.co.uk, .uk or .com?
For a UK trade business serving UK customers, a .co.uk is the usual choice and customers recognise and trust it. A .uk is shorter and also fine. A .com works too, particularly if you may one day work beyond the UK. Pick one and use it everywhere.
Pick a name people can say and spell
- Keep it short and close to your business name
- Say it out loud. If you have to spell it every time, it is too hard
- Avoid hyphens, numbers and unusual spellings
- If your name is taken, add your town or trade, for example davesplumbingleeds.co.uk
- Do not use someone else's brand or a name that could confuse customers with another firm
Check it is free, and check for clashes
Search the name on a registrar's website to see if it is available. Also search for it on Google and social media to check you are not stepping on another business. If you are unsure, take advice before you commit.
Where to buy it
Buy from a reputable registrar in your own name with your business details, so you are the registered owner. Compare the renewal price, not just the first-year price, because cheap introductory offers often renew higher. Typical .co.uk prices vary from a few pounds to about £15 a year depending on the registrar.
Domain, website and email are three different things
A domain is your address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. A website is the pages that live at that address. Email is a separate service that can use the same domain, so that your address looks like you@yourbusiness.co.uk. People often mix these up and end up paying for the wrong thing or losing one when they change another.
How to buy one, step by step
- Choose two or three possible names and check which are free on a registrar's website
- Pick a reputable registrar and compare the renewal price, not only the first-year price
- Create an account using your own email address and a strong password
- Register the domain in your own name or your business name, with accurate details
- Turn on auto-renew and add a second contact email if possible
- Keep the confirmation email and account details somewhere safe
If the name you want is taken
- Add your town: davesplumbingleeds.co.uk
- Add your trade: daveplumber.co.uk
- Try a .uk instead of a .co.uk, or the reverse
- Shorten or simplify the name rather than adding hyphens
- Avoid buying a name that is almost identical to a bigger firm's, which can cause confusion and disputes
Scams and mistakes to avoid
Fake renewal letters and emails are common. They look like invoices for your domain, but come from a company you have never used and ask you to pay or transfer. Only pay renewals through the registrar you actually bought from, and if in doubt, log in to your own account directly rather than clicking a link.
- Never let a web designer register the domain in their own name
- Do not let your registration email lapse, because renewal notices go there
- Do not buy five variations you will never use
- Do not pay for extras you do not need, such as heavily priced privacy or SSL add-ons, without checking whether they are included elsewhere
If you already have a domain
Keep it. You can point it at a new website at any time. If you use email on it, tell whoever builds the site before anything is changed, so that your email settings are preserved.
Protect it
- Turn on auto-renew so it never lapses
- Use a strong, unique password and two-step verification on your registrar account
- Keep your registration email current, because renewal reminders go there
- Never let someone else register it in their name for you
What happens next
Once you own the domain, it gets connected to your website, usually by changing a setting called the nameservers at your registrar. If you already use email on that domain, tell whoever builds your site before anything is changed, so your email keeps working.
Common questions
Which is better, .co.uk or .com?
For a UK trade serving UK customers, .co.uk is the usual and most recognisable choice. A .com is fine if you prefer it, but be consistent.
How much does a domain cost?
Typically a few pounds to about £15 a year for a .co.uk, depending on the registrar. Check the renewal price before you buy.
Can I change my domain later?
You can, but you would lose the benefit of anything printed or linked under the old name unless you redirect it. It is much easier to choose well first.
Do I need to buy .co.uk and .com?
No. Pick one and use it everywhere. Buying more only makes sense to stop a competitor taking a near-identical name, and it is not necessary for most trades.
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