The short answer: use a domain availability checker. You type in the name you want, and it tells you whether it's taken or open to register. You can use Marshland's free domain checker right now. No account required.
If you want to understand what you're actually looking at when the results come back, keep reading. This whole thing takes about five minutes to wrap your head around.
What Does "Domain Availability" Actually Mean?
A domain name is your website's address, the part people type into a browser, like yourshop.com or scottsdalelaw.com. Every domain on the internet is registered to someone (or some organization), and only one person can own a given domain at a time.
When you check availability, you're asking: "Has anyone already claimed this name?" If the answer is no, you can register it. If yes, it's off the table unless the current owner decides to sell it, and that can get expensive fast.
Common reasons a domain might already be taken:
- Another business has the same or a similar name
- Someone registered it years ago and is sitting on it (domain squatting)
- It's a common word or phrase that gets snapped up quickly
- A previous owner let it expire and a registrar re-purchased it to resell
How to Check: Step by Step
Step 1: Go to the checker
Head to marshland.software/tools/domain-check. You don't need to create an account or enter payment info. It's just a search box.
Step 2: Type in the name you want
Enter the full name you're hoping to use. You can type it with or without the extension (the .com part). For example: sunsetplumbingaz or sunsetplumbingaz.com. Either works.
Step 3: Read the results
The checker will come back with one of three statuses:
- Available: No one owns this domain and you can register it.
- Unavailable: Someone else already owns it. You'd need to find an alternative.
- Unknown: The lookup couldn't get a definitive answer. Rare, and usually resolves if you try again in a moment.
If the domain is available, you'll also see pricing and the option to register it on the spot.
What to Do When Your First Choice Is Taken
This happens to almost everyone. The good news is there are usually workable alternatives.
Try a different extension
The extension is the part after the dot: .com, .net, .org, and so on. These are called TLDs (top-level domains). If sunsetplumbing.com is taken, sunsetplumbing.net or sunsetplumbing.co might not be. Learn more about how TLDs work.
One thing to keep in mind: .com is still what most people expect when they hear a business name. It's not always available, but if it is, it's usually worth going for.
Add a location or descriptor
Adding your city, state, or a word that describes what you do often opens up options:
sunsetplumbingaz.comsunsetplumbingphoenix.comsunsetplumbingpro.com
Try a variation of the name
Swap a word, shorten it, or rearrange it slightly. getsunsetsplumbing.com or sunsetpipe.com might both be open. Just make sure whatever you pick is easy to say out loud and spell without thinking about it. Your customers will be typing this.
Checking Availability Is Not the Same as Registering
This trips people up. Looking up whether a domain is available doesn't hold it for you or reserve it. Domains are first-come, first-served. If you find one you like and walk away to think about it, someone else could register it in the meantime (unlikely for most names, unless it's an obviously valuable word).
Once you decide on a name, register it as soon as you're ready. The registration is what actually locks it in under your ownership, usually billed annually.
What About Registering the Domain?
Once you find an available name, you have a few options.
If you're building a website anyway (which, as a business owner, you probably are), the simplest path is to let us handle it. Send us a message with the domain you want and we'll register it, set up hosting, and take care of the DNS — you never have to touch a control panel. Marshland's hosting plans include domain registration, so it's all one thing instead of two vendors to manage.
If you'd rather do it yourself, the domain checker gives you the option to register directly once it finds something available. You can also register standalone through any major registrar if you just want to lock in the name before you're ready to build.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind Before You Register
- Spell-check it one more time. Typos in domain names are forever. Say it out loud, type it fresh without looking, and confirm it looks right.
- Shorter is usually better. If you can say it in a breath, it's probably easy to remember and type.
- Avoid hyphens if you can.
sunset-plumbing.comworks, but people forget the hyphen when they type it. You'll lose traffic to whoever owns the non-hyphen version. - Underscores aren't allowed. If you're used to naming files or usernames with underscores, don't expect the same in a domain. The DNS spec doesn't permit them, so
sunset_plumbing.comsimply isn't a valid domain name and can't be registered.
A Domain Name Is Not a Trademark
Registering a domain doesn't give you trademark or copyright protection over the name. Those are separate legal processes. What you own is the right to use that web address, nothing more.
This cuts both ways. Do a quick Google and USPTO search before you register. You don't want to accidentally build a brand on a name someone else already owns. And don't assume the domain registration itself protects yours.
Ready to Find Your Domain?
Use the free domain checker to see what's available. If you find something you want, reach out and we'll register it and get everything set up for you. Or if you're ready to build a full site, our hosting plans include the domain and handle all the setup.