A domain is the name that identifies your website on the internet. When someone types bacan.com in their browser, they are using a domain to reach that site. Without a domain, you could only access your website via a numerical IP address, which is impractical and difficult to remember.
How does a domain work?
The Domain Name System (DNS) acts like a global contact list. It translates the name you type — such as mybusiness.com — into the IP address of the server where that website is hosted.
This process happens in milliseconds and is completely transparent to the user. You type the name, the system finds the correct server, and your browser loads the page.
Parts of a domain
- Domain name: the part you choose, for example
mybusiness. - Extension (TLD): the final part, such as
.com,.es,.net,.org. There are hundreds of extensions available.
Together they form the complete domain: mybusiness.com.
How much does a domain cost?
The price depends on the extension. .com domains are the most in-demand and their usual price is between $10 and $15 per year. Country-specific extensions like .es or .fr have similar prices. Some premium or highly sought-after extensions can cost more.
Bacan offers a free .com domain in the first year when you purchase a paid hosting plan.
What if the domain I want is already registered?
Good domains are scarce, especially in .com. If the name you want is already taken, you have several options:
- Try a different extension (
.net,.es,.co). - Add a word that differentiates it (e.g.
mybusinessnyc.com). - Wait for it to expire and register it at that point (expired domains become available again after a grace period).
- Contact the current holder if they are interested in selling it.
What do I need to register a domain?
You only need a Bacan account and the holder's contact details (name, address and email). The process is immediate: within a few minutes the domain is registered in your name.
Remember that domains are registered for annual periods. If you don't renew it before it expires, it goes through a grace period before becoming available to anyone else.