Earlier this year, I learned that Domain Holdings was brokering the Tax.com domain name. Although the asking price was not publicly shared, I surmised that it was probably in the high 6 or low 7 figure range. I conducted a poll, and while the results were spread out, the majority of people thought it was more of a mid 6 figure domain name.
I recently noticed a Whois registrant change in the Tax.com domain name. On September 1, 2013, the domain name was registered to Tax Analysts, the Falls Church, Virginia-based company that had engaged Domain Holdings to broker the domain name. On September 7, 2013, the domain name registrant changed to Ryan, Inc.
According to its website, Ryan, Inc. “is the leading tax services firm in North America, with the largest transaction tax practice in the United States.” When you visit Tax.com now, there is a coming soon landing page with Ryan branding.
I reached out to Domain Holdings CEO Jason Boshoff to ask about this potential domain sale, and he stated that “confidentiality agreements preclude us from commenting on the transaction.” I am assuming Domain Holdings did in fact broker this domain name, but there is the possibility that the company didn’t.
Whatever the case may be, it does appear that Tax.com is under new ownership, and it shows that Ryan understands the value of an exact match domain name of this calibur.
Elliot, would you sell it for mid-6? I wouldn’t…
As with everything, it depends what I paid, if I needed the cash, and, of course, what the tax implications of selling it would be.
Another company that understands the value of owing a generic domain. Domain Guardians should add this to the list.
Way to go, Detective Elliot. Good to see a major tax company realizing the value in owning Tax.com.
The problem with this domain in my opinion is that it is a word with an inherently negative meaning to most.
Nobody likes the concept of tax or taxes. They don’t like doing taxes.
I’s like Stridex branding themselves with Acne.com – not sure if I would want to do that if I were them. (not an exact example, but you get the idea)
I think it shows authority in the field.
Acne.com would be a great name to use as a conditions website. Most people will search for what is, symptoms, treatment and preventing acne. I would brand on Acne.com or even develop a website all about Acne products.
I get what you mean about negative connotation keywords. It is naming a diaper company after its intended use. Or better yet, naming a company Mold.com to service this problem.
It is like naming
Very interesting. Tax Analysts is technically a non-profit entity. It would be interesting to see a)how much the name sold for and b)how they treat the sale for tax purposes.
I don’t think it has an inherently negative meaning at all. I agree with Elliot that it makes them look like an authority in the field. And many people who will be looking up information on taxes will now learn about their company.
They may understand the value of an exact match domain, but did they need this domain to remain successful? Probably not.
Spending high 6 to low 7 figures is a huge chunk of cash, especially in this field. If this end-user can afford to invest into this tax domain and believe they can turn a profit in their business, that makes the domain a good deal.
However, there are better services with more potential than this tax domain. It is a nice 3 character dot com that is an exact match. It doesn’t mean such a domain can deliver immediate business unless the best resources are invested into maintaining the current type-in traffic and migrating content to this new website.
IMO, Ryan’s current website doesn’t seem to be generating that good of traffic. Therefore, this deal makes sense to acquire a great type-in as well as to use this name to market their services against the competition.
While it must be at least a 6 figure name just because…it isn’t a great one imo that would warrant 7 figures.