One of the best things about getting your paving or outdoor living company online is that the domain name — the web address itself — is genuinely one of the cheapest parts. We're talking a few pounds a year for something that will be the foundation of your entire online presence.
Let me give you the real numbers, what to watch out for, and how to make sure you're not overpaying.
Standard Domain Prices in the UK
For a .co.uk domain, you should be paying somewhere between £5 and £12 per year from a reputable UK registrar. That's it. If someone is quoting you significantly more than that for a standard .co.uk registration, you're being overcharged.
A .com domain typically runs a bit more — usually between £10 and £15 per year from most registrars. If you're following the smart strategy of registering both your .co.uk and .com and redirecting the .com to your main site, you're looking at a combined annual cost of roughly £15 to £25 for both.
For a paving company spending thousands on equipment, vehicles, and materials — the domain name is an almost invisible cost. The question isn't really about price. It's about which registrar you choose and making sure you don't get stung by hidden fees or auto-renewals at jacked-up rates.
First-Year Introductory Offers
Many registrars offer .co.uk domains for as little as 99p or even free in your first year. These are real deals — but make sure you know the renewal price before you commit. That 99p domain might renew at £12 or £15 the following year. That's still cheap, but it's worth knowing upfront.
Check the renewal price before registering anywhere. A registrar with a slightly higher first-year price but a fair renewal rate is often better than one that teases you in and then charges more to stay.
Premium Domains: A Completely Different World
If the exact domain name you want is already registered by someone else but they're willing to sell it — you're now in the aftermarket, and prices can be dramatically higher.
A domain like pavinguk.co.uk or driveways.co.uk could be listed for anywhere from £500 to £50,000+ depending on how desirable it is. These are called premium or aftermarket domains, and most paving businesses should avoid them entirely. There's almost always a perfectly good alternative that costs the standard registration fee.
The only time it's worth considering a premium domain purchase is if the name is literally your exact business name and someone is sitting on it. Even then, you'd want proper legal and business advice before spending significant money.
What's Included in the Price (And What Isn't)
A standard domain registration typically includes the right to use that web address for one year, renewable annually. It does not include web hosting (where your website files live), email hosting, or an SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser that shows your site is secure).
These are separate products. Be careful when a registrar bundles everything together and gives you a combined price — make sure you know exactly what you're paying for each component. For most paving and outdoor living companies, buying domain, hosting, and email separately from different providers gives you more control and often better value.
Domain Privacy Protection Cost
Most registrars offer something called WHOIS privacy or domain privacy protection as an add-on. This hides your personal contact details from public domain registration databases. It typically costs between £3 and £8 per year extra. Whether you need it depends on how much you want your personal address and contact details kept private — more on this in a separate section.
Real Total Cost for a Paving Company Getting Started
If you register a .co.uk and a .com, add basic domain privacy protection on both, you're looking at a realistic total of £25 to £50 per year. That's not per month. Per year. For the foundation of your entire online presence.
Compare that against the cost of a single new paving job — which might be worth £3,000 to £10,000 — and the domain name is essentially free in terms of business value. Don't let the low price make you treat the decision carelessly, though. The name you choose matters far more than what you pay for it.
Renewing Your Domain: Don't Let It Expire
One important cost consideration: domains are not a one-time purchase. They're annual licenses. If you forget to renew and your domain expires, your website goes offline, your email stops working, and someone else can register your name. Set up auto-renewal with your registrar and keep your payment details up to date. This is a non-negotiable for any paving company that relies on its website for enquiries.