.biz

The .biz TLD: A Classic Alternative for Business-Minded Brands

The .biz top-level domain (TLD) is one of the early alternatives to the legacy trio of .com, .net, and .org. Introduced in 2001, it arrived well before the flood of new generic TLDs (like .club, .xyz, .group, etc.) and positioned itself as a domain extension created specifically for business use.

What The “.biz” TLD Stands For

As you might guess, .biz is short for business—a simple, recognizable abbreviation that was meant to serve as a no-nonsense extension for commercial use. At a time when quality .com domains were becoming scarce, .biz offered entrepreneurs and companies an alternate way to establish a professional web presence without compromising on their brand name.

.biz domain: Open for Business

From the beginning, the .biz TLD was intended to be used by businesses, but registration has always been open—meaning anyone could register a .biz name, regardless of business status. While this openness was a plus for accessibility, it also led to a rocky start.

A Rocky Reputation—Then Redemption

In its early years, .biz gained a reputation for being favored by spammers and shady operators, partly because it was new and available, while .com was overrun with competition. This stigma stuck for a while and made some wary of the extension.

But over the years, that perception has significantly improved. The TLD now carries much more credibility, especially among small to midsize businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups who appreciate the balance between professionalism and availability. In today’s internet landscape, a .biz domain no longer raises red flags—it can actually signal an affordable, intentional branding choice.

Owned by GoDaddy

The .biz extension is currently owned and operated by GoDaddy, one of the largest domain registrars and hosting companies in the world. Having the backing of a major player has helped bring some additional legitimacy to the TLD and expanded its visibility across domain marketplaces.