How to choose a domain name for your small business

Your domain name is the first thing people type to find you online — and it lasts for as long as your business does. Getting it right from the start saves you a lot of headaches later.

Here’s what actually matters when choosing one.

Keep it short and easy to say out loud

If you have to spell it out every time someone asks for your website, it’s too complicated. Aim for one or two recognisable words. If your business name is long, think about a short version — “Van der Berg Bakkerij” becomes vandenbergbakery.com.

Avoid hyphens and numbers

my-plumbing-company.com looks professional in print but people forget the hyphens when typing. Same with numbers — is it 4 or four? Stick to letters only.

.com is still king — but .eu and country codes work fine

.com carries the most global recognition, but if your business is firmly local, a country-code domain (.nl, .be, .de) can actually signal relevance to local customers and to Google. Avoid obscure extensions like .biz or .info — they carry less trust.

Check it’s actually available — and not trademarked

Before you fall in love with a name, search for it. PagePal’s domain search checks availability in real time. Also Google the name — if a large company uses it, pick something else even if the domain is free.

Match your business name where possible

jansmeetsplumbing.com for Jan Smeets Plumbing is ideal. Exact-match makes it easier for customers to guess your URL and adds a small SEO signal for your brand name.

Don’t overthink it

A decent domain that’s available today beats the perfect one that isn’t. Customers find you through Google, social, and word of mouth — the domain is just the address, not the sign above the door.

Ready to check what’s available? Start building your site → and we’ll run a live search as part of setup.