Every hosting client needs a domain. If they buy it elsewhere, you lose revenue and complicate their experience. Bundle domains with hosting.
Why Sell Domains
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Additional revenue | $5-15 profit per domain per year |
| Client convenience | One bill, one provider |
| Reduced churn | Domain lock-in (harder to leave) |
| Professional appearance | Full-service hosting company |
| Upsell opportunity | Premium TLDs, privacy, etc. |
Registrar Options
| Registrar | WHMCS Integration | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| ResellerClub | Built-in module | Competitive |
| Enom | Built-in module | Good |
| OpenSRS | Built-in module | Competitive |
| Namecheap Reseller | API module | Low cost |
Choose a registrar with:
- WHMCS integration (automated provisioning)
- Competitive TLD pricing
- Reliable API
- Good support
Pricing Strategy
| TLD | Cost (Wholesale) | Sell Price | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | $8-10 | $12-15 | $2-7 |
| .net | $8-11 | $13-16 | $3-7 |
| .nl | $4-6 | $8-12 | $4-6 |
| .org | $8-10 | $12-15 | $2-7 |
| .io | $25-35 | $40-55 | $10-25 |
| .dev | $10-15 | $18-25 | $5-12 |
Bundling Strategy
| Offer | Price Impact | Conversion Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Free .com with annual hosting | -$10 | +30% signup rate |
| Free .nl with annual hosting | -$5 | +25% signup rate |
| 50% off domain with hosting | -$5 | +20% signup rate |
The "free domain with annual hosting" offer is industry standard because it works. You lose $5-10 on the domain but gain a 12-month committed client.
WHMCS Integration
Setting Up Domain Registration
Configuration > Domain Registrars > [Your registrar]
- Enable: Yes
- Username: [Your reseller account]
- API Key: [Your API key]
- Test Mode: Yes (test first!)
Configuring TLD Pricing
Configuration > Domain Pricing
- .com: Register $14.99, Renew $14.99, Transfer $14.99
- .nl: Register $9.99, Renew $9.99, Transfer $9.99
Domain Add-Ons
| Add-On | Cost | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| WHOIS privacy | $0-3/year | $5-10/year |
| DNS management | $0 | $3-5/year |
| Email forwarding | $0 | $2-3/year |
| Premium DNS | $2-5/year | $10-15/year |
WHOIS privacy is the most popular domain add-on. Many registrars include it free, so it's pure margin.
Domain Management
Auto-Renewal
Enable auto-renewal for all domains with stored payment methods. Expired domains cause client websites to go offline immediately.
Transfer-In Promotions
Offer free or discounted transfers to capture domains from other registrars: "Transfer your domain to us for free and get one month of hosting free."
DNS Management
Provide DNS management through your branded portal. Clients should manage their domains and hosting in one place.
Domains complete your hosting offering. Combined with Space-Node's reseller hosting, you provide the full stack: domain, hosting, email, and support - all under your brand.
