Your domain name is your address on the internet. Choosing the right one from the start avoids headaches later — this guide walks you through everything you need to know.
A domain name is the address people type into a browser to find your website — for example, yourbusiness.co.uk. It consists of two parts: the name itself (yourbusiness) and the extension (.co.uk). Together they form a unique address that points to your website on the internet.
Domain names are registered through accredited registrars and renewed annually or on a multi-year basis. Once registered, a domain is yours for as long as you keep renewing it. If you let it lapse, it becomes available for anyone else to register.
Choosing the right domain name is worth taking time over. It will appear on every piece of marketing material, in every email you send, and in every search result that mentions your business. Changing it later is possible but disruptive — getting it right first time is far preferable.
The extension — the part after the dot — carries meaning. For a UK business, the choice is really between two well-established options. Everything else is best avoided.
The standard choice for UK businesses. Instantly recognisable as British, trusted by UK consumers, and the first extension most people try when searching for a UK company.
The most recognised extension globally. A good choice if you trade internationally or want international credibility — and worth registering alongside .co.uk to protect your brand.
Despite being marketed as a simpler alternative to .co.uk, the .uk extension has not gained meaningful traction with UK consumers or businesses. It is not widely recognised, rarely typed instinctively, and offers no practical advantage. We do not recommend it.
For most UK businesses, registering both the .co.uk and .com versions of your domain name is advisable. Both are inexpensive — typically around £15 to £25 each per year from a reputable company — and owning both prevents a competitor or opportunist from registering the version you do not own.
Despite being marketed as a simpler alternative to .co.uk, the .uk extension has not gained meaningful traction with UK consumers or businesses. It is not widely recognised, rarely typed instinctively, and offers no practical advantage over .co.uk.
Popular domain names — particularly short, common words combined with .co.uk or .com — are often already registered. If your first choice is not available, there are several approaches worth trying before settling for something less suitable.
You can check whether your preferred domain name is available instantly using our free Domain Availability Checker — it checks both .co.uk and .com in one go, so you can see your options straight away.
Once you have identified an available name you are happy with, register it promptly through any accredited domain registrar. Domain names can be registered by others at any time, and there is no mechanism for reserving a name without registering it.
Important: Always register your domain in your own name, with your own contact details, and through your own registrar account. Never allow a web designer or agency to register a domain on your behalf without ensuring it is registered to you. A domain registered in someone else's name is not under your control — and recovering it if the relationship breaks down can be difficult and expensive.
