The short answer
A domain name for a UK small business costs roughly £8–£12 per year for a .co.uk and £10–£15 per year for a .com. It's the cheapest part of having a website — and the most important to get right, because changing it later costs you recognition and search history. With UptoData, you buy and own your domain, registered in your name, and I connect it to your website and business email for you. The domain itself isn't part of the £14.99 a month package, which is exactly why it always stays yours.
The pricing breakdown
| Option | Typical cost | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| .co.uk from a registrar | £8–£12/year | Standard UK domain. Cheap, but you handle renewals, DNS and linking it to your site and email — and you'll be offered SSL, privacy and mailbox add-ons at checkout. |
| .com from a registrar | £10–£15/year | More international, useful if you sell outside the UK. Watch first-year offers — the renewal is often two to three times the headline price. |
| Premium / marketplace domains | £100s–£1,000s | Buying a name another business already owns, or a short desirable one. Rarely worth it for a small business unless the name is central to your brand. |
| Your own domain, connected for you (UptoData) | Registrar's price (as above) — connection included with your £14.99/month website | You buy the domain from any registrar, in your own name, so it's always yours. I do the fiddly part: connecting it to your site and @yourdomain email. Turn on auto-renew with your registrar and there's no expiry panic. |
Why a £1 domain can cost you £15 forever
Domain pricing is the original loss-leader. Almost every registrar advertises a very cheap first year and recovers it at renewal, often several times over. Then come the checkout upsells: "privacy protection", SSL, extra mailboxes, "premium" DNS. None of it is wrong to buy — but none of it is the price you were shown.
Two things hurt more than the money. First, ownership: if the domain is registered in someone else's name (a developer, an agency, a friend), you may not be able to move it without a fight. Second, expiry: miss a renewal and your site, your email and your brand's address can all vanish — and someone else can register the name. Always register in your own name, with your own contact details, and set auto-renew.
What to look for (five things to check)
- Short, sayable and spell-proof. If you have to spell it out over the phone, it'll cost you word-of-mouth business. Avoid hyphens and awkward spellings.
- Match your business name where you can. Consistency between your name and your address builds trust and is easier to remember.
- .co.uk for UK customers. It signals local trust and is what UK buyers expect. Register the .com too if you can, and point it at the same site.
- Check it isn't trademarked. Before you commit to a name, make sure it isn't someone else's registered brand — especially if you'll print it on vehicles or signage.
- Make sure you own it, with auto-renew on. Your name, your contact details, your login. That single detail prevents the worst domain problems.
The £14.99 a month option
Custom website + hosting + @yourdomain email + AI chat assistant — connected to the domain you own
You buy your domain and keep it in your name, so it's always yours, whatever happens. I connect it to your website and business email and handle the DNS settings for you, so you don't have to touch any of the technical side. Just keep auto-renew switched on with your registrar. Not bought one yet? I'm happy to help you choose one.
Want to see everything the monthly price covers? Read how pay monthly websites work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a domain name cost for a small business in the UK?
About £8–£12 a year for a .co.uk and £10–£15 a year for a .com, paid to your registrar. Watch cheap first-year offers — check the renewal price. If you have a website with UptoData, you keep your domain in your name and I connect it for you.
Should I choose a .co.uk or a .com?
A .co.uk signals UK trust and suits most local businesses. A .com reads more international and helps if people might mistype. Where possible, register both and point them at the same site.
Why is my renewal so much more expensive than the first year?
Registrars use a loss-leading first-year price and recover it at renewal. Always check the renewal cost before buying, and set auto-renew so you never risk losing the name.
Do I actually own my domain name?
You should. The registration and contact details must be in your name, or you can struggle to move it later. If a supplier registered it in their own name, ask for it to be transferred to you.
What should I look for when choosing a domain name?
Short, easy to say, hard to misspell, matching your business name, preferring .co.uk for UK customers, not trademarked — and registered in your name with auto-renew on.
Your address, connected from day one
You own the domain; I connect it to a custom website with hosting, business email and an AI chat assistant — £14.99 a month, no up-front fee, cancel anytime.
Get your website