💼 What Domain Brokers Do
For buyers: Contact domain owners, negotiate price, handle escrow
For sellers: Market your domain, find buyers, negotiate deals, handle transfer
Broker Service Comparison
| Service | Commission | Min Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedo | 10-15% | $50 | Large marketplace, international |
| GoDaddy Broker | 20% | $69.99 | Casual buyers, quick outreach |
| Afternic | 15-20% | Varies | Sellers (wide distribution) |
| MediaOptions | 10-15% | Premium | High-value ($50K+) domains |
| Saw.com | 15% | $2,000+ | Enterprise acquisitions |
| VPN.com Brokerage | Negotiable | Premium | Ultra-premium single-word |
When to Use a Broker
✓ Use a Broker If:
- • Domain value is $5K+ (commission worth it)
- • You don't know how to contact the owner
- • You want anonymity during negotiation
- • You don't have time to negotiate yourself
- • Complex corporate acquisition
✗ DIY Negotiation If:
- • Expected price under $2,000
- • You can easily find owner's contact
- • You're comfortable negotiating
- • You have time to manage the process
- • Owner has a "buy now" price listed
The Broker Process (Buying)
- Submit request: Tell broker which domain you want and your budget
- Research: Broker identifies owner and assesses domain value
- Outreach: Broker contacts owner (often anonymously)
- Negotiation: Broker handles back-and-forth on price/terms
- Escrow: Payment held securely until transfer completes
- Transfer: Domain transferred, escrow released, broker takes commission
DIY Alternative: Direct Outreach
How to Contact a Domain Owner
- WHOIS lookup: Check who.is or whois.domaintools.com (often privacy-protected)
- Landing page contact: Many parked domains have a "contact owner" form
- Registrar contact form: Some registrars forward messages to owners
- LinkedIn/social: Search for company or person using the domain
- Use escrow.com: For secure payment when you agree on price
Broker Red Flags
🚩 Upfront fees: Most legitimate brokers only charge if the deal closes.
🚩 Guaranteed acquisition: No broker can guarantee they'll get the domain.
🚩 No escrow option: All legitimate transactions should use escrow.
Our Recommendation
Under $2K: DIY with escrow.com
$2K-$25K: GoDaddy Broker or Sedo
$25K-$100K: Sedo or MediaOptions
$100K+: Specialized broker (Saw.com, MediaOptions)