Buying a domain takes two minutes; living with a bad choice takes years. Run through this list before you check out.
1. Renewal Price
Check the renewal rate, not the first-year promo price — see our registrar comparison for real numbers.
2. Trademark Conflicts
A quick search for existing trademarks matching your name avoids a future UDRP dispute — details in our compliance guide.
3. Similar TLDs Already Taken by Someone Else
If the exact name is already live as a business on a different TLD, expect visitor confusion regardless of who owns which.
4. WHOIS Privacy Inclusion
Confirm it is included free, not billed as an add-on — see our privacy guide.
5. Registrar Transfer Policy
Read the transfer-out terms before you buy, not after you need to leave.
6. Length and Spelling
Shorter, phonetically obvious names get typed correctly and remembered; avoid names that require spelling out loud.
7. Existing Social Handle Availability
Not a domain issue technically, but worth checking before you commit to a brand name across every channel.
8. Auto-Renewal Default
Know whether the registrar auto-renews by default and how far in advance they charge your card.
9. DNS Management Interface Quality
Some registrars have genuinely poor DNS panels that make basic record changes painful. Check reviews specifically for this.
10. Whether You Actually Need Multiple TLD Variants
Buying every TLD variant "to protect the brand" is expensive and rarely necessary — focus budget on the one you'll actually use.
For more, see our full guide index or contact us.