For a normal Irish business domain, think in tens of euro per year rather than hundreds.
The exact price depends on the extension and registrar, whether the headline figure is a promotional first-year price or the true renewal price, and whether the name itself is classed as a premium domain.
In 2026, advertised Irish registrar prices show just how important that renewal distinction is. A .ie may be promoted for under €10 in year one while renewing at roughly €20–€47+ depending on registrar. .com registrations are often discounted heavily in year one too, with renewal prices commonly higher.
The first-year banner is therefore not the number I would use when deciding where to register a business domain.
Look at the renewal price.
What is a domain name?
Your domain is the address people type to reach your business online.
For example:
builtbygavin.com
The domain is not the website itself and it is not the hosting.
Think of them as separate pieces: Domain:* the address, Hosting:* where/how the website is served, Website:* the actual pages and content, and DNS:* the system that connects the address to the right services.
You can register a domain with one company and host the website somewhere completely different.
That separation is useful.
How much does a .ie domain cost?
Retail prices vary substantially.
Current 2026 examples from Irish registrars show heavily discounted introductory .ie registration offers, while normal renewal rates can range from the low €20s into the €40s before VAT depending on provider.
The .ie registry itself does not normally sell domains directly to the public; registration and renewals are handled through accredited registrars.
That means the registrar sets the retail price you pay.
How much does a .com cost?
Again, introductory deals can be misleading.
Current Irish registrar examples show .com domains advertised very cheaply for the first year, with renewal prices around €20–€26 before VAT at some mainstream providers.
Other registrars internationally may be cheaper or more expensive.
For a business domain you intend to keep for years, compare the normal renewal price and account quality, not just the sale banner.
.ie or .com: which should an Irish business choose?
There is no universal answer.
.ie
A .ie domain clearly signals an Irish connection.
It can be a very natural choice for a business whose customers are primarily in Ireland.
.com
A .com is globally familiar and can suit businesses operating internationally or simply brands that prefer the name.
Owning both
If the important brand name is available in both and the extra annual cost is acceptable, some businesses register both and redirect one to the other.
That can protect the name and avoid customer confusion.
But do not buy twenty unnecessary extensions because somebody tells you it is essential for SEO.
It isn't.
The biggest trap: first-year promotional pricing
Domain providers frequently advertise a heavily discounted registration price.
For example:
.ie — €5.99
That may be a first-year offer.
The renewal could be many times higher.
That does not make the provider dishonest if the renewal price is disclosed.
But it means you should ask:
What will this cost me every year after the introductory period?
A domain is a long-term business asset. Judge the cost over several years.
Who should own the domain?
What I'd do
I would register the domain in the business owner's name and keep the login somewhere the business controls. A designer can absolutely help set it up and connect the technical pieces, but I do not think something as fundamental as the business's web address should depend on being able to contact a particular developer three years from now.
The business should control its own domain.
This is one of the strongest recommendations I make to clients.
A web designer can help configure it.
An agency can manage DNS.
But the business should ideally have control of: the registrar account, renewal billing, recovery details, and authentication.
Why?
Because your domain may control: the website, email, brand identity, customer access, and search visibility.
Losing control of it can become a serious operational problem.
Related guide: Who should own my business domain name?
Should my web designer register the domain for me?
They can help.
But be clear about whose account it goes into.
I prefer a setup where the client retains ownership/control rather than the domain quietly becoming an asset of the web provider.
There is no technical reason a business needs to surrender ownership of its name to get a website built.
Do I need to buy hosting from the same company?
No.
Domain registration and hosting are separate services.
A registrar may encourage you to buy: hosting, email, SSL, website builders, and security packages.
at checkout.
Some may be useful.
None automatically has to come from the registrar.
For Built by Gavin projects, keeping these pieces separate often makes the setup cleaner: the client controls the domain while the website can use whatever hosting architecture actually suits the project.
Worth knowing
The domain is normally a small annual cost. If a proposal makes domains, SSL and hosting sound like one expensive technical bundle, ask for them to be separated. They are different things, and seeing the individual costs makes it much easier to understand what you are actually paying for.
No — and keeping the concepts separate makes quotes much easier to understand. The companion guide to website hosting costs explains what the hosting part should actually cover.
What about SSL certificates?
For a normal modern website, you should not assume you need to pay separately for SSL.
Many modern hosting platforms, including Cloudflare, provide HTTPS/SSL as part of the service.
If someone adds a substantial annual SSL charge to a simple modern hosting setup, ask why.
There may be a specialist requirement, but basic HTTPS should no longer be treated as an exotic premium feature.
What is a premium domain?
Some domain names cost significantly more because they are already owned, highly desirable or classified as premium by the registry/registrar.
For example, a short generic word might cost hundreds or thousands.
That is a different market from registering a normal available business name.
Do not confuse:
registration fee
with
buying a domain from an existing owner.
What happens if I forget to renew?
Eventually, you can lose the domain.
There are usually expiry and recovery periods, but recovering an expired domain can cost much more than a normal renewal.
Some registrars publish substantial redemption fees for expired names.
For an important business domain: enable auto-renew, keep the payment method current, keep recovery email/phone details current, and use two-factor authentication.
A €30 renewal is much cheaper than rebuilding a brand around a lost domain.
For the practical consequences and recovery options, see what happens when a domain expires.
What should I budget?
For an ordinary small-business domain, budgeting roughly €20–€50 per year is a sensible planning assumption for many mainstream .ie/.com renewals in Ireland in 2026.
Your actual registrar may be below or above that range.
The important point is scale:
The domain is usually one of the cheapest parts of owning a professional website.
It should not be confused with a large monthly hosting package.
Gavin’s perspective
Built by Gavin's approach
I want clients to understand what they own and what they are paying for.
So I prefer the client to control the domain, see the real renewal cost and make hosting decisions separately. A domain that costs a few tens of euro each year is not, by itself, a reason to turn the whole website into a large monthly subscription.
Simple infrastructure is easier to understand and easier to leave if you ever want to work with somebody else.
That is how it should be.
The connection between a domain and the services behind it is handled through DNS; if you want the non-technical explanation, read what DNS actually does.
The bottom line
A domain name is usually a modest annual business cost.
Pay attention to introductory pricing versus renewal pricing, VAT, premium-domain charges, possible redemption fees and — most importantly — who actually owns and controls the account.
Then register the name in a way that keeps your business in control.
Need help setting the whole thing up?
If you need the website as well as the domain, see my website options or get in touch.
I can help connect the pieces without turning a basic domain and hosting setup into an unnecessary subscription.
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