Every web studio or freelancer eventually faces the question: who buys the client's domain and who renews it every year? Leaving it to the client often means a missed renewal, a dead website and the studio getting blamed. The reseller model turns this problem into an opportunity: you sell domains to your clients under your own name through a registrar, manage them and charge for the service.
Reseller versus registrar
A registrar is an accredited organisation working directly with a zone's registry, which requires meeting technical standards, guarantees and a registry contract. That is usually too heavy for a small business. A reseller works without accreditation, partnering with an existing registrar and handling the client relationship. The registrar is responsible for registry rules; you are responsible for communication, billing and renewals. If a domain lapses because you forgot to remind the client, the client blames you.
Who the model suits
Domain reselling rarely stands alone; it works best alongside other services. Natural candidates are web studios, IT service firms, marketing agencies and hosting providers with an existing client base. Imagine a studio in Namangan delivering a few dozen sites a year. Most clients do not know how domains work, so bundling the domain with the site, hosting and support is convenient for them and creates small but recurring income for the studio.
Where the income comes from
The markup on the domain itself is often the smallest part. The real value lies in hosting, business email, SSL setup, DNS configuration and support; the domain acts as an anchor that brings the client back every renewal.
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple resale | Domain sold separately with a markup | Freelancers with many small clients |
| Bundle | Domain included in a yearly package with site, hosting and email | Studios and agencies |
| Subscription | Domain, hosting and support in a monthly or yearly fee | IT outsourcing firms |
Price in your time, not just the domain cost: client messages, DNS changes, reminders and chasing payments are all work that should be paid for. International domain costs are often tied to foreign currency while clients pay in sum, so review prices regularly.
The biggest mistake: registering domains in your own name
Registering client domains under the studio's name feels convenient but causes disputes when the client leaves. The client, whether a company or an individual, should always be the registrant, with you as technical or administrative contact. Accurate data matters too: zones such as .uz require real owner details, so collect and store client data carefully and respect Uzbekistan's personal data rules.
Operations: renewals, payments and support
Renewal tracking takes the most time: know every expiry date, remind clients 30, 14 and 3 days ahead, collect payment and renew on time. Beyond about a hundred domains you need automation through the registrar's API or auto-renew, plus a pre-funded balance. Decide in your contract what happens if a client does not pay, and accept online payments via Click and Payme to speed things up. Spell out who pays for restoring a domain that was allowed to expire, because redemption fees are often far higher than a normal renewal.
Legal, tax and choosing a partner
Selling domain services is a commercial activity, so operate as a registered company or sole entrepreneur and confirm tax treatment and invoicing with an accountant. When choosing a partner registrar, look beyond wholesale price: support for the zones you need, especially .uz, local payment methods, an API, responsive support and the freedom to move client domains elsewhere. If your clients need servers in Uzbekistan and local support, you can ask sayt.uz support about partnership terms. Test any partner with a few domains first.