Your domain name is one of the few decisions about your website that's hard to change later. Getting it right from the start saves a lot of trouble.
.com is still king
For a US business, a .com domain is strongly preferred. It's what customers expect, what Google trusts, and what people type by default when they don't know your address. If your .com isn't available, consider a .co, .net, or a creative variation — but always try for .com first.
Industry extensions like .plumbing, .dental, or .law exist but have limited mainstream recognition. Stick with .com unless there's a strong reason not to.
Keep it simple
The best domain names are short, easy to spell, and easy to say out loud over the phone. If you find yourself having to spell it out — "it's smith-hyphen-plumbing dot com" — it's too complicated. Avoid hyphens where possible.
Use your business name
Your domain should match your business name. Keyword-stuffed domains ("bestplumberdallas.com") were an SEO tactic in 2010 — they don't provide meaningful ranking benefit today and they look untrustworthy to visitors.
Check availability
Use GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains to check availability. If your preferred .com is taken, check who owns it — sometimes they're willing to sell, and a short negotiation can save years of brand confusion.
Register it yourself
Always register your domain in your own name, in your own account. Never let an agency or developer register it on your behalf. If the relationship ends, getting your domain back can be a long and expensive fight.