How to Secure Your Startup’s Domain Name Before It’s Too Late

Written by

.inc Domains

July 15, 2025

3

min read

Secure Your Startup’s Domain Name

Every founder has that moment:

A name clicks. It’s sharp, meaningful,  maybe even poetic.You check the domain. It’s available. This could be it.

But a few weeks later, when you go to buy it… it’s gone.

Now it’s $2,000 or worse, sitting parked and unused.This happens all the time to early-stage founders who wait too long to secure their domain.

Why You Should Reserve Your Domain Name Early

You’re told to validate before investing in branding. That’s smart. But the internet doesn’t wait for product-market fit.

Your domain name is more than a URL. It’s: 

  • Your digital identity

  • Your brand foundation

  • Your email and comms

  • Your first public impression

Lose it, and you’re either pivoting around a second-best name or paying thousands to claw it back.

“But I’m Not Ready Yet…”

Exactly, most modern founders aren’t. Today’s early-stage process is scrappy and fast-moving:

  • You’re brainstorming with ChatGPT or other AI tools

  • Getting feedback in Slack groups or on Product Hunt

  • Sharing early progress or ideas on X or Discord

But your domain doesn’t wait for you to incorporate.
That’s why we built,
Reserve.

Introducing Reserve: A Smarter Way to Secure Your Domain

Reserve is a new feature on my.inc that lets you claim your ideal .inc domain - even before you’re ready to launch.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Search for your desired .inc domain

  2. If it’s available and non-premium, you can:

    • Reserve it for just $4/month or 32/year

    • We immediately block it , so no one else can grab it
  3. Build when you’re ready. Cancel anytime.

💡 Think of it like saving your Instagram handle before you go live with your brand, held and protected.

Why Reserve Works for Today’s Founders

1. Protects Your Actual Brand Name

Don’t settle for awkward variations. Reserve lets you lock in the domain you really want before it’s gone or priced out of reach.

 2. Built for the “Not Ready Yet” Stage

Still validating your idea? Not incorporated yet? That’s fine.
Reserve meets you where you are, no pressure to launch, file, or build right away.

 3. Low Risk, High Flexibility

Premium domains can cost thousands upfront.
Reserve is just  $4/month or 32/year  with no long-term commitment and cancel-anytime flexibility.

 4. Works Before You Incorporate

You can secure your domain even before you form your company giving you a branded foundation from day one.

The Psychological Power of “Owning” Your Name

Something changes when founders reserve their domain. They tell us:

  • They start sketching logos

  • They pitch more confidently

  • They stop saying “someday” and start saying “I’m building”

Reserving your domain gives your idea room to grow and legitimacy to build on.

What Founders Are Saying:

“As I just incorporated my company in India, I was looking for a domain that felt premium, credible, and aligned with our long-term vision. Since our company is all about building the future of finance, .inc felt like the perfect match. Using .inc doesn’t feel like a project unlike other domains but it actually shows seriousness of building a company, building a business and the brand. It instantly gave our brand the global, institutional identity we were aiming for!”

-Sarang, MIM.inc. 

What If Your Domain’s Taken?

Don’t panic - you’ve still got options:

  • Try variations (e.g., use[brand].inc, get[brand].inc)

  • Reserve a name that still fits now and evolve later

Either way: don’t wait. Don’t hope. Take control.

Why We Built Reserve

Because the way people launch has changed.

With AI tools, validation happens faster. Ideas evolve overnight.
But domain registration? Still stuck in the past.

Reserve is the missing link between formation and brand identity giving founders a credible, flexible way to protect their startup brand before launch.

TL;DR : Secure Your Domain Name Early

Waiting until you’re “ready” is the startup equivalent of waiting to stretch until you’re injured.

With Reserve, you can:

✅ Secure your perfect .inc domain today
✅ Build on your own timeline
✅ Avoid paying $2K+ later

👉 Reserve your domain now and give your startup the launch it deserves.

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