Home / How it works
Safe for you, simple for both of us
Every sale runs through a licensed third-party escrow service. You never send money to us directly, and the seller is only paid once the domain is in your account.
Five steps, usually under a week
Make an offer
Choose a name and send your offer through the contact form or by email.
Agree terms
We confirm the price, which escrow service to use, who pays its fee, and any payment plan.
Pay into escrow
You pay the escrow service, such as Escrow.com, Afternic or Sedo. They hold the money.
We transfer
We unlock the domain and send the transfer code, or move it straight into your registrar account.
Funds released
You confirm the domain is in your account. Only then does escrow release payment.
How long a transfer takes
Times depend on the extension and on whether you use the same registrar we do. These are typical times once escrow is funded.
| Extension | How it moves | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Same registrar | Account-to-account push | Minutes to a few hours |
| .com .net .org | Transfer code, then approval | 1 to 5 days |
| .io .ai .one | Transfer code, then approval | 1 to 5 days |
| .uk .co.uk .org.uk | Registrar tag change, no code needed | Usually same day |
| .si | Transfer code through the .si registry | 1 to 5 days |
Recently registered or recently transferred domains can be locked for up to 60 days under registry rules. We'll tell you before you pay if that applies.
Spread the cost, at our discretion
For some names we can split the price into monthly payments. Plans are agreed case by case, depend on the name and the buyer, and are always confirmed in writing.
- A deposit, then 3 to 12 monthly payments
- The domain is held by escrow, or by us, until the final payment
- Where the plan allows, you can point it at your site while you pay
- If payments stop, what happens to amounts already paid is set out in the agreement
A £2,400 name over 6 months
- Deposit
- £600
- Monthly
- £300 × 6
- Total
- £2,400
- Transfer
- After final payment
Illustration only. Real terms depend on the domain.
What you pay
The agreed price
The price we agree for the domain, plus VAT where it applies. Your quote states whether VAT is included.
Escrow fee
Charged by the escrow service, usually a small percentage of the price. We agree who pays it before you pay anything.
Renewal
Once the domain is yours, you renew it each year with your registrar at their standard price.
Nothing hidden
No transfer fees from us. If you add a website build or setup, that's quoted separately.
Make an offer
Pick a name from our top list or ask for the full portfolio.