Domain acquisition & brokerage

Get the domain your company deserves.

Even if someone already owns it. We find the real owner, negotiate confidentially on your behalf and close the deal safely through escrow.

Free instant check: owner type, age, how it's used and how gettable it looks.

Your identity stays privateExpert negotiationClosed through escrowOr talk to our team →
Acquisitions across.com.ai.io.co.appand country domains
What we do

A domain buyer's agent, on your side

From finding the owner to the final transfer, we handle the whole acquisition on your behalf, so you get the name on the best terms.

Owner research

Current and historical WHOIS, registrar data, archived sites and the owner's other domains, to find the person who can say yes.

Confidential approach

We contact owners in our own name, with short, human messages through the channels they actually read.

Negotiation

We negotiate within the limit you set. You approve every offer. Nothing is agreed without you.

Escrow and transfer

Licensed escrow, a written agreement where needed, and a clean transfer into your own account.

An SEO-safe switch

Redirects, Search Console and email moved over properly, so you keep your rankings when you upgrade.

Senior people, start to finish

One senior team member handles your request from the first look at the name to the transfer.

How it works & fees

Clear from the first conversation

You always know what happens next, and what it costs, before it happens.

Step 1 · Free

Domain check

Who holds the name, how long they've held it, what it's used for and how realistic a purchase is. Instant and free, with an honest opinion.

Step 2 · Engagement

Research and confidential outreach

When you want us to pursue it, we agree a search engagement. The engagement fee is credited against the success fee, and you'll see the terms before anything starts.

Step 3 · Success

Negotiation and closing

We negotiate within your limit and close through escrow. The success fee applies only when the domain is yours.

How we work, in detail →

yourbrand.comIn negotiation
  • Domain checkedOwner type, history, how gettable
  • Owner identifiedWHOIS history and registrar records
  • Contact establishedConfidential approach, in our name
  • Negotiating within your limitYou approve every offer
  • Escrow and transferThe domain moves to your account
Always in the loop

Clear updates at every step

You'll know where things stand: owner found, contact made, offer on the table. Every reply from the owner is reported to you.

  • Your company is revealed only if you choose
  • You set the limit; we never exceed it
  • Honest advice, including when a name isn't worth chasing
Who we help

Founders upgrading to the name that fits

From .io or .ai to .comUpgrade a placeholder domain AI startupsShort names and .ai/.com pairs Exact-match domainsOwn your category's name Buying anonymouslyKeep your company out of it
Who we are

A small team of domain specialists

NameUpgrade is run by full-time domain investors and negotiators. We work on domain deals every week, buying from private owners and selling to companies, so we know what it takes for an owner to say yes, and what a fair deal looks like.

We keep a low profile on purpose. Discretion is part of the job, for our clients and for us.

About NameUpgrade
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Hands-on, senior peopleNo junior staff, no call centre, no outsourcing.
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Both sides of the tableWe buy and sell domains ourselves, every week.
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Research-ledEvery approach starts with who the owner really is.
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DiscreetYour company, and the deal, stay confidential.
FAQ

Questions buyers ask

What does a domain acquisition broker do?

We work for you, the buyer. We identify the real owner of the domain, approach them confidentially in our own name, negotiate within your limit and close the deal safely through escrow.

How are your fees structured?

The domain check is free. If you'd like us to pursue the name, we agree a search engagement with a fee that's credited against the success fee. The success fee applies only when the domain is yours. Terms depend on the name and are shared before any work starts.

Will the owner know my company is buying?

Only if you want them to. We approach owners in our own name, so your company's profile never pushes up the price.

What if the domain is used by an active business?

It's harder, but deals still happen: when the name isn't core to their brand, the business has changed direction, or the timing is right. We'll tell you honestly what your chances are.

Can you help us choose a name?

Yes. If you haven't settled on a name, or the one you want isn't realistic, just ask. We'll suggest strong alternatives you can actually get.

How do payment and transfer work?

Through a licensed escrow service. You pay escrow, the seller transfers the domain to your account, and the seller is paid only once the domain is yours.

Who do you act for in an acquisition?

You. When we acquire a domain for you, we work for you as the buyer, never for the seller on that deal, so there's no conflict of interest.

Guides

Learn how domain acquisition works

How to buy a domain name that's already taken

The domain you want is registered. Here's how to find the owner, approach them, negotiate and transfer it safely, step by step.

Read the guide →

How to approach a domain owner to buy their domain

What to say, what never to say, and when to follow up when you contact the owner of a domain you want to buy.

Read the guide →

How to hire a domain broker to buy a domain

The questions to ask before you hire a domain broker to buy a domain for you: who they represent, how they're paid, how they research and how deals close.

Read the guide →

Which domain do you want?

Tell us the name. You'll get an honest view of who owns it and whether it's gettable, before you commit to anything.

Talk to us
Talk to us