How to get a domain name for your business (and connect it without the headache)

Your domain name is your address on the internet: the yourbusiness.com that customers type, share and remember. It's often the first thing people see before they see anything you sell.

A free address on a platform or a social media handle works when you're starting out. But as your business grows, your own domain makes you look established, makes you easier to find, and gives you an address no app can take away.

This guide explains what a domain name is, how to choose a good one, where to buy it, what it costs, and how to connect it to your website without getting lost in technical settings.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the human-friendly address of a website, like klaasi.com. It has two parts:

• The name: the part you choose, like "scenthouse".
• The ending: called a top-level domain or TLD, like .com, .store, .shop or .online. Many countries also have their own endings.

You don't buy a domain forever. You register it, usually for one year at a time, and renew it each year to keep it.

Why your business needs its own domain

• It looks professional. scenthouse.com feels more trustworthy than a long link full of slashes.
• It's easy to remember and share. On flyers, packaging, business cards and radio ads.
• You build value in one place. Every link, review and search result points to an address you control.
• It helps people find you. When someone searches your business name, your own domain is a strong signal that you're the real thing.
• It's portable. If you ever change the tools behind your website, your address stays the same.

How to choose a good domain name

Keep it short and simple

Shorter is easier to type and remember. Aim for one to three words. Avoid long phrases.

Make it easy to spell

If you have to spell it out every time ("that's two Ls and a ph"), it will lose you visitors. Say it out loud to a friend and ask them to type it.

Avoid numbers and hyphens

"scent-house-4u.com" is hard to say and easy to get wrong. Use letters only when you can.

Match your business name

The closer your domain is to your business name, the easier you are to find. If your exact name is taken, try small additions:

• Add what you do: scenthousefragrances.com
• Add "shop", "store" or "hq": shopscenthouse.com
• Use a different ending: scenthouse.store or scenthouse.shop

Check social handles too

Ideally your domain matches your Instagram, TikTok and X handles, so customers find you everywhere with the same name.

Check you're not copying a brand

Avoid names that are close to a well-known company's trademark. It can cause legal trouble and confuse customers.

.com or another ending?

.com is still the best-known ending worldwide. If it's available at a fair price, it's usually the safest choice.

Newer endings like .store, .shop and .online are great when the .com is taken, and they say clearly what you do. scenthouse.store tells people it's a shop before they even visit.

Country endings can work well if you only sell in one country, but for buyers worldwide, .com or a clear ending like .store travels better.

What does a domain cost?

Most common endings cost somewhere around the price of a meal or two a year, but prices vary by ending and by seller. Keep an eye out for:

• Cheap first year, expensive renewal. Some sellers discount year one and charge much more after. Check the renewal price before you buy.
• Premium names. Short or popular names can cost far more. If a name is priced very high, try a variation.
• Extras you don't need. Bundles of add-ons that push up the price.

Connecting your domain to your website

Buying the domain is only step one. You also have to point it at your website and switch on https (the padlock in the browser), which keeps visitors' details safe and stops browsers from warning people away.

The traditional way means logging into your domain seller, finding the DNS settings, adding records with names like A, AAAA or CNAME, waiting for them to spread, and then setting up a security certificate. It's where many small businesses get stuck.

The easiest option is to buy your domain from the same place that hosts your website, so the connection and padlock are set up for you.

Don't forget to renew

If your domain expires, your website stops working and, after a while, someone else can register the name. Protect yourself:

• Turn on auto-renew where you can.
• Keep your payment method or balance topped up.
• Watch for renewal emails and don't ignore them.

Get your domain on Klaasi

Every Klaasi shop starts with a free address: klaasi.com/yourname. It always works, and you can share it anywhere. When you're ready for your own domain, you can get it without leaving your dashboard. See the website builder for what your site can look like.

Search and buy inside your dashboard

On the Domain page of your dashboard, search for your business name and see what's available in .com, .store, .shop and .online. Pick one, choose how many years, and pay from your Klaasi wallet balance, in naira or dollars.

We connect it and set up the padlock

You don't touch DNS settings. Klaasi registers the domain for you, connects it to your website and switches on https. Your dashboard shows three ticks as it goes: domain ready, pointed at your shop, then secure and open. It usually takes a few minutes.

Which plans

Your own domain opens your website on the Pro and Business plans. On yearly Pro and on quarterly or yearly Business, your first .com, .store, .shop or .online is free for the first year (up to a cost limit). Other names cost the registry's price plus a small fee. See the pricing page for plan prices.

Already own a domain from somewhere else? Business plans can connect it too, with a few simple steps shown in the dashboard.

Renewals without surprises

With auto-renew on, the next year is paid from your wallet 14 days before the domain expires, and Klaasi reminds you 30 days before. You can turn auto-renew on or off, or renew early, any time from 30 days before. Note that domains can't be refunded once bought.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a domain?

You can register a domain in minutes. On Klaasi, buying it and connecting it to your website, with the padlock, usually takes a few minutes.

Can I get a domain for free?

Some website plans include a free domain for the first year. On Klaasi, yearly Pro and quarterly or yearly Business include your first .com, .store, .shop or .online free for a year (up to a cost limit).

Do I own the domain if I buy it through my website builder?

You have the right to use it as long as you renew it. On Klaasi, domains are registered for you, and if you want it moved to your own account, Support can help.

What happens if I don't renew my domain?

It expires and your website stops opening on it. On Klaasi, your shop goes back to your free klaasi.com/yourname address, and you get reminders before that happens.

Is .store or .shop as good as .com?

For a shop, they can be great: they're memorable and say what you do. .com is still the best-known, so pick it when you can get a good one.

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Ready for your own address? Start free on Klaasi, build your website, and add your own domain when you're ready.