If you buy or resell large volumes of domains, you know how important it is to find a registrar that does more than just offer a low first-year price. The real value lies in what comes after – such as transparent renewal prices, solid support, and a platform that makes your day-to-day work easier.
In this post, we’ll walk through seven key points to check before choosing a domain registrar. Whether you’re just starting or managing thousands of domains, these points will help you find a partner that actually supports your business.
1. Renewal prices and hidden fees
A $0.99 domain might sound like a great deal – until you get hit with a renewal fee five times higher than expected. Many registrars will add “service fees” or “admin fees” that only show up at checkout when you already have your credit card ready.
If you’re a reseller, these hidden costs don’t just affect your margins – they affect your customer relationships. That’s why it pays to go with a registrar that shows you the full price upfront and keeps it predictable year after year.
At Openprovider, our pricing is simple and transparent. We offer operations for 1,900+ domains at cost price, which means you pay the same as we do at the registries. No hidden fees or inflated renewals – just clear costs that make it easier to plan and resell with confidence.
2. Domain policies, renewals and expiration
Before you register or transfer a domain, check the registrar’s policies. Can you register domains for multiple years in advance? What happens if a domain accidentally expires? How easy is it to transfer domains in or out?
Some registrars make these processes unnecessarily complicated. At Openprovider, we do the opposite. Domains renew automatically if you have auto-renewal turned on and enough funds in your account. If you don’t, we will send multiple reminders before expiration. And if a domain does expire, we make it easy for you to restore it – with all policies per TLD documented in our Knowledge Base.
If you plan to grow your reseller business, details like these matter. They can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration in the long run.
3. High-value bundle products
As a reseller, you’re not just registering domains – you’re offering a complete service to your customers. Bundling domains with other products helps increase the value of your service to customers, which will boost your margins and customer retention.
Bundles can include products like Premium DNS, SSL certificates, Whois Privacy, spam protection, and EasyDMARC. Being able to offer these from one place helps you greatly streamline your operations.
At Openprovider, you can bundle all of these high-quality, in-demand add-ons directly with your domain sales. Everything is manageable through one platform, with clear pricing and flexible options. Whether you want to sell security products as part of a package or offer them à la carte, we give you the tools to upsell effectively and build recurring revenue.
4. Ease of use
You don’t just need a domain platform – you need one that works for you.
Before choosing a registrar, test the control panel. Is it clear and easy to navigate? Does it offer the tools you need to manage your domains efficiently? Is there a well-maintained Knowledge Base in case you run into issues?
At Openprovider, we designed our control panel and API for resellers from the start. You can explore the control panel with a free account – no purchase needed. If you choose to work with us, our free integrations with WHMCS and 7 other automation tools will help you simplify your worik.
We want you to feel confident running your business with us – not confused or stuck.
5. Helpful customer support
When something goes wrong, fast and knowledgeable support can make all the difference. Some registrars make it hard to reach real people or limit support to just a few hours or languages.
At Openprovider, our experienced support team is here to help you when you need it. We offer support in English, Dutch, Spanish, Catalan, and Hindi and take pride in our fast, personal responses.
Every reseller at Openprovider also gets a dedicated account manager from day one, who will offer tailored support to help your business grow – such as participation in selected promotions and MDFs. Meanwhile, our popular thought leadership newsletters keep you up to date with the latest domain industry trends.
6. Bulk domain registration and portfolio management
If you’re managing hundreds or thousands of domains, you don’t want to register or renew them one by one. Look for a registrar that supports bulk operations, domain templates, and automation tools.
With Openprovider, bulk registration, renewals, and updates are built into the platform. Our API, documentation, and Membership options make large-scale domain management efficient and scalable – so you can grow your portfolio without growing your workload.
7. Bulk transfers and portfolio consolidation
Transferring domains doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether you’re moving a handful or consolidating thousands, your registrar should offer the expertise and tools to make it easy.
At Openprovider, our domain transfer expertise extends beyond simple moves. We’ve got over a decade of experience in bulk domain transfers and portfolio consolidations. No matter the domains in your portfolio, we can create a tailored solution for you. From planning to execution, our team is here to make sure everything runs smoothly.
8. Accreditations and trust
Not all registrars are the same. Look for one with direct accreditations from major registries. This gives you better pricing, more control, and fewer middlemen in the process.
Openprovider is ICANN-accredited and directly connected to hundreds of registries worldwide – and we’re adding more every year. This means we’re held to strict operational standards, so you can trust the infrastructure behind your business.
It doesn’t end at domains. Through our long-standing partnerships with Sectigo and Plesk, we can offer highly competitive reseller prices on SSL and Plesk. And, as an ISO 27001-certified organization, you can be sure that your data is in safe hands with us.
Choosing the right registrar
Reselling domains shouldn’t be harder than it needs to be. If you’re looking for a registrar that offers competitive pricing, solid tools, and real support – without the fine print – Openprovider will be a great fit for you.
Join the Openprovider Membership program today and start becoming a more successful, profitable domain reseller.
