History of the TLD

.business is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) created as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program to provide more descriptive domain name options beyond traditional extensions like .com and .net. It was officially delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 22 August 2014. The TLD is intended to serve commercial entities and businesses of all sizes.

Main Use and Industry Position

.business is designed for companies, organisations, and commercial ventures worldwide. It has an open registration policy, making it suitable for a wide range of businesses seeking a domain that explicitly signals commercial activity. It is popular among small and medium enterprises, startups, consultants, and service providers looking for descriptive domain names.

Comparison to Other TLDs

.business differs from legacy TLDs like .com by providing a clear association with business activity. Compared to industry-specific TLDs such as .store or .consulting, .business remains broad and versatile across sectors. Unlike restricted gTLDs like .bank or .law, it does not have strict eligibility requirements.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Provides clear commercial branding for businesses

• Open registration and broadly applicable across industries

• Useful when desired .com domain names are unavailable

Cons

• Less widely recognised than .com or .net

• Renewal costs may be higher than common legacy TLDs

• Does not automatically improve search engine ranking

Registration Criteria

.business has open registration with no industry or entity restrictions. Domains are available on a first-come, first-served basis through accredited registrars.

Summary

.business is a gTLD introduced in 2014 to give businesses a descriptive domain option that signifies commercial intent. It is open for registration worldwide, supports broad use cases, and provides a clear business-focused alternative to legacy TLDs.