Do you make a living selling domains?

[Shawn Haghnazari]

I was wondering if people actually make a living solely on buying and selling domains.

 

[AbdulBasit.com]

No, no one makes that much!

Are you serious? There are plenty of domainers who make the living solely on domaining.

 

[imadoer]

I dont want to brag. But I can say I can afford to buy coffee from Dunkin Donuts Every day!

 

[Fancy.domains]

My domain business is building my house.

 

[GeorgeQuang]

I live in Vietnam, where people can live well with only $200/month. The Director salary here is just $2000/month.
Selling more than $40k this year (2% of my portfolio - which cost me only $1500 for those).
I could reach at least $55k sales in 2018 if i accepted all offers - but i don't have to do that.
Of course that all my profit is turned into inventory - 98% domain was not sold.
But they are good .COM domains and i could hold them for a long term.
I'm planning to reach $150k in 2019.
When i posted my entire portfolio in early 2018, people laugh and someone said i would earn only $5k yearly with this type of portfolio.
So the key factor is : keep learning, keep working, keep fighting and don't complain, don't explain.
You don't have to listen or think about people's thought.
You have to build your own strategy, your own plan. Everyone has their own resources (Time-Money-Skills) so their strategies are different, you could not win this game if you just only copy another guys tactics ( i've seen many domainers bought tons of names that similar to a domain that had been sold in the past).
I have a 5-years plan - all my profit would be turn into domains. I'll buy at many quality domains as i can in 5 years.
But if you live in Western Countries, it's really hard to become a full-time domainer. You have to pay tax, insurance. Your wife needs cosmetics and your kids need braces.
It takes more than 3 years to get $100k if you do right and work really hard.

 

[.X.]

1000 usd/month is not easy. If it is easy then repeat what you are doing and make 10k per month. I consider myself as a professional domainer, but I can't guarantee profit. You can handreg domains with 5 figure potential. But among 100 potential buyers, noone buys even if you sell for 1 percent of actual value. I can anticipate other drivers' plans when driving, next move of the opponent when playing chess, but outbound emails are sent to plants and plants don't have any sense or emotion or reaction.
It looks like I made a profit in the second half of this year, but profit is in terms of domains, not in terms of cash, and those domains need renewal. Those domains can sell for a million theoretically, but I can't guarantee they will sell for 1k quickly.

It is pretty easy actually, for me to be able to repeat, I would need to shell out a lot of capital, and revolving capital at that, that would be playing games of craps, been there, done that, no thanks.

Back in the days of domain name parking, $250 a week on autopilot was the norm, $250 wasn’t a great week either.

If you are solely selling domain names to try and achieve 1k a month, then yeah, you better know your shit well.

Like I said above, there are very few full time domainers that make a living selling domain names.

It took me a few years to be able to make a steady income between domains and my websites, but today, to make a thousand a month really isn’t very hard.

So you are another professional domainer as you say, if so, 1k is beer money to you.

You see, through the 18 years I have been doing this and been on this forum, I have seen countless SO CALLED professional domainers, then they just disappear, I guess they just got so wealthy they didn’t need to domain anymore

I am far from being a professional in the domain name industry, I consider myself a decent webmaster, an ok domainer, I don’t do the ego thing, it doesn’t make me any money, and I would be lying if I said I was a professional in the domaining industry

 

[vinothayyavu]

Have a decent job that can satisfy ur basic needs. Invest the rest/saving of the amount in domains.
Let it grow untill you can make enough money that can afford ur needs x 4. Leave a job and concentrate on domains if you really wanted to.

But i am from Chennai India. Right now i didnt make any profit from domains. But i have decent job that can pay my rent and other things . Rest of the amount i will be investing in domains. Once my domains starts making enough money. Maybe i think of taking domaining as day job. But play with safe.

 

[Bonsu]

I agree with @alcy as $1000 would pay my 1 year house rent of 2 bedroom. So if sell $4000 each month then I'd quit my job and focus on domaining as it puts me in the millionaires club

 

[hookbox]

This question is 100% determined by what country you live in. It's easy to say you make a living from domaining when you live in some low cost country. Look at the chart below to see what it costs to live in each country monthly. In some countries you could not survive hourly on what someone takes in monthly.

In some third world country domaining can be your real job but in the United States it's your third job.


1 Bermuda 180.5 8,845 USD 100.9
3 Switzerland 145.7 6,713 USD 94.9
7 Norway 128.6 6,333 USD 101.4
11 Luxembourg 109.7 5,855 USD 110.0
32 Macao 80.1 5,428 USD 139.5
4 Iceland 136.9 5,069 USD 76.2
19 United States 100.0 4,856 USD 100.0
16 Ireland 106.5 4,608 USD 89.1
8 Denmark 120.3 4,602 USD 78.8
21 Singapore 98.8 4,544 USD 94.7
12 Sweden 109.7 4,383 USD 82.3
9 Australia 113.4 4,280 USD 77.8
20 Hong Kong 99.7 3,859 USD 79.7
24 Netherlands 98.0 3,848 USD 80.9
26 Austria 95.8 3,787 USD 81.4
17 Finland 105.2 3,715 USD 72.7
29 Germany 90.3 3,624 USD 82.7
22 Canada 98.4 3,573 USD 74.8
23 Belgium 98.3 3,483 USD 73.0
18 United Kingdom 102.2 3,378 USD 68.1
31 United Arab Emirates 85.6 3,261 USD 78.5
14 New Zealand 107.4 3,248 USD 62.3
25 Japan 97.0 3,213 USD 68.2
27 France 95.7 3,164 USD 68.1
15 Israel 107.2 3,106 USD 59.7
28 Italy 93.1 2,585 USD 57.2
5 Bahamas 133.8 2,431 USD 37.4
30 South Korea 89.2 2,365 USD 54.6
33 Spain 79.6 2,265 USD 58.6
40 Slovenia 70.6 1,833 USD 53.5
48 Saudi Arabia 61.2 1,673 USD 56.3
38 Portugal 71.7 1,652 USD 47.5
42 Estonia 64.5 1,516 USD 48.4
55 Czech Republic 57.7 1,513 USD 54.0
35 Greece 74.4 1,508 USD 41.7
57 Slovakia 57.5 1,384 USD 49.6
59 Lithuania 55.0 1,267 USD 47.5
51 Latvia 59.4 1,228 USD 42.6
13 Virgin Islands 109.1 1,161 USD 21.9
44 Chile 62.9 1,134 USD 37.1
37 Argentina 71.7 1,087 USD 31.2
61 Hungary 51.3 1,073 USD 43.1
54 Venezuela 57.9 1,065 USD 37.9
72 Poland 48.0 1,059 USD 45.4
52 Croatia 58.2 1,036 USD 36.6
36 Costa Rica 74.1 920 USD 25.6
73 Turkey 47.9 911 USD 39.1
43 Mauritius 63.0 845 USD 27.6
80 Romania 43.6 831 USD 39.3
69 Malaysia 49.1 804 USD 33.7
63 Russia 50.8 769 USD 31.2
49 China 61.1 724 USD 24.4
70 Mexico 48.9 718 USD 30.2
46 Brazil 61.6 715 USD 23.9
91 Kazakhstan 37.4 658 USD 36.2
84 Bulgaria 42.1 647 USD 31.6
68 Peru 49.5 498 USD 20.7
60 Thailand 54.0 497 USD 19.0
53 Ecuador 57.9 491 USD 17.5
85 Colombia 41.6 486 USD 24.0
65 South Africa 50.2 453 USD 18.6
67 Iran 49.8 450 USD 18.6
77 Belarus 45.4 440 USD 20.0
86 Serbia 40.7 432 USD 21.8
82 Bosnia and Herzegovina 43.0 412 USD 19.7
89 Macedonia 39.4 407 USD 21.3
47 Iraq 61.3 398 USD 13.4
58 Namibia 56.2 383 USD 14.0
87 Albania 40.0 360 USD 18.5
94 Azerbaijan 35.7 340 USD 19.6
79 Armenia 43.8 333 USD 15.7
88 Algeria 39.7 330 USD 17.1
10 Kosovo 110.7 324 USD 6.0
83 Sri Lanka 42.8 320 USD 15.4
95 Georgia 35.4 316 USD 18.4
76 Philippines 45.4 305 USD 13.8
74 Indonesia 47.1 295 USD 12.9
92 Tunisia 37.4 292 USD 16.1
39 Mongolia 70.6 274 USD 8.0
71 Bolivia 48.6 261 USD 11.0
97 Egypt 34.5 251 USD 15.0
78 Morocco 45.1 238 USD 10.9
99 Ukraine 34.3 199 USD 12.0
96 Moldova 34.9 182 USD 10.7
64 Vietnam 50.7 181 USD 7.3
6 Nicaragua 131.8 178 USD 2.8
62 Nigeria 51.2 173 USD 7.0
90 Syria 37.5 153 USD 8.4
100 India 31.7 152 USD 9.9
98 Pakistan 34.3 132 USD 7.9
34 Ghana 78.2 124 USD 3.3
75 Bangladesh 45.7 123 USD 5.5
66 Kenya 49.9 120 USD 5.0
50 Cambodia 59.7 103 USD 3.5
41 Burma 65.5 99 USD 3.1
45 Tanzania 62.1 76 USD 2.5
93 Nepal 37.0 66 USD 3.7
56 Ethiopia 57.5 62 USD 2.2
81 Uganda 43.4 50 USD 2.4
2 Mozambique 165.1 35 USD 0.4

 

[FolioTeam]

Yes, domaining is a career for some people. While for people like us, domaining is a side hustle different from our various careers in engineering, banking, medicine etc.

 

[rlm]

You say it's enough for the majority in the world and you are probably right... ie china, india etc.

However in North America it would be a hard thing to feed a family and provide housing for 100k. I know in my area of the world you cannot rent an apartment for under 2k per month much less buy a car and make a living.

Shit - just my family credit card bills are around $10K CAD per month... Of course that doesn't include nearly all the monthly bills. Average home in Canada is around $500K, and in BC where I live, its $730K. It easily takes 6 figures to live here - which is why most families need both husband and wife to work.

I could consider moving someplace with a much lower cost of living - but I actually love living where I do. It's hot and sunny in the summer for pool & lake activities. Great biking most of the year, its fantastic skiing in the winter. Its beautiful views of mountains, valleys, orchards, etc... Sometimes there's a price to pay to be happy.

I've been lucky enough to not have a job since 1999 and my wife hasn't worked since 2000 when my daughter was born. I did web development for a few years which is what led me to understand domaining - which I really started in early 2004, focusing on .CA domains only and quickly weaned myself off of doing development work for other people. I have made lots of money domaining and lost lots of money trying to develop domains. So be careful if you're trying to develop. Don't just throw money at a project assuming it will pay off, and don't spend money you can't afford to lose. Also realize you can't do as good a job of domaining while trying to run another project either.

So if you want to make a living from domaining, there are two ways. 1) You broker or flip domains which means you never escape the daily grind. Or 2) You need to build a large quality portfolio and eventually sales cover your expenses and living.

If negotiating a sale, be sure you make plenty enough from any sale to in turn restock the portfolio with a much better domain or domains (so that you're always trading up). Re-invest EVERYTHING you can into the BEST domains you can buy. If you're working another job, live off that and don't pull money out of your domain business. You will also need to be willing to say no to very good offers to be able to make great (6-figure) sales. You'll never make a 6-figure sale if you keep accepting 4 or 5 figures - so know EVERYTHING you can about your buyer and know your domain (and the market for it). You might need to have a bank roll or line of credit to survive the slow years - there will be some. When things are good - pay for your renewals in advance a few years.

I don't do outbound sales, and I don't pre-price my domains. I quote every inquiry after researching the domain, the market, the buyer, etc... Keep track of all your inquiries, how you responded, what you quoted, what their offers were, etc... Review all past inquiries before you respond. If they try and negotiate price, offer them something other than a discount (like free financing i.e. payment plan, lease option, etc...). Never show weakness or sound desperate for a sale. Be friendly and helpful but just let them know the price isn't really negotiable - for some reason everyone thinks domainers are selling from a street cart in Morocco or something and that you gotta cut the price in half otherwise you lose the game. I feel that not being willing to negotiate much shows that you're _not_ a street vendor - and instead are a respectable business.

Don't be afraid to ask for high prices, sometimes that makes a domain look more valuable by pricing it high. Luxury goods are usually just over-priced stuff to show the world how rich you are. Domains aren't much different sometimes.

Here's an interesting example. I have a domain I owned for 14 years that gets at LEAST one serious inquiry a week, many from existing businesses using a similar longer 2-word domain, some are startups. Over those years, I was originally asking $50K. Then I bumped it to $100K. Then I bumped it to $150K. Then I bumped it to $200K. Now it just sold. Counter-intuitive, right? Now I've got another well funded startup asking me to bail on the current deal because they'll make it worth my time. Unfortunately - I can't because I have a counter-signed contract - just waiting on payment. So I'm pricing my best domains higher and higher and having success. It's worth the wait. The reality is, the big companies who want your domain are willing to pay big money. Don't be afraid to ask for it, don't be willing to take less if you don't have to.

That's how I've made a living from it.

 

[alcy]

your question is incomplete.. because different people need different amounts of money to live..

and this in trun will depend not only on person.. but also on his location etc..

for example.. in terms of just paying for basics of life (rent food etc).. a person in usa may need say $1000 per month.. whereas someone in phillipines may do so on say $500 (as examples)..

I think the intereating thing about domaining.. versus maybe many other jobs.. may well be the fact that both a person in usa and in philipines have equal potential to sell a domain for same money.. regardless of their location. whereas a person who works as bus driver in usa may make 100k a year.. and same bus driver in philipnes may make maybe 10% of it (examples).

I think you get the point.

as for actuality and whether people strictly make money or lose money on this business.. it will all entirely depend on how much time you put into it... domaining takes years to master... and most people lose mony when they start.. so if you keep at it.. after a while, you basically have chance to recover lost money.. and then if you go the right path and keep at it more.. you may begin to make profit.. all in all, imo, domainng is the exact opposite of easy and quick money.. but that often applies to many/most things/jobs in life. what we put in, is what we get out.

imo.

 

[Jurgen Wolf]

At least a few the same threads exist... so I have nothing to add.
And Yes - I live from domaining...

 

[EmpireNames.com]

I have total three businesses since 12 years but i didnt started altogether my rule is alway run first business and set on autopilot then go for second so now domaining is my 4th business and 3 still running i started domaining since march 2018 after alot struggle and losses finally i m improving in domaining... so if my domains doesnt sale i have my income alreasy through other businesses like himalayan salt export apparel stocklot exports and used clothing export
But in last two month i earned 12k usd from just 500 usd domains...so i guess if you have support of othet businesses then domaining is gold...
I live partially in dubai and partially in pakistan here and there
But i m not giving attention to my last three businesses as they are controlled by brothers now amd i m just focusing on domains as soon this will be up for sure then my brothers will join me too in this as group of investors.
We invested till yet 30k usd and going more deep
This is my story

 

[.X.]

Nope, I work a full-time job, Domaining and my websites are supplemental income for my family.

I did give it a try as a full-time domainer/webmaster many years ago, It was overwhelming for me, for those that are able to withstand domaining full time, I SALUTE YOU, mentally, you are extremely strong and relentless.

I only know a few that domain full time and have made it through the ups and downs of the industry, I have A LOT of respect for them, I have walked in their shoes, be it only for a short time as I funded out and was mentally stroked.

Making 1k a mo is a fairly easy task, making a complete living is only for a very - very small percentage of domainers IMO

There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving it a shot, just know and accept when it is not meant for you, that is the important part.

 

[Kate]

The common conception that it's so cheap to live in a so-called "3rd world country" is rather funny in my opinion.

It's true, a lot of stuff is more expensive because it has to be imported.
If you want to live comfortably, or to Western standards, living in a Third world country is not so cheap.
High-speed, reliable Internet is not cheap or available everywhere. In some countries, the electricity runs a few hours a day.
As said above, some of the things we take for granted are not affordable to everyone.

 

[Addison]

Can I ask how many years, how many hours spent plus your budget for acquisitions and renewals?

Domains piqued my interest ~15 years ago, but I didn't try to make a serious living from it (and turn it into a business) until ~10 years ago.

100 hours a week, at least. No partying. No watching television. No weekends off. No vacations. Work, and work. Then work some more. Seriously, because...

The only thing you can control in business is your effort; make it count!

My budget began at $10 when I bought my first domain name and multiplied from there as I figured out what worked, what didn't work, and I reinvested in what worked. Lost plenty of money. Made plenty more.

The words for it are easy: it takes me mere seconds to type them. The work behind it is the hard part that almost no one is willing to do.

 

[alcy]

Look, last month I sold a few domains and totally got 300$ (250 euros).
I pay 500 euros for rent and with 250 I just paid 50%.
Yes, we sell for the same price, but in some places we have higher prices for rent, food, etc.
So, my 1k and 1k of somebody from africa or india is not the same...

euh... I think you misread my post. cause what you just said is exactly what I said.

 

[topdom]

1000 usd/month is not easy. If it is easy then repeat what you are doing and make 10k per month. I consider myself as a professional domainer, but I can't guarantee profit. You can handreg domains with 5 figure potential. But among 100 potential buyers, noone buys even if you sell for 1 percent of actual value. I can anticipate other drivers' plans when driving, next move of the opponent when playing chess, but outbound emails are sent to plants and plants don't have any sense or emotion or reaction.
It looks like I made a profit in the second half of this year, but profit is in terms of domains, not in terms of cash, and those domains need renewal. Those domains can sell for a million theoretically, but I can't guarantee they will sell for 1k quickly.

 

[MapleDots]

I was wondering if people actually make a living solely on buying and selling domains.

Depends on what you call "making a living"

100k to some is making a living but to others is the cost of a vacation.

 

[Soofi]

Yes, I do

 

[Hireinternet]

I am student and making $300-$500/ Month from domaining - enough for me -

Waiting for big boom after that i can say myself domainer .

 

[Hugo_Strange]

You can.

But I always say better to have a ‘real’ career that will last the test of time.

You cannot rely on things that you have no absolute control over. Such as someone buying your domain every month/week/day to provide a sustainable income... UNLESS you have incredible domains in a large inventory... even then you need someone to buy them.

 

[VaibhavA]

To make a decent living for a couple even in India, you would need to do atleast 1000$ in sales, as on an average you would end up getting around 800$ (After commissions). Plus there are domain investments, hardware maintenance.

If you have kids, you will need more.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Fancy.domains]

Vague statement a hut in Thailand, does not cost as much as a home in Switzerland.

On this island there are huts as well ad multi million dollar villas. For example, The Beckham family have a house here. And this single property costs more than 5 million USD (there are even more expensive ones here):

https://www.fazwaz.com/property-sales/6-bed-villa-for-sale-in-choengmon-kohsamui-seaview-ks037-001

So, what is the price of my house? I will not tell, but it has an indoor pool.

 

[Hugo_Strange]

Domaining cannot give me enough income to survive in Vancouver with a family. Canada is a hungry country...

It’s a side hobby. If I sell a name then happy days if not then no problem.

I have my salary to look after my wife and son. Domaining is for fun.