What Is Reseller?
A domain reseller is a company that sells domain registrations using an ICANN-accredited registrar's infrastructure, often under their own branding. The reseller handles the customer relationship while the underlying registrar manages the technical domain registration.
Many web hosting companies, website builders, and digital agencies operate as domain resellers — offering domain registration as part of their service bundle without being directly ICANN-accredited. The domains are technically registered through the backing registrar.
When buying domains through a reseller, your actual registrar may differ from the brand you purchased through. This matters for domain management, transfers, and support — check who the underlying registrar is.
Why This Matters for Startups
Be aware that domain registration through your web hosting company or website builder is often a reseller arrangement with marked-up pricing. You might pay $15–$20/year for a .com through a hosting reseller when you could register it directly at a registrar for $10–$12. More importantly, transferring domains away from reseller accounts can sometimes be more complicated. For maximum control and best pricing, register domains directly with a major registrar.
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