What Is Domain Flipping? (And How To Get Started)

If you’re interested in making money online, domain flipping is a viable option. With low start-up costs and no special skills needed, it can be a quick (and easy) way to start a business. However, you may not know how to get started.

Fortunately, the process of flipping domains isn’t as complex as you might think. Once you find a quality domain name, all you have to do is register it, determine a pricing strategy, and choose a platform to sell it on.

In this post, we’ll explain what domain flipping is and assess the benefits and risks. Then, we’ll guide you through five simple steps to get started. Let’s jump right in!

What Is Domain Flipping?

Domain flipping is the process of buying and selling domain names to make a profit. Naturally, in order to increase your earnings, you’ll need to find relatively inexpensive domain names with the potential to gain value.

It’s also a great way to start an online business as there’s a high demand for domain names. You could potentially turn domain flipping into your full-time job.

Better yet, there are no special skills required to succeed at domain flipping. All you have to do is conduct a little research to better understand the practice.

However, it’s important to also consider the drawbacks of selling domain names. For example, if the domain isn’t highly sought after, you can end up owning it for months or years before selling it.

Additionally, you’ll need to check for copyrights, domain blocklists, and existing commercial names to make sure you aren’t infringing on another company’s trademark.

What Makes A Domain Good for Flipping?

Flipping domains can be an effective way to make money online. However, in order to flip a domain for a decent price, you’ll need to find valuable names.

Here are some options to consider:

• Expired domains tend to be popular with domain sellers since they come with good domain authority, link equity, and high traffic volumes.
• Short domains have high domain value since they’re catchy and memorable. Plus, they make it easy to build brand recognition.
• Local domain names might not bring lots of competition from buyers. However, it can be easier to acquire less popular names for your domain flipping business, especially when you’re just starting out.
• New domains have no history, so they can offer more flexibility for buyers looking to create a brandable domain.
• SEO-friendly domain names include keywords relevant to a specific industry, location, or service. This can increase domain value since you’ll gain higher rankings in search engines.

All factors considered, you’ll want to aim for a quality domain name that’s more likely to result in a higher-price sale.

How to Get Started with Domain Flipping (5 Steps)

Now that you know a bit more about domain flipping, let’s take a look at five steps to get started.

1. Find a Quality Domain Name

Successful domain flippers are able to identify domain names with the potential to increase in value. We’ve already listed some options to consider, but there are other factors that signal a valuable domain.

For instance, you can often sell domains for more money if they contain popular Top Level Domains (TLDs). Domain extensions like .com and .net tend to be more lucrative since they’re more widely recognized.

Additionally, you’ll want to target brandable domains. These tend to be short, memorable, and easy to type. You can use a tool like Google Keyword Planner to identify domain names that contain popular keywords.

Another sign of a valuable domain is backlinks. You can use a tool like Moz or Ahrefs to see the number of links pointing towards a domain.

Moreover, it’s important to ensure that the domain has a good history. In this instance, you can use WHOisRequest.

Now, to find domain names, you can join a domain auction. Alternatively, you might prefer to use domain search tools like SirsteveHQ.

With SirsteveHQ, you can search for both available and taken domains. You might also focus your search on specific categories or premium domain names. Plus, you can view the WHOIS information (if this is accessible).

2. Register the Domain

The next stage of flipping domains is completing domain registration. To do this, you’ll need to use a reputable domain registrar like SirsteveHQ.

The process of buying a domain name will differ depending on which registrar you use. So, it’s a good idea to consider the following factors before you move ahead with the process:

• Domain transfer. Before you settle on a domain registrar, have a read of the domain transfer policy to make sure it isn’t too complex.
• Terms of service. Some domain registrars include hidden fees (or offer very low registration fees with higher redemption charges).
• Domain renewals. To retain ownership of the domain, you’ll need to renew domain names before they expire. Therefore, it’s a good idea to choose a registrar that provides automatic renewals.
• Privacy protection. To keep your personal information safe and secure, it’s best to choose a domain registrar that offers domain privacy protection.

Once you’ve chosen a quality domain registrar, you can go ahead with the domain sale.

3. Determine the Domain Price

There are plenty of places where you can sell domain names, including domain auctions and domain marketplaces. Plus, you can even send out offers to potential buyers who may be interested in your domain name.

But first, you’ll need to conduct a domain valuation. The easiest way to do this is to check previous sale prices using a tool like NameBio:

This gives you access to a database of past domain sales. Therefore, you can see how much similar domains have sold for.

It can also be a good idea to seek advice from domain experts like a domain investor or broker. NamePros is a great place to discuss strategies for flipping domains.

If you want to gain an estimate of your specific domain (based on factors like length and keywords), you can find free online appraisal tools like Domainindex:

Once you know how much you can flip your domain for, you’ll need to determine a pricing strategy. If you’re looking for a quick way to sell domains, it’s best to apply a fixed price to avoid negotiations.

You might also opt for a flexible pricing strategy. This can sometimes result in a higher price, but it will likely draw out the domain flipping process.

4. Decide Where To Sell Domains

To make money flipping domain names, you’ll need to choose the right platform to sell them on. You might consider listing them on popular domain marketplaces like Afternic:

Since these sites have a large online audience, they can help you gain lots of exposure. However, while you can often list domain names for free, you’ll be charged a commission on the sale (Afternic charges 25 percent).

You also have the option to flip domains on auction websites like Sedo. This way, you’ll set a reserve price for the product, but the highest bidder will win the domain.

Alternatively, you might prefer to use a domain broker to find a buyer and handle the negotiations. Grit Brokerage is an excellent option that specializes in premium domains:

Of course, you can always sell your domain name directly. For example, you might use social networks like LinkedIn to identify buyers and advertise your domain.

5. Sell The Domain

The final stage of domain flipping involves selling the domain name. In this instance, you’ll need a way to collect payment and transfer ownership of the domain.

If you’re selling domains directly to the buyer, it’s always best to use an escrow service like Escrow.com:

This ensures that the payment isn’t transferred until all other contractual obligations are fulfilled.

The process for transferring the domain name varies based on where the domain is registered. Typically, you’ll need to obtain an authorization code (or EPP code) to initiate the transfer.

Plus, you’ll need to disable WHOIS privacy protection for the domain. You’ll also want to make sure that the domain doesn’t include pending or redemption status.

Conclusion

Domain flipping provides a way to make money online. You can purchase inexpensive domains and sell them for a profit at the right time. Plus, you don’t need to learn any technical skills to get started.

To recap, here are five steps to flip domains online:

1. Find a quality domain using a tool like SirsteveHQ.
2. Register the domain.
3. Determine the domain price.
4. Decide where to sell domains (marketplaces, auctions, brokers).
5. Sell the domain. 

Do you have any questions about how to flip domains to make a profit? Let us know in the comments section below!