How to transfer domain(s) ownership to an LLC?

funlol

funlol

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Feb 20, 2008
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New York, NY
I just set up an LLC for my business and now I'm trying to figure out how to transfer all of the domain names to the LLC... or how to license the domain names to the LLC.

I can't really find much information online about this. Does anybody know the proper way to do it?

Referrals to lawyers who work in internet marketing also appreciated.

Thanks
 


What do you mean - how? You just transfer.

Technically, almost every registrar supports free push, or domain owner change. You create a new account at your registrar for your LLC and push the domains to there.

Bookkeeping wise, probably as your founder capital... But here you'd better ask your bookkeeper.
 
@golan - I think he indeed meant to ask how can you do it in terms of taxation/bookkeeping. In corporate law/taxation, one cannot just change owners as it creates a potential "taxable event".
Taxable Event Definition | Investopedia

When you change the owner of the domain (from private hands to a company), you need to explain it in the company's documents - how much the company paid for it? if the company didn't pay - what are the transaction's conditions (licensing for example), etc'.

It should be simple, for sure, but better to ask a lawyer.
 
golan said:
What do you mean - how? You just transfer.

Technically, almost every registrar supports free push, or domain owner change. You create a new account at your registrar for your LLC and push the domains to there.

Bookkeeping wise, probably as your founder capital... But here you'd better ask your bookkeeper.
Click to expand...

Is there a different option than creating a new account at a registrar and transferring them over? I am afraid this would somehow hurt my Google rankings.

Can I either:
a) Change the registration information at my registrar to my LLC's name/address/phone
or
b) Somehow license the domain names to my LLC (without changing registrar info or transferring to new account at registrar)
 
funlol said:
I am afraid this would somehow hurt my Google rankings.
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golan said:
picgifs-wut-confused-9590169.gif
Click to expand...

I was under the assumption that changing registrar information might have an effect on rankings. After reading up on it, I guess I am wrong.

Another question - do I even need to change the domain's registration information? What is the risk of not changing the registration?

How do you legally "tie" a domain name to an LLC?
 
funlol said:
I was under the assumption that changing registrar information might have an effect on rankings. After reading up on it, I guess I am wrong.

Another question - do I even need to change the domain's registration information? What is the risk of not changing the registration?

How do you legally "tie" a domain name to an LLC?
Click to expand...

This is packet data, dude- talk to your accountant, but here's what he'll probably tell you:

The domains are assets- price them and sell them to the fucking LLC, just like you would sell them to any other buyer. LLC cuts you a check, you transfer the reg, the LLC owns the asset, Easy-Peasy.

But here's a "gotcha" to watch out for: If they are aged and valuable, they can be priced. Go to Flippa or wherever and see what comparable domains have sold for, and that's what the LLC "should" pay.

Only issue is, if you try to recover a cash profit, I'm pretty sure YOU would owe taxes personally on any Capital Gains. One way around that (for the time being ;-) would be to transfer the domains and show it in the LLC's books as a "Contribution to Capital" using fair mkt value as the basis.

Personally, I would just sell them to the LLC at actual raw cost- whatever you paid for them originally, recover that and let the LLC show the gain someday when you are ready to flip them.

But, again... I would run this past a CPA ;-)

Good Luck, Bro
 
You don't need to do anything other than 1) update the whois registrant contact information from your personal name to the LLC and 2) update your credit update at the registrar from your personal credit card to the business credit card. That's it.
 
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