Shelved Domains

About Shelved Domains

Shelved Domains is a game-changing marketplace designed to disrupt the traditional domain acquisition landscape. It connects ambitious founders, indie makers, and bootstrapped startups with a curated selection of high-quality, premium domains—all priced at $1000 or less. The platform directly addresses a critical pain point in the startup ecosystem: the prohibitive cost and corporate speculation that often locks innovators out of owning a great brand name from day one. By sourcing domains directly from fellow creators who have shelved projects, Shelved Domains ensures that every listing comes with a story and a fair price, creating a virtuous cycle within the indie community. For buyers, it's a streamlined, no-haggle "Buy It Now" experience across 20+ targeted categories like SaaS, AI, and Developer Tools, with secure transfers handled by established platforms like Sedo and Afternic. For sellers, it's a commission-free avenue to recoup investment on unused assets, helping fund their next big venture. Shelved Domains isn't just a marketplace; it's a growth engine for the next generation of builders, providing the foundational branding tools needed to launch, scale, and succeed.

Features of Shelved Domains

Curated, Founder-to-Founder Marketplace

Every domain on Shelved Domains is handpicked, ensuring a collection of genuinely premium, brandable names sourced directly from indie makers and founders. This curation eliminates the noise of corporate resellers and speculative listings, providing a focused inventory of domains with real potential for your next project. You're buying from peers who understand the value of a great name for a growing business.

Transparent, Sub-$1000 Pricing Model

The platform enforces a strict pricing ceiling, with all domains listed for $1000 or less. This revolutionary approach brings predictability and fairness to domain buying, removing price inflation and stressful negotiations. It empowers bootstrapped founders and early-stage startups to secure a powerful digital asset without compromising their crucial initial capital.

Secure "Buy It Now" & Integrated Escrow

Purchases are designed for speed and safety. With a "Buy It Now" system, you can instantly acquire your chosen domain without back-and-forth offers. All transactions are securely processed through industry-leading partners like Sedo, Afternic, and Porkbun, which handle payment escrow and domain transfer, guaranteeing a smooth and protected experience for both buyer and seller.

Zero-Commission Listings for Sellers

Sellers can list their unused domains on Shelved Domains completely free of any additional commission or listing fees. You simply connect your existing listings from Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun. This model maximizes your return on investment from shelved projects, providing pure marketing exposure to a targeted audience of serious buyers without eating into your profits.

Use Cases of Shelved Domains

Launching a MVP with Instant Brand Credibility

A solo founder developing a new SaaS tool can bypass the hurdle of a mediocre name. By acquiring a concise, relevant .com or .io domain from Shelved Domains for under $1000, they instantly gain professional brand credibility for their minimum viable product, making a stronger first impression on early users and potential investors.

Pivoting or Rebranding an Existing Startup

A startup needing to pivot its focus or rebrand away from a limiting name can use Shelved Domains to find a perfect new identity quickly and affordably. The curated categories allow teams to find a domain that aligns with their new vision without the exorbitant costs typically associated with premium digital real estate.

Monetizing Failed or Shelved Projects

Founders and indie makers with domains from past projects that never launched can easily list them on Shelved Domains. This turns a sunk cost into recovered capital, which can be reinvested into current ventures. It’s an efficient way to declutter digital assets and contribute to the community ecosystem.

Securing Domain Names for Future Concepts

Entrepreneurs and product thinkers often brainstorm future ideas. Shelved Domains allows them to proactively secure high-potential, brandable domains at a fixed, affordable cost before they are developed. This strategic move protects a future brand name at a bootstrap-friendly price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the purchase and transfer process work?

When you click "Buy It Now" on a Shelved Domains listing, you are redirected to complete the transaction on the secure platform where the domain is hosted, such as Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun. These established providers handle the payment escrow and domain transfer process, ensuring a safe and standardized transfer of ownership directly to your registrar account.

Are there any hidden fees or commissions for sellers?

No. Shelved Domains charges absolutely no commission or additional listing fees to sellers. The only fees involved are the standard transaction fees charged by the transfer platform you use (e.g., Sedo or Afternic). You keep 100% of your sale price minus that platform's standard fee, maximizing your return.

What kinds of domains are listed on the marketplace?

The marketplace features a handpicked selection of premium domains across over 20 categories critical to innovators, including SaaS, AI, Developer Tools, E-commerce, B2B, Analytics, and Community. All domains are priced at $1000 or less and are sourced from indie makers and founders, not corporate domain squatters.

Can I list a domain that is registered with any registrar?

Yes, you can list domains from any registrar. Shelved Domains does not host the domains itself. To list, you simply need to have your domain listed for sale on one of the supported transfer platforms: Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun. You then submit that listing URL to Shelved Domains for curation and exposure.