First, check whether it is worth pursuing
Before you spend time chasing someone else's domain, answer two honest questions:
- Is the name genuinely better than every alternative? Often there is a .co.uk, a slight variation or a different TLD that is 90% as good and available right now for the registration fee. If you have not explored alternatives yet, do that first, our guide to choosing a domain name has a full process.
- Is the current owner likely to sell? If the domain is running an active business, your chances are low and the price will be very high. If it is parked, showing ads or completely blank, the odds are much better.
If the answer to both is yes, read on.
How to find out who owns the domain
Start with a WHOIS lookup. Go to lookup.icann.org and enter the domain. You will usually see one of three results:
- The owner's name and email are visible. This is the easiest case, you can contact them directly.
- The details are hidden behind a privacy service. Most registrars offer WHOIS privacy. The privacy service usually forwards emails, so you can still reach the owner by emailing the proxy address shown in the WHOIS record.
- The domain shows a "for sale" page or is listed on a marketplace. In this case, the owner expects enquiries. Look for a listed price or a "make offer" button.
If WHOIS gives you nothing useful, check whether the domain has a contact page, social media links, or any history on the Wayback Machine that reveals who is behind it.
How much should you expect to pay?
There is no fixed formula. Domain prices range from a few hundred pounds for a parked name nobody cares about, to six or seven figures for premium one-word .coms. But for the kind of domains most businesses need, here are some rough benchmarks:
| Domain type | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Parked / unused two-word .com | £500-£5,000 |
| Short brandable .com (no active site) | £2,000-£25,000 |
| Premium one-word .com | £10,000-£500,000+ |
| Country-code TLD (.co.uk.de, etc.) | Generally 30-60% less than equivalent .com |
You can check recent comparable sales on NameBio, search for similar names to see what they sold for. This gives you a realistic anchor before you start negotiating. For a deeper look at how domains are priced, see our domain valuation guide.
Step-by-step: making the approach
1. Set your budget ceiling before you make contact
Decide the absolute maximum you would pay. Write it down. Do not share it with the seller. This ceiling stops you from getting emotionally attached to a name and overpaying in the heat of negotiation.
2. Have a fallback name ready
The strongest negotiating position is being willing to walk away. If you have a good alternative domain already shortlisted, you can negotiate calmly because you genuinely do not need this specific name.
3. Send a short, neutral first message
Your opening email should be friendly, brief and should not reveal how much you want the name. Something like:
Hi. I noticed you own [domain.com]. I am looking at domain options for a project and wanted to ask whether you would consider selling it. If so, what sort of price would work for you?
Do not:
- Mention your company name or how important the domain is to your plans
- Open with an offer, let them name a price first
- Signal urgency ("we need this by next month")
- Send from a corporate email that reveals your budget
4. Negotiate with patience
If they reply with a price, you are in a negotiation, our domain negotiation service can handle this on your behalf. Some practical tips:
- If their price is within range: counter at 40-60% of their ask. Most sellers expect to negotiate and have padded their opening number.
- If their price is way too high: reply honestly, "That is outside our budget. We could consider something around [your figure]. Would that be worth discussing?" If they say no, move to your fallback.
- If they do not reply: follow up once after a week, then once more after two weeks. If there is still no response after three attempts, they are not interested, move on.
Expect the whole process to take one to four weeks. Rushing it almost always costs you more.
5. Use escrow for the payment
Never send money directly via bank transfer to a stranger. Use an escrow service, the most widely used is Escrow.com. Here is how it works:
- Buyer and seller agree on a price.
- Buyer deposits the money with Escrow.com.
- Seller transfers the domain to the buyer.
- Buyer confirms they have received the domain.
- Escrow.com releases the money to the seller.
This protects both sides. The fee is typically 3-4% of the transaction value and is usually split between buyer and seller (or negotiated as part of the deal).
6. Transfer and secure the domain
Once the domain is in your registrar account:
- Enable registrar lock to prevent unauthorised transfers
- Turn on WHOIS privacy if you want to keep your details private
- Set up auto-renewal so you do not accidentally lose it
- Consider registering key variants and misspellings to protect your brand
- Configure DNS for your website and email, our DNS setup guide covers this
Using a domain broker instead
If you do not want to handle the negotiation yourself, or if the domain is high-value and you want professional help, a domain broker can act on your behalf. They contact the owner, negotiate the price and manage the transfer.
Brokers typically charge 10-15% of the purchase price as commission. It is worth it when:
- The domain is worth more than £5,000-£10,000
- You want to keep your identity hidden (so the seller does not inflate the price)
- You have already tried and failed to reach the owner yourself
What about expired domains?
If the domain you want has recently expired (or is about to), you may be able to pick it up through a backorder service or at auction. But be careful, expired domains can carry spam history, penalties or bad backlinks. Check the domain's history on the Wayback Machine and run a backlink check before committing. Our expired domains guide covers the risks and screening process in more detail.
FAQ
How long does it take to buy a taken domain?
If the owner is responsive, you can close a deal in one to four weeks. If they are slow to reply or negotiation goes back and forth, it can stretch to two or three months. Some owners never respond at all.
What if the owner does not reply?
Follow up twice over three weeks. If there is still no reply, they are either not interested or not monitoring the email. Try a different contact method if you can find one (LinkedIn, a contact form on the site). Otherwise, move to your alternative domain.
Is it safe to buy a domain without escrow?
For anything more than a trivial amount, no. Escrow costs a small percentage and protects you from losing your money to a seller who does not deliver. It also protects the seller from a buyer who reverses payment after receiving the domain.
Can I buy a domain through GoDaddy or Namecheap?
Both offer brokerage or "domain buy" services where they contact the owner on your behalf. These work, but they add a service fee and you have less control over the negotiation. For straightforward purchases they are convenient; for high-value names, a specialist broker is usually better.
What if the domain is being used by an active business?
It is usually not for sale, and if it is, the price will reflect the value of their business, not just the domain. In most cases, you are better off choosing an alternative name rather than trying to buy someone's live website.