How Much Should a Startup Pay for a Domain? Benchmarks from Seed to Series A
Buy signal: credible .com that you can say on a call.
TL;DR
- Pre‑seed/seed: conservative; prefer lease‑to‑own or short brandable.
- Post‑seed: stretch for the exact .com if sales cycles are enterprise.
- Series A: lock the flagship .com to reduce GTM drag.
How to comp
- Length and dictionary vs brandable comps.
- Marketplace comparables (Afternic/NameBio) to benchmark pricing.
- Legal risk: trademarks, chain of title, escrow.
Negotiation levers
- Payment terms or lease‑to‑own with escrow.
- Price for immediate close and clean paperwork.
- Consider near‑match backups while negotiating.
See also
FAQ
- Is lease-to-own smart? — Yes, when cash is tight and urgency is high.
- Do hyphens save money? — They do, but they cost trust and clarity.
- Should I use a broker? — Brokers help with anonymity and process; compare fees first.