While coaching an entrepreneur who is starting a new business, we tackled the issue of a company name for them. Using the process we provide in the LaunchX System, we had created a dozen good to great names and they had cleared the trademark and general search hurdles.

We then set about looking for appropriate internet domain names (because every business must have a website). What we found was over half our list of prospective names had the domain names taken. Most of those had “parking” pages. A few had nothing at all, but when we did a whois search, found that they were owned.

Now, I have no problem with a new business snagging their domain name immediately and then putting up a website later (in fact, I recommend it), but these names were snagged one, two, five years ago and there is still nothing there. 

I think that the rules should be changed so that the purchaser has a fixed amount of time to use a name (either put a site there or have it point to an active site), or it reverts back to the pool of available names. Ok….exiting the soapbox now.

Starting a Business? Start Here. Go Far. LaunchX.com