Guide
How to choose a domain name for your UK business
The best domain name is short, easy to say and spell, matches your business name and ends in .co.uk or .uk. Check that it is free, that it does not clash with an existing trade mark and that the matching social media names are available, then register it before someone else does. A .co.uk or .uk costs £9.99 a year with us.
The process
Choosing a name in six steps
List your ideas
Write down ten names that describe the business, and a few that are simply your own name.
Say them aloud
Read each one to someone and ask them to write it down. Drop any that are spelled wrongly.
Check availability
Search for each name with the domain search to see what is free.
Check for clashes
Search the UK trade mark register, Companies House and Google for similar names.
Check social names
See whether the same name is free on the platforms you will use.
Register it
Register your chosen name, and the matching .co.uk or .uk if you can.
The principles
What makes a good domain name
A good domain name is remembered easily and typed correctly. Those two things sound simple, but they rule out many names that seem clever when you first think of them.
Short names are easier to type, fit on printed material and are less likely to be mistyped. There is no magic length, but under about 15 characters is a sensible aim. Names that are easy to say are easier to share by word of mouth, which still matters for local businesses.
Avoid names that depend on unusual spelling, because customers will spell them the usual way and arrive somewhere else. Avoid hyphens and numbers, which are hard to describe aloud, and avoid combinations of words that run together into something unfortunate. Write the name in lower case with no spaces and read it back before you commit.
Your options
Types of domain name to consider
Your business name
The strongest choice when it is available. People search for what they know, and it matches your signs, invoices and cards.
Your service plus place
Something like a trade and a town can help local search, but it is harder to extend if you later offer more.
Your own name
Good for freelancers and consultants, where you are the brand, and it moves with you if the business changes.
A short brand name
An invented, memorable word can work well, but you must build the association yourself.
A place-based name
Useful for local community sites, and risky if you may leave the area or expand.
A keyword name
Names made only of search words look generic, are rarely available and give no ranking boost on their own.
Worked example
Choosing a name for a new plumbing business
Imagine a plumber called Sam Okafor starting a business in Leeds. The first ideas are the business name, Okafor Plumbing, and a place-based name, Leeds Plumber Pro. The business name is stronger, because it matches the van, the invoices and word of mouth, and it still works if Sam later expands to heating or into another city.
Sam says both aloud and asks a friend to write them down. "Okafor" is spelled three ways, which is a problem, so Sam plans to register a couple of the common misspellings and point them at the main site. A trade mark search shows no clash, and the .co.uk is free.
The decision: register okaforplumbing.co.uk as the main address, with the .uk as a protective extra. Total cost for both is £19.98 a year, which is a tiny price for protecting the name of a business.
Quick tests
Three tests a good domain name passes
The phone test. Say the name to someone over the phone and ask them to type it. If they get it right first time, it passes.
The sign test. Imagine it on a van, a shop window and a business card. If it is too long to read at a glance, shorten it.
Check if your name is free
Search .co.uk and .uk names at £9.99 a year, with the same price at renewal.
Endings
Which ending should you use?
For a UK business, .co.uk and .uk are the natural choices. They tell customers and search engines that you serve the UK. The .co.uk is the most familiar and the .uk is shorter. Both cost £9.99 a year with us.
A .com suits businesses selling worldwide, but the good names are usually taken, and customers in the UK often assume a business is based elsewhere. If you can, register the UK endings, and consider the .com as a protective extra. Read our comparison of .co.uk and .com for more.
Do and avoid
Good habits and bad habits
Do
- Choose a name you can say clearly on the phone
- Keep it as short as you sensibly can
- Register the matching .co.uk or .uk if you pick one
- Use your business name when you can
- Register in the name of your business or yourself
Avoid
- Hyphens, numbers and unusual spellings
- Names very close to a competitor
- Names that infringe someone's trade mark
- Putting a web designer or employee as the owner
- Waiting until your launch to look
Legal checks
Check for trade marks and existing businesses
A domain registration does not give you rights in a name, and a name that is free as a domain can still belong to someone else as a brand. Before you commit, search the UK Intellectual Property Office trade mark register, search Companies House for registered company names, and search the web for businesses that already use similar names in your field.
If a competitor already trades under a similar name, choose something clearly different. If you are not sure, take advice from a solicitor or trade mark attorney, because disputes are costly and a rebrand after launch costs far more than choosing carefully now.
This is general guidance and not legal advice.
Before you buy
A final checklist
- The name is free as a .co.uk or .uk
- Someone read it back correctly after hearing it
- It is not close to an existing brand in your field
- You can use the same name on your main social profiles
- It will still make sense if you add services
- You have registered the name in the right owner's name
- You know the renewal date and price
- You have a plan for email on the domain
After you register
What to do once you have your domain
Connect the domain to your hosting, set up your email addresses and add the records that help your messages reach inboxes. Then set a calendar reminder for the renewal, and switch on auto-renew with a valid payment method, because an expired domain is one of the most avoidable ways to lose your website and your email at the same time.
If you have chosen more than one ending, point the extras at your main site with a permanent redirect so customers who type them still arrive.
FAQ
Common questions
How long should a domain name be?
Shorter is easier. Aim for under about 15 characters, and make sure it is easy to say and spell.
Does the domain name affect SEO?
A .co.uk or .uk tells search engines your audience is the UK. Stuffing keywords into a name gives little or no boost.
Can I change my domain name later?
Yes, but it takes care: you need redirects from the old address and updates to email and listings. Choose well first.
Should I include my town?
Only if you will stay local. A place in the name can limit you if you expand.
How much does a domain cost?
A .co.uk or .uk is £9.99 a year with us, with the same price at renewal.
Keep reading
Related pages
Found your name? Register it today
Search .co.uk and .uk domains at £9.99 a year.