This guide is published by Secret Brokerage, one of the brokers listed.
You have found the domain you want, someone already owns it, and you have decided not to email the owner yourself. Now the question is how to choose a domain broker, and most “best broker” lists won’t help much, because they rank firms without explaining what actually separates them.
This guide is meant to be useful even if you hire someone other than us. It covers buyer-side and seller-side brokers, how fees work, what confidentiality really means, the questions to ask before you sign anything, and a side-by-side look at six buyer-side options, using only what each firm says on its own website.
Buyer-side vs seller-side brokers
A domain broker is someone who negotiates a domain sale for a client. Which client matters more than anything else on this list.
- A seller-side broker is hired by the domain owner to sell the name. Their job is to find buyers and get the highest price. If you contact a broker about a domain they have listed, they work for the seller, however friendly they are.
- A buyer-side broker (a buyer’s broker, or acquisition broker) is hired by you to acquire a domain someone else owns. Their job is to find the owner, approach them without revealing who you are, and get the name at a fair price.
Many brokerages do both, for different clients. That is common and not a problem in itself. What matters is that, on your deal, it is clear who the broker represents and who pays them. Ask directly: “On this acquisition, do you represent only me?”
How domain broker fees work
There are three basic fee models, and several firms combine them.
Commission (percentage of the price). The broker takes a percentage of the final purchase price, usually only if the deal closes. It is simple to understand and budget for. One thing to be aware of: with a pure percentage, a higher price also means a higher fee for the broker. Good brokers don’t let that affect their work, but it is fair to ask how they think about it.
Success fee. You pay only if the domain is acquired. A success fee can be a percentage of the price, or it can be tied to the result, for example to how much the broker negotiates the price down from the owner’s first ask. A savings-based fee rewards the broker for lowering the price, which is the thing you hired them for.
Retainer or upfront fee. You pay something before work starts, whether the domain is acquired or not. This ranges from a small per-domain fee (to cover the work of finding and contacting the owner) to a larger retainer for long, complex projects. An upfront fee is not a bad sign. It just changes who carries the risk if the owner never replies, so read whether it is refundable and whether it counts toward the final fee.
On top of the broker’s fee, budget for the escrow fee, which is charged by the escrow company, not the broker. We explain that part in our guide to how domain escrow works, and fee structures in more detail in domain broker fees.
Confidentiality: what it should cover
For most buyers, confidentiality is the reason to use a broker at all. If the owner learns that a funded startup or a well-known company is asking, the price tends to move. We go through the mechanics in how to buy a domain anonymously.
“We keep you anonymous” can mean different things, so ask how far it goes:
- The approach. Does the owner deal only with the broker, or do you negotiate yourself through a platform?
- The negotiation. Is your company name, budget or project mentioned at any point?
- The closing. Does the seller see your identity in the escrow transaction?
- Afterwards. Will the broker ever name you, or the deal, in marketing, without your agreement?
There is no single right answer for every buyer. A small purchase may not need full stealth. A rebrand at a public company usually does.
Questions to ask before hiring a domain broker
- Who do you represent on this deal, and who pays you?
- What exactly is the fee, and when is it due? Percentage, minimum, upfront part, and whether anything is refundable.
- What happens if the owner doesn’t reply, or won’t sell? How long will they keep trying, and does that cost more?
- How do you keep my identity out of it, from first contact to closing?
- Will you give me an honest view of what the name is worth before we start? A broker who tells you your budget is unrealistic is doing you a favor.
- Who sets the ceiling, and who approves the final price? It should be you.
- How is payment handled? Look for a recognized escrow service.
- Who will actually work on my deal? A named person, and how you reach them.
- Can you show acquisitions you have closed? Many deals are confidential, so expect a short list, not a full record. That is normal.
Red flags
These apply to any broker, including us:
- Guaranteed acquisition. Nobody can guarantee that an owner will sell.
- A broker who also seems to represent the seller on your deal, without saying so clearly.
- Pressure to decide quickly, or to raise your budget before the owner has named a price.
- Payment outside escrow, or to a personal account “to save time”.
- Vague fees that only become clear once the deal is nearly done.
- Unsolicited approaches offering you a domain that happens to match your brand, from someone you didn’t hire.
Six buyer-side options, compared
The table below sets out what each firm says on its own website about its buyer service. Every fact comes from the firm’s own site and was checked on October 26–27, 2026. Fees and terms change, so confirm the current details with each firm before you hire. If a point wasn’t stated on the firm’s site, we left it out rather than guess.
| Option | How it works (their description) | Upfront | Fee if acquired | Confidentiality (their wording) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MediaOptions | Acquisition brokerage; “Strategic Strike Method”, payment through Escrow.com | “No upfront fees” | “Typically 10% of the final acquisition price, with a minimum of $2,500” | “Your identity will remain anonymous and private” |
| Grit Brokerage | “Stealth acquisition service”, outreach and negotiation on your behalf; third-party escrow | Not stated on the site; ask | Not stated on the site; ask | “Helps protect your identity and interest” |
| Brannans | Owner research, contact and negotiation; transfer through Escrow.com | $69.99 deposit per domain | 15% commission, plus Escrow.com fees | “Keeps your identity out of the conversation entirely” |
| DomainAgents | Negotiation platform: an agent contacts the owner with your offer, then you negotiate through the platform | $19.95 per offer | 10% up to $25,000; $2,500 + 7.5% above $25,000, plus Escrow.com fees | You negotiate “without revealing your identity until the deal is done” |
| GoDaddy Domain Broker Service | A personal broker contacts the owner and negotiates within your price range | $99.99 per domain, non-refundable | 20% commission | “We keep your identity anonymous” |
| Secret Brokerage | Owner research, approach and negotiation on your behalf; payment through a recognized escrow service, with our fee in the same transaction | None; free, confidential consultation | You choose: 5% of the final price + 15% of the negotiated savings, or a flat 10% | Buyer and seller don’t learn each other’s identity, including in escrow, unless both agree otherwise |
MediaOptions
MediaOptions describes its acquisition service as a buffer between you and the owner, run through a five-step process it calls the “Strategic Strike Method”. It states that you pay only if it acquires the domain, that there are no upfront fees, and that its fee is typically 10% of the final acquisition price with a minimum of $2,500. Payment goes through Escrow.com. The site says acquisition within 2 to 8 weeks “is possible”. Source
Grit Brokerage
Grit Brokerage offers a “stealth acquisition service”: it reaches out to the owner on your behalf and negotiates. It says using its service helps protect your identity, and that all sales go through a third-party escrow company. It describes its team as having over 60 years of combined domain brokerage experience, and it also brokers domain sales for owners. Fees for acquisitions are not listed on the acquisition page; you inquire through its contact form. Source · Homepage
Brannans
Brannans says it researches the owner, makes contact and negotiates, keeping your identity out of the conversation, with the transfer through Escrow.com. Its acquisition request form states a $69.99 deposit per domain to begin; if the seller agrees, you pay the negotiated price plus a 15% commission and the Escrow.com fees. It says the process typically takes two to six weeks, and it works with sellers as well as buyers. Source
DomainAgents
DomainAgents describes itself as a domain name negotiation platform and marketplace. For $19.95, an agent finds and contacts the owner with your offer; if they can’t reach the owner, you get a credit for another domain. You then negotiate through the platform, without revealing your identity until the deal is done. Its listed fee is 10% for domains of $25,000 and under, and $2,500 plus 7.5% above that, with Escrow.com fees listed separately. It also offers a consultation service in which it advises but does not negotiate for you. Source · Homepage
GoDaddy Domain Broker Service
GoDaddy’s service assigns a personal broker who contacts the owner and negotiates, starting from the minimum price you choose and working up to your maximum offer. It states an initial $99.99 non-refundable fee per domain plus a 20% commission based on the sale price, that the broker will dedicate up to 30 days to the negotiation, and that it keeps your identity anonymous. Source
Secret Brokerage
Secret Brokerage is a buyer’s brokerage. Founded by Arif Sengoren, who has worked in the domain industry since 2010. Every acquisition starts with a free, confidential consultation, there is no upfront fee, and the fee is success-based: you pay only if the domain is acquired. You choose the model before we start: 5% of the final price plus 15% of the savings we negotiate (the difference between the owner’s first asking price and the final price), or a flat 10% of the final price. Your identity stays confidential throughout, unless both sides agree otherwise. If an owner doesn’t reply, we work intensively in the first weeks and then keep following the domain at a slower pace, sometimes for a year or two; some names are acquired when they expire and go to auction. Domain acquisition · Buy a domain anonymously
Which type of option fits which buyer
The six options above are not all the same kind of service, so it helps to start with what you need rather than with a name.
- You have a modest budget and are happy to negotiate yourself, but don’t want to approach the owner under your own name: a platform model, where someone makes the first contact and you take it from there, can be enough.
- You want someone to handle the whole thing, from finding the owner to closing: look at full-service brokerages, and compare their fee structures for your expected price, including any minimums and upfront fees.
- Your identity is the main risk, for example a rebrand, a launch or an acquisition that hasn’t been announced: ask each broker the confidentiality questions above, and choose the one whose answers you can explain to your legal team.
- You don’t know yet what the name is worth: start with a broker who will give you a realistic range before you commit to anything.
Talk to two or three. How a broker answers your questions in the first call tells you a lot about how they will handle the owner.
Frequently asked questions
How much do domain brokers charge?
It varies by firm and model. In the comparison above, published terms include percentages from 5% to 20%, minimums or fixed amounts, a savings-based option, and upfront fees per domain from none to $99.99. Escrow fees are usually separate. Always ask for the full fee in writing before you start.
Is it worth using a domain broker?
For a low-value name you may do fine on your own. For a name that matters to your brand, or when your company’s identity could raise the price, a buyer’s broker is often worth it for the time saved and a cleaner negotiation. That judgment is yours to make, case by case.
Can a domain broker guarantee I’ll get the domain?
No. The owner decides whether to sell. Be careful with anyone who promises otherwise.
What’s the difference between a domain broker and a marketplace?
A marketplace lists domains that owners have already put up for sale. A buyer’s broker goes after a specific domain, often one that isn’t listed anywhere, and negotiates with the owner for you.
Should the broker sign an NDA?
If your project is sensitive, it is reasonable to ask for one before you share details.
Talk to us about a domain you want
If you are weighing your options, a confidential consultation with us is free. Tell us the domain, or the kind of name you need, and a rough budget, and we’ll give you an honest view of what is realistic. You pay only if we acquire it. Start a confidential inquiry, or read more about our domain acquisition service.
