Client guide
Buying a domain name for your business.
A domain is your website address, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. Buy it in your own name and account. Haymaker can then connect it to your finished website without taking ownership away from you.
1. Choose a sensible name
Start with your business name. Keep it short, easy to say and easy to spell. A UK business will usually be well served by a .co.uk or .uk address. A .com can make sense if the business expects customers outside the UK.
Do not buy a collection of unusual extensions just in case. One good domain is more useful than several confusing ones. Avoid names that imitate another business or use a protected brand.
2. Buy it in your own account
Use an email address you will keep access to and pay with a business-controlled card. Turn on auto-renewal if that suits your business, and store the login and recovery details safely. The domain remains yours even if you later change web designer.
3. Skip extras you do not need
For a Haymaker website, you do not need to buy a website builder, hosting package or SSL certificate from the domain seller. Hosting and HTTPS are handled separately. Business email is a separate decision: choose it only if you want an address such as [email protected].
4. Send Haymaker the details, not your password
After purchase, send the exact domain name you bought and tell Haymaker which registrar holds it. Do not send passwords, card details or account recovery codes by email or through a web form.
Haymaker will either give you the exact DNS changes to make, or ask you to add delegated access in the relevant domain/DNS account. This lets the website be connected while you retain control of the account.
5. If you already own a domain
There is normally no need to transfer it. We can connect the existing domain once the new site has been approved. Keep the current website live until you have checked the preview and approved launch.
What Haymaker needs before launch
- The exact domain name
- The name of the company you bought it from
- A decision on whether you want business email at the domain
- Approval to make the agreed DNS connection or clear instructions for you to make it
Domain registration and renewal costs are paid directly by the business and are separate from Haymaker’s website package.