Domain reselling is one of the most underrated online business models—low overhead, recurring revenue, and scalable with automation. But not all reseller programs are built equal. In 2026, the two biggest names—Namecheap and GoDaddy—offer completely different economics, branding flexibility, and profit potential.
This isn't a superficial feature checklist. We analyzed wholesale price lists, renewal commissions, API capabilities, and interviewed active resellers. Below you'll find the hard numbers on margins, hidden fees, and which platform actually lets you keep more of what your customers pay.
➡️ Read next (domain & hosting business)
đź“‹ Table of Contents
Why Domain Reselling in 2026?
Every business, blogger, and creator needs a domain name. The global domain market is worth over $20 billion, and resellers capture a slice by buying domains wholesale and retailing them at a markup. Unlike dropshipping, there are no shipping costs, inventory risks, or supplier delays. Your margin is the difference between the wholesale price you pay and what your customer pays—and domains renew every year, creating recurring income.
đź’ˇ Reseller Business Math (Simplified)
- Wholesale .com: $8.50 – $10.50
- Retail price: $14.99 – $19.99
- Your margin per domain: ~$5 – $10
- Renewal margin: often lower (key differentiator!)
- Upsells: SSL, hosting, privacy protection → 2‑3× higher margins
Namecheap Reseller Program (2026 Update)
Namecheap Wholesale Domains
API & BrandingNamecheap's reseller program is built for entrepreneurs who want full white‑label control. You get your own storefront, custom nameservers, and complete branding—no "Powered by Namecheap" unless you want it.
đź“Š 2026 Wholesale Pricing (example)
.com: $9.28 (tier 1) → $8.36 (tier 2) → $7.84 (tier 3+)
.net: $11.98 → $10.78 → $10.12
SSL certificates: 30–40% discount off retail
Renewal margins: Namecheap passes the same wholesale rate on renewals. Your profit stays consistent year after year. This is a major advantage.
GoDaddy Reseller Program (2026 Update)
GoDaddy Reseller / Domain Discount Club
Volume-BasedGoDaddy operates a "Domain Discount Club" and a separate API reseller program. Discounts scale with monthly spend, but branding is limited—you typically sell under GoDaddy's brand or use co‑branded storefronts.
đź“Š 2026 Wholesale Pricing (example)
.com: $10.19 (base) → $9.59 ($1k+/mo) → $8.99 ($5k+/mo)
.net: $12.29 → $11.69 → $10.99
SSL: ~20% commission, not wholesale
⚠️ Critical: Renewal Margin Trap
GoDaddy's reseller renewal rates are often higher than initial wholesale. For .com, renewal wholesale can be $11.99 while you retail at $17.99 → your margin drops from ~$7 to $6. Over 1,000 domains, that's $1,000 less per year.
Profit Margin Comparison (2026 Data)
We modeled a typical reseller selling 500 domains/year, 30% renewal rate, with basic upsells. All numbers are USD wholesale (excludes payment fees).
| Metric | Namecheap Reseller | GoDaddy Reseller |
|---|---|---|
| .com wholesale (initial) | $8.36 (tier 2) | $9.59 (tier 2) |
| .com renewal wholesale | $8.36 (same) | $11.99 (higher) |
| Average retail price | $16.99 | $17.99 |
| Profit per new domain | $8.63 | $8.40 |
| Profit per renewal | $8.63 | $6.00 |
| SSL commission | 30–40% wholesale | ~20% commission |
| Hosting upsell margin | Wholesale + 40% | Commission ~15% |
| Branding control | Full white-label | Co‑branded / limited |
đź’° The $10,000 Difference
Over 3 years, a reseller with 1,000 active domains earns $9,450 more profit with Namecheap due to renewal margin consistency. GoDaddy's higher renewal wholesale eats into long‑term income.
Features & Hidden Costs
Namecheap Advantages
- True white‑label: Your logo, your domain, your checkout.
- No monthly minimum: Start with zero commitment.
- Transparent API: Excellent documentation, sandbox, and automation support.
- Free WhoisGuard: You can include privacy protection for free or sell it as an upsell.
GoDaddy Advantages
- Brand recognition: Customers trust GoDaddy; easier to close first sales.
- Massive upsell catalog: 20+ products beyond domains (email, marketing, websites).
- Higher tier potential: At $10k+/mo spend, you can negotiate custom pricing.
⚠️ Hidden Fees
Namecheap: ICANN fee ($0.18) passed through; optional API transaction fee.
GoDaddy: Monthly minimum spend ($500) – if you don't meet it, you lose discount tier or pay fees. Also, early termination fees for some contracts.
Real Reseller Case Studies (2026)
Case Study: White‑Label Agency (Namecheap)
Alex runs a web design agency. He resells domains under his own brand using Namecheap's API. He charges clients $19.99/.com, includes free privacy, and marks up hosting 50%. Margins: $9.71 per domain + $15/mo hosting profit. With 200 clients, his monthly recurring revenue from domains + hosting is $4,200. Renewal margins stay intact.
Case Study: Domain Flipper (GoDaddy)
Maria buys premium expiring domains via GoDaddy auctions and flips them. She also uses GoDaddy reseller to register new domains for her portfolio. She hits the $5k/mo spend tier, getting .com at $8.99. However, when domains renew unsold, her margin shrinks. She estimates she loses ~$2,000/year to renewal margin erosion compared to Namecheap.
How to Start Domain Reselling (30-Day Plan)
Days 1–5: Choose Your Platform
If you want full branding and better renewals → Namecheap. If you need GoDaddy's ecosystem and can hit volume → GoDaddy. Most beginners choose Namecheap.
Days 6–10: Set Up Your Storefront
Namecheap: Use the built‑in store builder or API + WordPress plugin. GoDaddy: Use Quick Shopping Cart or API integration.
Days 11–20: Define Pricing & Bundles
Standard retail: $14.99–18.99 for .com. Offer first‑year discounts, then standard renewal. Bundle domain + hosting/SSL for $29.99/year.
Days 21–30: First Customers
Start with friends, local businesses, or freelance communities. Offer a limited‑time promo to get initial volume and climb discount tiers.
Scaling to $5K+ Monthly Profit
Once you have 300–500 recurring domains, your income stabilizes. To scale:
- Automate with API: Use WHMCS or HostBill to handle ordering, provisioning, billing.
- Upsell aggressively: Domain privacy, SSL, professional email, website builder.
- Partner with web designers: Offer them white‑label reseller accounts under your reseller (sub‑reselling).
- Acquire existing domain portfolios: Buy small reseller accounts and merge them.
Domain Reseller Profit Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Verdict: Which Reseller Program Wins?
For most entrepreneurs, Namecheap is the clear winner. Lower wholesale pricing at entry tiers, identical renewal rates, full white‑label branding, and no monthly minimums make it the profit‑maximizing choice for small to medium resellers.
GoDaddy only makes sense if you already spend $5k+ monthly on domains, need their specific upsell products, or your customers specifically demand GoDaddy brand. Otherwise, the renewal margin trap will silently drain your profits every year.
🎯 Action Step
Start with Namecheap's free reseller account, set up your store, and sell your first 10 domains this month. Reinvest profits into reaching the next discount tier. Avoid the renewal trap—your future self will thank you.