Your domain name is the address people use to find your website, such as yourbusiness.com.au. You can also use it for an email address like [email protected].
Registering it is a useful early step, even if your website is still being planned. The important part is choosing a suitable name and keeping control of the account, registration details and renewals.
Understand what you are buying
A domain, website hosting and email are separate services:
- Domain registration gives you the right to use an available name for a set period, subject to its rules and renewal.
- Website hosting is where your website runs.
- Email hosting provides your mailboxes.
You can buy these from different providers. Registering a domain does not mean you need to buy a website or email package at the same time. If someone is building your website, check what they are providing before adding extras at checkout.
For a fuller explanation of the connections, read how domains, hosting, email and DNS fit together.
Choose a name people can remember
Start with your business name, or a clear variation that customers will recognise. Say it aloud and imagine giving it to someone over the phone.
Keep spelling straightforward. Avoid unnecessary hyphens, strings of keywords and numbers that need explaining. A short, recognisable address is easier to use on signage, vehicles and email.
Check that it does not look confusingly similar to another business. Domain availability is not a check of business-name or trade-mark rights.
For Australian businesses, .com.au is a familiar option. It has eligibility rules and the name must have a qualifying connection to the business. Your ABN or ACN is commonly used during registration. Check auDA's com.au guidance for your circumstances.
The shorter .au extension is another option, with an Australian presence requirement. A .com may also suit a business serving an international audience. Pick a main address; you do not need to buy every variation. If you register additional names, plan how they will point to your main site and include their renewal costs.
Search and register through VentraIP
We suggest VentraIP for registering your business domain. Start by searching for the name you want.
- Search for the name. Enter the domain you want and check availability. If it is taken, consider a clear alternative instead of an awkward spelling.
- Check the price and term. Look at the registration period, total cost and renewal price. A first-year promotion may differ from later renewals.
- Create an account your business controls. Use a monitored email address you already have access to. Do not rely on an email address on the new domain before it exists.
- Enter the correct registrant details. Use the person or legal entity entitled to hold the domain for the business. For an Australian business domain, provide the relevant eligibility information when requested.
- Review the order. Check spelling, extension, registration details and optional extras before completing payment.
- Complete any verification. Follow the registrar's instructions and confirm the domain appears in your account with the expected status and expiry date.
An order receipt is worth keeping, but check the registration itself has completed too. Resolve any verification requests promptly.
Keep the registration in the right name
The registrant is the person or entity holding the domain licence. That should reflect your business, even when a developer helps with registration.
Ask to check the registrant and contact details. Paying the invoice does not by itself establish who holds the domain. Keep access to the account and renewal notices rather than leaving them solely with a supplier or former employee.
For .au domains, auDA explains why correct registrant information matters.
Set up security and renewals
Use a unique password and enable two-factor authentication. VentraIP provides instructions for setting up 2FA in VIPcontrol. Store recovery information securely and make sure the business has a way to regain access if the person managing it leaves.
Check auto-renewal explicitly. VentraIP's domain auto-renewal guide says it is off by default and needs an active payment method to work.
If you enable it, keep payment details current and still read renewal notices. Add an independent reminder before expiry so a failed payment or missed email does not go unnoticed.
Record the registrar, main account contact, expiry date and who is responsible for renewal. You do not need to put passwords in that record; use a password manager for credentials.
Give your developer the information they need
Once registration is complete, tell your developer the exact domain name, the registrar and whether any website or email service is already connected.
They will provide the settings needed to connect the domain to the website. These are usually DNS records or nameservers: the settings that direct website and email traffic to the right services.
Use delegated access where available, or have the developer guide you through the required changes. Avoid sending your main password by ordinary email.
If you already use the domain for email, make that clear before anyone changes its settings. Replacing nameservers without carrying across the necessary email records can interrupt mail. Agree on what needs changing and preserve the settings for services you still use.
Before you finish
- The name and extension are spelled correctly.
- The registration is complete and the registrant details are correct.
- Your business can access the account and its contact email.
- Two-factor authentication and recovery options are set up.
- You understand the renewal cost and have checked renewal settings.
- Your developer knows about any existing email or website services.
You can now plan the website and email setup without losing track of the domain itself. If we are building your site, send us the domain name and registrar and we can help you work through the connection.
