Domain Name Tips: How to Pick the Right Domain for Your Startup

The right domain extension depends on your audience. Use .com for consumer products and B2B tools targeting non-technical buyers. Use .io for developer tools. Use .co or .ai as acceptable alternatives when .com isn't available.

Which TLD to choose

| Extension | Best For | Trust Level | Cost | |-----------|----------|-------------|------| | .com | Consumer, B2B, enterprise | Highest | $10-15/yr | | .io | Developer tools, technical SaaS | High in tech | $30-50/yr | | .co | Startups, international | Medium-High | $25-35/yr | | .ai | AI/ML products | High in AI space | $70-90/yr | | .dev | Developer tools, open source | Medium | $12-15/yr | | .app | Mobile apps, consumer products | Medium | $14-20/yr |

How to find available domains

Use a bulk checker. Tools like BrandNamer check .com, .io, .co, .ai, .dev, and .app simultaneously for every generated name. This prevents the trap of falling in love with a name before checking availability.

Try prefixes and suffixes. If "dash.com" is taken, try "getdash.com" or "usedash.com" or "trydash.com." These prefixes are temporary — you can upgrade to the shorter domain later as you grow. Many successful startups started with a prefix: "getaround.com" became "turo.com."

Consider buying a taken domain. Domains that are registered but not actively used can often be acquired for $500-$5,000. Use "whois" to find the owner and make an offer. Don't overpay for a domain before you've validated the business.

Domains to avoid

Hyphens. "my-brand-name.com" breaks in every communication channel. Verbally impossible. Visually messy.

Numbers. "brand4u.com" looks spammy and is ambiguous (four? for? 4?).

Double letters at word boundaries. "pressstart.com" — is it "press-start" or "pres-start"? Ambiguous spelling kills word-of-mouth.

Misspelled words. "flickr" worked once. For everyone else, it just means people can't find your website.

Domain strategy for early-stage startups

Start with what you can get. A .io domain for a developer tool is not a compromise — it's expected. A .co for a consumer app is acceptable if the name is strong.

Set a Google Alert for the .com version of your domain. If it expires or goes up for sale, you'll know. Many startups upgrade their domain within the first two years.

Register your name across multiple extensions (.com, .io, .co at minimum) to prevent squatters and competitors. The total cost is under $100/year.