, now this ugh
billsweetman says
@ Ron, if a buyer approaching you is referencing NameBio, they’re not an end-user buyer, they’re a domainer looking to buy at a wholesale price, and that means my end-user guide is the least of your worries!
Logan Flatt says
Nice guide, Bill.
Adam says
Please note Namebio doesn’t just contain prices from domainer/wholesale buys. Many “pvt sale” or sales by afternic, sedo, Uniregistry, etc involve end-user purchases. Most of Godaddy, namejet, snapnames buys however lean toward domainer purchases. It’s not always the case but generally speaking. Maybe it’s time for us to do an infographic 😉
As an example, the LLL category you cite : https://namebio.com/?s==cTM1QDN0MTM I see many names I’d categorize as end-user level
Josh says
Nice guide for everyone really.
That guide has been good for over a decade.
David Michaels says
Then there are 2-word generic category domain names like NanaimoBar .com or SesameSnaps .com. And the sale price is much higher after a UDRP win or an RDNH win under the ACPA. $50,000 doesn’t cut it anymore.