How to make an offer on a domain name (and get a fair price)

When a domain you want accepts offers, you have a chance to buy it for less than the asking price, or to buy one with no price at all. Negotiating well doesn't require tricks. It requires research, a clear limit and some patience.

Do your homework first

Before you make an offer, find out what you can:

• Is there an asking price? If so, it's the seller's starting point, not necessarily their bottom line.
• What have similar names sold for? Some sales are reported publicly. Compare names of similar length, extension and topic.
• Is the domain in use? An owner with an active website will usually want more than one holding an unused name.
• How long have they owned it? An older registration can mean an owner who's patient and attached to the name.

Then decide, privately, the most you'd pay. Write it down. This number is your walk-away point, and having it settled beforehand stops you from getting carried along in the moment.

Make a credible opening offer

Your first offer sets the tone:

• Too low, and some sellers won't reply at all. A token offer on a valued name can end the conversation.
• Too high, and you've left yourself no room to move.

A reasonable opening is low enough to leave room to negotiate, but high enough to show you're serious. If there's a listed price, an offer a meaningful amount below it, with a short reason, is normal and won't offend a reasonable seller.

Say a little about yourself

You don't have to explain your plans, but a short, genuine message helps, for example that you're a small business planning to use the name for a new product. Sellers are often more flexible with end users than with people they suspect will resell the name for profit.

Avoid two things: revealing that the name is perfect and you can't live without it, and making up a story. Honesty is easier to keep consistent through a negotiation.

Handling the counter-offer

Expect the seller to counter. When they do:

1. Don't panic and don't jump straight to your maximum. Move in steps.
2. Respond to their number, not your hopes. If they came down, come up a little.
3. Explain your reasoning when it helps. For example, you've compared similar names, or you have a fixed budget.
4. Keep it friendly. Negotiations break down more often over tone than over money.

Know when to stop

If the seller's price stays above your walk-away number, stop. Thank them, and say you'll look at alternatives. Sometimes that's when a seller reconsiders, and sometimes it isn't. Either way, you avoid overpaying. There's nearly always another good name.

Watch the deadlines

Many marketplaces give offers an expiry time, so a negotiation can't hang open forever. If you reach a deal, there's usually a window to complete the payment. If you're serious, keep an eye on these deadlines so you don't lose an agreed deal by missing one.

Pay through escrow, always

Once you agree a price, pay through escrow or a marketplace that holds the payment until the domain is in your account. Never let a good negotiation end with paying a stranger directly.

Making offers on our marketplace

On our marketplace, listings that accept offers have a Make an offer button. You can add a short message to the seller, and the seller can accept, decline or counter. Every reply is emailed to you, and once you agree on a price, the domain is held for you while you pay through escrow. Browse domains for sale to find one worth an offer.