Business Startup - Website Address

Terrysdelight

Hi
I've decided to have a go at starting a little business.   It is going to be an admin type service open to UK customers only.  I've come up with the name and the domains are available with the extn .com and .co.uk.

I will only want one website.  Will I be best to use the .co.uk extension or the .com extn?

I intend to buy the domain name from one company and then use a different company to host the website.   Who would be the best company to buy the domain and also have the privacy option so I can't be looked up on Whoisthis.   I think I can make a success of this little business so envisage owning the domain longterm.

Who should I buy with, bearing in mind the ongoing costs (to include ongoing protection for Whoisthis)?

Many thanks

Farway

If looking at UK customers only then the .co.uk should guide UK customers and dissuade but not eliminate others

I find 123 reg ideal for domain registration. But regarding Whois, as a company you may have a problem, either you are a trading company or a private individual.

Nothing to stop you opting out of course but some customers may want to know a bit more about who is supplying a service and more importantly how long it's been running,

.

Best of luck in your venture

Cornucopia

Registration costs will be minimal whoever you go with.  However, registration and hosting are only the beginning of creating a Website - will you be creating your own site, with what tools, or will you be paying someone to design and build something for you?

DoaM

Any business hiding their WHOIS data will have the Scamdar tingling for anyone (with a modicum of nous) thinking of doing business with them ... what does the business have to hide?

AndyPix

I would buy both the .co.uk and the .com if you are in it for the long term and the domain name is/will be synonemous with the business.

Just have them both pointing to the same site

forgotmyname

One of the first things i check when buying from a website, do they use a genuine addresses and to a lesser extent but
still important is the email address used.

Why would you buy a domain and not use the email linked to that domain. To me it may look like its an easy way to
shut the site and open another one yet still keep the emails coming in.

Visible landline and address is important to me.  Either of those missing then its off to the next site no matter how
good or cheap you are.

Terrysdelight

DoaM said:

Any business hiding their WHOIS data will have the Scamdar tingling for anyone (with a modicum of nous) thinking of doing business with them ... what does the business have to hide?

Thank you.  I really didn't know this.  I don't have anything to hide, just didn't want to be inundated with emails offering to build me a website.