I saw a press release this morning that I want to share with you because it highlights a wise exact match domain (EMD) acquisition from a company that has an established brand but wanted to let customers know about its expanded service offerings.
Northwest Registered Agent, a company that offers registered agent and other services to companies looking to start a business, announced the launch of StartingABusiness.com. In my opinion, this is an excellent complementary domain name for the company.
The company’s name, Northwest Registered Agent, would lend itself to believe that they may only offer registered agent services. StartingABusiness.com is going to help them tell potential clients that they offer much more than these services. Here’s how  Drake Forester, Chief Legal Strategy Officer at Northwest Registered Agent explained it:
“People coming to a site named northwestregisteredagent.com automatically think of registered agent service, not starting a business. People don’t associate our company website with incorporating, forming an LLC, or starting a business. With the acquisition of a premium domain name such as startingabusiness.com, people will naturally head there when thinking about starting a business.”
The press release didn’t give much background about the domain name, so I will fill in a bit of information that was missing. It appears the domain name was acquired sometime in late 2012 – most likely November. Prior to the acquisition, the domain name was owned by Innovation HQ, a domain investment and development firm. Among other exceptional domain names, IHQ also owns DUIAttorney.com, which it acquired in 2011 in a seven figure deal.
I reached out to Brian Gilbert of Innovation HQ to see if the sale price is public, and I will update this article if he is able to share the price or other information about the deal. Knowing a little bit about Innovation HQ, I am pretty sure that the sale was for a considerable amount of money, and I would guess it was a six figure sale.
Nice domain but a little too long IMO.
My only issue is the potential confusion with StartABusiness.com, which is registered by a different company.
I like this one more.
DomainSponsor sold StartABusiness.com for $ 20k in 2011.
Huge Domains has StartingaBusinesses.com for sale at $6095. Not the correct way to say it unless you live in the hood so I don’t know where they came up with this crazy price.
http://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=startingabusinesses&e=com
I assume they use an automated tool for pricing.
Hey press releases still work?? !! awesome!
It was quite an awful journey trying to find a good generic, premium name. Mostly because we kept becoming unsatisfied. Actually made a blog post about the process (from our perspective) that you might find interesting. Also how we had no idea domainers existed until Godaddy. I would think if you guys aren’t listing your domains on godaddy you are really missing a big opportunity. From an uneducated perspective, if you do a namesearch on Godaddy we (the people who could pay you the most for a domain name) really think that that is the only place available to get a domain name… stupid yes, but when you look at chicks dancing during super bowl commercials for years, you just end up with a really sculpted, messed up version of reality:
http://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/blog/general-business/how-to-buy-a-domain-name-that-is-already-taken/
Nice work!
Care to share the purchase price?
Man it was way too much! Had to tell my 2 year old his college education would have to wait… I’d rather not share exact details, but you’re thinking in the right range 🙂
LOL… I have a 17 month old daughter – fun stuff!
I am sure your business will benefit as a result.
With this purchase, they did agreed to set up the “Innovation HQ scholarship fund for domain buyers that paid too much money and don’t have any left to send their kids to college” fund.
All applicants must have parents who bought a domain from him to apply!
Parents must submit financial proof that they sucked at developing a relevant website on such a good domain name.
You should buy one from him, so you could join the club? It will be like college education insurance 🙂
LOL! Elliot, if you pay cash for earth.com, I’ll pay for Hailey’s first six months of college. 🙂
@Northwest Registered Agent
I actually enjoyed reading your piece at your website, but some of your generalizations regarding the domain industry, and typical responses fro “domainers” could actually hurt your readers.
For example, you can’t dismiss an opportunity because someone didn’t respond to your e-mail for a few. They could be on vacation, or your email went to a spam folder. It’s always a good idea to make a second attempt.
Over all, I liked your spirit. Now, some unique experiences you had with personalities in the space weren’t scientific enough to actually go off advising anybody about.
Besides, we can’t judge two after listening to one. It’d be nice to get the domainers take on your approach as well.
Thanks
Brian quoted me 6 figs on this domain a few years back and I’d bet he hasn’t come down much in his price.
The brains behind Northwest Registered Agent, probably the very best example of someone running a real business who truly understands the value of EMD’s and generics.
Elliot I’d say you should ask him to do an in depth interview with you, but most likely he’ll decline. I’m surprised he’s emerging for comment right now. He’s a really smart guy and light years ahead of all of the other companies within his industry.
Okay, if I say any more I risk getting left off his Christmas card list.
Kudos on the build out D, smart move.