Step 1 - Finding a Name
To register your own domain, you first need to create a list of available domains that would suit your business. There are many free online resources that you can use to research domains, and there are several top-level names to choose from, including the popular .com address and the Canadian .ca address.
Name options
A .com name has the strongest brand, greatest value, and due to changes in the registration system a .com name can be registered for as little as $17 CDN a year. However, it can be challenging to find a suitable .com address, as it is the most commonly used name.
Another popular option for Canadian entrepreneurs is the .ca domain, which recently underwent significant changes. Previously there were strict limitations on who could register a .ca name, and registration was free. Now .ca domains are much easier to obtain through an assortment of registrars, and registration fees ranging from $25-75 CDN a year apply.
Still other domain choices, such as .to, .cc, exist. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), recently selected 7 new top-level domains - .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, and .pro – but already challenges have been made in regards to the registration of .biz domains. As long as negotiations regarding these new top-level domains continue, we recommend investigating other options.
Introduction