How to Choose and Register a .com Domain Name for Your Business in Three Steps

Choosing a great domain name for your business or passion is a crucial step for your online presence, and may help your marketing efforts as well. In our guide, we outline how to choose a .com domain name that works for your business, including an overview of the domain name registration process.

Step 1: Select a Domain Extension

Before you decide on a domain name, you’ll first need to search for and pick the right domain extension (the part after the dot) such as .com.

Also referred to as a top-level domain (TLD), a domain extension may influence how your audience perceives you or your business. Millions of .com domain names¹ have been registered because people know it’s a universal, trusted, and recognized TLD.

.com is used by millions of businesses around the world because it’s:

UNIVERSAL

TRUSTED

RECOGNIZED

Step 2: Choose a Domain Name

After you choose a domain extension, it’s time to come up with and search for a domain name that works to best describe your online presence. An online presence is where your business can be found on the internet, and can include a website, social media page, and/or online marketplace. Using a .com domain name with any part of your online presence can open up possibilities by helping customers easily find your “home base” when doing business online.

While choosing your exact business name as a domain name may be an option depending on availability, it doesn’t have to be the same as your business name. To stand out, some businesses use taglines that can be more memorable. Another popular option is to expand on a business name with additional words to better describe your business. Here are some examples:

Include your location

With consumers searching the internet to find information about local businesses, think about strengthening your online presence by targeting local customers through your domain name. One example is 10thStreetBoots.com.

Add descriptors

In a competitive market, descriptive words or adjectives can help make your business stand out. For example, the use of “pearly” and “bright” in PearlyBrightSmiles.com may help distinguish a dentist from the competition.

Incorporate your profession, product or industry

Consider adding words that describe what you do, or the focus of your company, like “accounting,” “bakery,” “jewelry,” or “software.” This tip can also work well when combined with other suggestions on this list. For example, you could add a descriptor along with your product to get something like GreenvilleVeganCakes.com.

Consider your name

Are you the face of your project, idea, or company? Try using your own name. Customers may like the personalization it brings, for example, JoesDeepDishPizza.com.

Combine common words

Many recognizable brand names today are the result of combining two to three common words together to create a new word. For example, a professional vacation planning service could use “professional” and “vacation” to get procations.com. Get creative!

Try the NameStudio® Domain Name Generator

Try the domain name generator powered by NameStudio® to find available .com domain name suggestions.

Find a Domain Name

Step 3: Register a Domain Name

Once you’ve found a desired .com domain name, you’ll need to choose a domain name retailer to help you register it. If you don’t already have a domain name retailer in mind, you can choose one by searching online for one that meets your needs or by speaking with friends and other business owners you trust for a recommendation.

What’s a Domain Name Retailer?

Domain name retailers are businesses that offer domain name registrations in addition to related services/tools, such as custom email and website building.

The process for registering a domain name may vary depending on the retailer and your selections, but generally you communicate your desired .com domain name and the number of years you want to register the domain name (options are usually between 1 to 10 years) to the retailer along with your contact address and payment details. If the domain name is still available, they can help you complete the registration process and may offer you additional related services, such as custom email or website building and hosting. Once registered, you can start using the registered .com domain name, such as to point to an existing online presence or to build a website.