Do you make a living selling domains?

[Shawn Haghnazari]

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

 

[Addison]

Do you make a living selling domains?

I have wealthy friends, and I make more than all of them from selling domains and nothing else. I am in the top 1% thanks to selling domain names.

The catch? I’ve worked harder than 99% of you for many, many, many years. This is the reward. Until you work that hard for that long (do you have it in you?), you will not see the same results. That's the hard truth.

This is what separates people like me from 99% of the world: hard work. It's the same in this business.

Kudos to @Ali for his post. Saved me time of typing it myself.

 

[GeorgeQuang]

May I learn the size of your portfolio?

Can you share more details on your success? Total amount of names? Cost of acquisitions? Sell through rate? > or < than 2%, and what marketplaces?

Portfolio size : 800
Sell ratio : 2.5%
MarketPlaces : Afternic + Sedo + Efty Landing Page.

 

[Fancy.domains]

I think there are very few who live just selling domains. I am sure they have some other profession as well to earn their revenues.

Not everyone. Personally, I think domaining is a much more effective way to make money than having a low salary job. But you have to know what you are doing and you have to work a lot. Maybe even 40 hours weeks, just as any other job out there.

Sitting and hand reg a few names, now and then, is not professional domaining, it’s a hobby.

 

[.X.]

Are there still names with that much traffic?

Good gosh yes, but you must have the knowledge to use the resources to thoroughly know the traffic origins to be able to utilize traffic domains to make conversations.

I buy traffic domains and redirect them to my sites every so often, although they do increase my bounce rate, they also bring me new customers.

 

[kemjika11]

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.

Even in US $100K/ year is great income for 1 person. highest income ta x bracket starts at around $125K and above, so that tells u what IRS considers common man "rich".FYI 60% of US population makes $50Kyear or less. $100K/ year anywhere is at least good money. Biut if ur a westerner who thinks and believes they can afford every comfort on earth, yes, $100K/ year aint that good.

 

[Shailendra Mishra]

Close this thread and read 1000s of other similar threads on Namepros if you really want to know.

 

[.X.]

My domain business is building my house.

Very Cool! Congrats!

 

[Fancy.domains]

The common conception that it's so cheap to live in a so-called "3rd world country" is rather funny in my opinion. Just because you move to a country with a larger percentage of "poor" people, doesn't mean that you need to live from the cheapest local food, drink rice beer and live in a dirty shed.

 

[Kazzia]

Great question. I was doing this as a side hustle for 10 years. Not making any money to live on, but just reinvesting and building my portfolio with more and higher quality names. The last year it has been domaining only. 7 days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day average. With a normal sell through rate of 2-3% on 700 domains it comes out to a US minimum wage at best after expenses. As I never take anything for myself and reinvest, it gets better. I would say if you have "normal" US expenses, and do this exclusively, you have a very large high quality portfolio.

Here is the math: If you have 1,000 names selling at an average of $2500 with a sell through rate of 2% you sell 20 for a total of $50,000. Maybe 15 of them come through marketplaces so take a $10,000 bite out of that - $40k. Renewals on 1000 names - $10,000. Now you have other expenses on that such as monthly fees on site tools, etc., but you are left with $30k. Now taxes, and since you don't have a job that pays insurance you pay yourself. You might have $20 to $25k left. That is not enough for most single people to live on in the US. And that is with no reinvestment into building your portfolio which is suicidal.

I travel full time so I might pay one dollar per night for a cool hostel in Sumatra including breakfast, $4 for a small penthouse apartment in Myanmar, $5 for a fancy dive resort in the Philippines. And don;t forget daily massages for $2 to $4.

Answer is either you have a high quality portfolio and spend a lot of time building it and live very frugal, or you have 5,000 to 10,000 or more HIGH QUALITY names, spend a lot of time and reinvest, and then live a "normal" lifestyle in the US.

 

[MapleDots]

And before anyone flames @rlm as the new member, I'll vouch for what he says.

He has some of the biggest recorded .ca sales in history under his credentials.

When in doubt, namebio is your friend

 

[domeen]

No, no one makes that much!

 

[topdom]

Some make a killing and those are the ones who make a living.

 

[maya-zir]

If you live in 3rd world countries it is more easy than for european or american because we need at least 800 euros monthly for just live.
But yes, it is possible, you just need to have income which will permit you invest in domains first year or two until you get it.

 

[ndeekay121]

Its best to have another job even if domaining is your main job. Its just as a form of insurance.

 

[wwwweb]

My domain business is building my house.

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

 

[Josytal]

If you live in 3rd world countries it is more easy than for european or american because we need at least 800 euros monthly for just live.

Nope! It's not easier. Most of the countries (3rd world countries) you're referring to don't even have round-the-clock electricity, basic amenities, access to internet expensive or limited.
Most things you take for granted in Europe and USA they still have to struggle for in order to survive.

Let's take each country as a Brand. All things being equal, which brand will you, as a buyer, prefer to do business with: European, USA or 3rd world?

Lastly, I don't think you'll ever agree to change places with a domainer in any of the so-called 3rd world countries

 

[Jurgen Wolf]

I regularly meet the US buyers who can't pay even ~$500 for domain...

 

[.X.]

We I keep looking opportunities not just living selling domains. For me its a matter of luck if I get some good piece of domain in my hand.

That is one of the most common used misconceptions, it is not luck, it takes hard work and time, patience is what I have seen being the biggest issue with people just throwing in towel and moving on from domaining.

There are many resources that must be thoroughly researched in a persons decision making in this industry.

Many follow the status quo , that will get you some education of the industry, but it won’t lead you to prosperities in the industry, you have to branch off from the industry status quo and make your own path.

If the domain industry status quo worked to make a domainer have better than average success, their would be over 1 million highly successful domainers, we would all be making a great living off of domaining alone.

 

[toughdomains]

i think the funy part is what u said

when people talk about lower living cost in poorer country it means it will cost u less to buy good food and good house there than in usa... this isnt about sheds and eating yer own excrement

1 bd 1 bath in nice highrise in thailand....$500 per month...
https://www.hipflat.com/listings/bangkok-condo-fbapipca
the lowest price I ever saw a studio in manhattan was about $2000 per month and about $1300 in queens or brooklyn...so 3 to 4 times the price.

 

[HotKey]

@Addison
Not all hard work pays large dividends. There are some, that work their ass off day in, day out, for a meager living, valuing other benefits over money.
I believe (hope) you were referring to how hard you work in relation to domaining. Completely agree, we get what we we're willing to put in.

 

[Kazzia]

How do you make money when you buy land?

1) buy it
2) build on it
3) sell it

Just buying and selling land can take decades to profit from. Buying land, building something on it and selling is much quicker and can be more profitable. Imo domains follow the same rule.

If this was 2006 that would be a good idea. Nowadays, it is a Herculean effort to make a good site that makes any money. You need an entire company to do this now. Developer, SEO, social media, and tons of hours and lots of money. I have never met anyone in the last 10 years who can do this successfully. Kind of like UFO's and smart blondes.

 

[maya-zir]

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

sorry, I am too impulsive, I always answer before to read till end

 

[viniproject09]

You should be a digital marketing company rather just selling and buying domains.

 

[Bonsu]

Are you making about $1000 a month? I think it may be a hard job making consistent $4000 every month

No I'm not but that's been my target