Domain escrow on every sale, step by step
Domain escrow is a way to settle a domain sale safely: the buyer's payment is held until the name is transferred, and only then released to the seller. On Domaining every marketplace sale, member auction and brokered deal settles through escrow. It is included in every plan, with no commission on the sale.
How does domain escrow work on Domaining?
Every transaction follows the same numbered steps, visible to both sides in one timeline.
| Step | What happens | Who acts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Terms agreed | The price is set by buy-now, an accepted offer, a closing bid or a brokered deal | Buyer and seller |
| 2. Escrow opened | The transaction is created with the name, the price and both parties | Domaining |
| 3. Payment secured | The buyer pays the agreed price and the payment is held | Buyer |
| 4. Transfer started | The seller starts the transfer of the name to the buyer | Seller |
| 5. Transfer confirmed | The buyer confirms the name is in their account | Buyer |
| 6. Funds released | The payment is released to the seller and the transaction closes | Domaining |
Sell with escrow from your first listing
Every plan includes escrow on every sale. List a name on the domain marketplace and escrow is attached automatically.
What are the states of an escrow transaction?
Each escrow transaction carries one state at a time, so both parties always know what happens next.
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Opened | Terms recorded, waiting for the buyer's payment |
| Awaiting payment | The buyer has been asked to pay the agreed price |
| Payment secured | The payment is held, the seller can start the transfer |
| Transfer in progress | The name is moving to the buyer's account |
| Transfer confirmed | The buyer has confirmed receipt of the name |
| Funds released | The seller has been paid, the transaction is closed |
| Cancelled | Closed before the payment was secured, or refunded before transfer |
| In review | A problem was reported and the transaction is paused until it is resolved |
Which sales go through domain name escrow services on Domaining?
All of them. Escrow is part of the product rather than an extra step you have to arrange.
- Marketplace sales at a buy-now price or an accepted offer
- Member auctions, where the winner pays the closing bid, see domain auctions
- Deals closed through domain broker campaigns and wanted requests
- Names listed with a for-sale page through domain parking
What does escrow cost?
Escrow is included in every plan, and there is no commission on the sale. A marketplace price, a member auction's closing bid or a brokered price is settled through escrow as payment between the two parties. Plan details are on the domaining pricing page.
Why use escrow for a domain sale?
A domain sale involves two things that cannot happen at the same moment: a payment and a transfer. Escrow removes the need for either side to go first on trust. The buyer knows the money moves only after the name arrives, and the seller knows the payment is secured before the transfer starts. Every step is recorded in the transaction timeline, which on Enterprise also appears in the audit log, see domaining security.
Questions about domain escrow
Is escrow included in every plan?
Yes. Starter, Pro, Portfolio and Enterprise all include escrow on every sale, with no commission.
Does the buyer need a subscription to use escrow?
No. Buyers purchase listed names without a subscription. They create an account to pay, and the payment is held in escrow until they confirm the transfer.
What happens if the transfer does not complete?
The payment stays held and is not released to the seller. If the transfer cannot be completed, the transaction is cancelled and the buyer is refunded.
Can I see the status of my escrow transactions?
Yes. Every transaction shows its current state and a timeline of each step, for both the buyer and the seller.
Close every domain sale through escrow
List your names, accept offers and let escrow handle the settlement.