Published: 17.10.2026
The .company extension is a generic top-level zone, so it is not tied to any country. Its ending is the ordinary English word company, which tells visitors straight away that the site belongs to a business, a firm or an organisation. Firms of every size use it for their main website, and it is a common choice for projects that want their purpose to be obvious from the address. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .company is still available.
Check if a .company domain is available .company Check
A short history
The .company zone arrived in the wave of new generic extensions added in the 2010s, when the domain system opened up to many more words and themes. Since then it has been taken up by start-ups, established firms and business groups that wanted a name describing what they do. Like other newer zones, it is less familiar to the public than long-established endings, so visitors may need a moment to recognise it.
Who runs it
A generic zone of this kind is managed by a registry operator under an agreement with ICANN, the body that coordinates the global domain name system. The operator sets the policies for the zone and works with accredited registrars, who sell names to customers. Operators can revise their policies, so the terms shown when you place the order are the ones to read.
Rules in practice
- Open use: generic zones are usually open to any applicant, but the operator may set rules on what a site in the zone may be used for.
- Contact data: the registrant details must be accurate, and the registrar may ask you to confirm them.
- Length and characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, and a single label can be up to 63 characters long.
- Renewal: keep the expiry date in your calendar and enable auto-renewal with your registrar.
Who uses .company
- Small businesses and sole traders who want their trading name to be the whole address.
- Agencies, consultancies and professional firms that present themselves to clients.
- Start-ups and project teams that run a product or service under a company name.
- Cooperatives and business networks that want an address matching their official name.
Strengths
- The word explains the purpose of the site, so the address works as a short description of a business.
- A brand name placed in front of .company reads clearly as a corporate address, which suits business cards and letterheads.
- The zone is not tied to a country, so it can serve a business with customers in several places.
Things to keep in mind
- Because the word is common, the brand part of the name has to carry most of the identity, since the word alone is often unclear.
- Some visitors may not recognise a newer generic ending, so show the full address on every page and document.
- A .com address still carries the most familiar signal for many people, so consider whether you need both.
- Operators can change their policies, so an older registration may need updated details later.
Tips before you register
- Search for the brand in .com and on the social networks and business directories you plan to use.
- Choose a name you can spell out over the phone without any explanation.
- Check trademarks before you build a brand on the name, because a similar name may already be protected.
- Set up e-mail authentication records before you send invoices or newsletters from the domain.
- Use two-factor login on the registrar account and keep the recovery address current.
Frequently asked questions
Is .company open to any business? Generic zones are usually open to applicants in general, but the operator sets its own terms, so read them before you order.
Does a .company name help a business rank higher? No ending can promise a ranking. Search engines look at the content and the links of a site first, so the ending alone is unlikely to decide your position.
Can I move a .company name to another registrar later? Transfers are usually possible, but the timing and lock rules of the operator apply, so plan the move in advance.
