Domain name flipping can be a hot-button issue for many people. Some have made careers out of it, while others consider it to be taking advantage of those looking for a great domain name for their website. A domainer, or domain investor, essentially buys domains for the purpose of their future value and views domain names as an investment.

Interested but no idea where to start? Not to worry: in this tutorial, we’ll explain what domain flipping means, how the process works and why it’s a legitimate source of potential revenue.

Domain Flipping Definition

Domain flipping is the process of purchasing a domain name with the intent of quickly selling it at a higher cost. Depending on the desirability of the domain, the profit margin can actually be a significant one.

This is similar to house flipping, where a home is purchased and fixed up in order to sell for a quick profit. Unlike house flipping, however, you generally won’t have to do anything with the domain name in order to increase its value.

The fact that it doesn’t take a considerable amount of time and effort between acquiring and selling a domain is what makes it a great “side hustle.” However, it also means the key to a successful domain flip is being in the right place at the right time in order to acquire a valuable domain name before it is snapped up or given a premium price.

How to Flip a Domain Name

1. Find an available domain name

Searching

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a great domain name by searching for one through a domain provider like Hover.

Drop-catching

Drop-catching services are also available to help secure a domain after it expires.

Upon expiry, a domain enters a Redemption Grace Period (RGP) giving the owner one last chance to reclaim it (typically 30 to 90 days). After this period, it is then made public for someone else to register.

A drop-catching service allows people to bid on a domain name that is currently in the RGP, soon to be available for registration. The service then selects the person with the highest bid and attempts to register the domain on their behalf through multiple domain providers the moment it becomes available.

Although this does not guarantee that you will end up with the domain, it is your best chance of securing a domain once it is available. If you’re looking for a drop-catching service, we recommend NameJet.

2. Register a domain name

If you’re using a drop-catching service, registration will be done on your behalf.

If you find a domain name through a regular search, you will need to register it from the domain provider. This process is usually fairly straightforward. You will probably only need to register the domain for one year since the goal is to turn it around as quickly as possible.

3. Find a buyer

This part can be a little tricky, but here are some ways to improve your chances of getting a quick sale.

Create a Landing Page

When people navigate to the domain, a basic webpage will explain that the domain name is for sale and provide a way for people to contact you if they’re interested in acquiring the domain name.

Disable WHOIS Privacy

Normally we recommend enabling WHOIS Privacy to hide your contact information from the online WHOIS database. However, in this case, disabling it will make it easier for a person interested in your domain name to find and contact you.

List on an Aftermarket Service

Services like Afternic and Sedo allow you to list your domain name for sale at whatever price you’d like (or accept offers) and allow people to purchase your domain. These services will charge a commission fee; usually around 15-20%.

4. Sell the domain name

Since this transaction will be happening online with someone you’ve likely never met before, you’ll want to use a service like Escrow to ensure that the money and domain name are successfully exchanged. Again, it works just like in real estate: the service acts as a third party and holds on to the payment until all contractual obligations have been fulfilled by both parties. This way, you’ll never be scammed by giving away your domain name without ever receiving the money for it.

Find the best domain names at Hover.com

Whether you’re on the hunt for your own domain name or one that will be perfect for domain flipping, Hover.com is a great place to start. With over 400 TLDs (Top Level Domains, aka “domain name extensions”) and nearly too many resulting domain names to count, you’ll find a huge selection of available domain names here. Also, a domain name registered with Hover will have extra value thanks to features like flexible email options, numerous service integrations to help owners get the most out of their domains, and free WHOIS privacy protection.

What are your thoughts on domain flipping? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!