History of the TLD

.sarl is a generic top-level domain created through ICANN’s New gTLD Program and was delegated into the DNS root zone in 2014. The registry operates under Identity Digital. It was designed to provide a domain space associated with the business structure known as Société à Responsabilité Limitée, common in French-speaking countries.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .sarl extension is intended for businesses structured as a Société à Responsabilité Limitée, which is the French term for a limited liability company. It signals business legitimacy and supports branding by clearly identifying this legal form within a web address.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with generic extensions like .com or .net, .sarl provides a specific business-focused identity that communicates legal structure, particularly in French-speaking markets. It is similar to other business-oriented TLDs like .llc or .inc, offering a niche but credible namespace for companies.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clearly signals specific business structure

• Useful for francophone markets and legal identity

• Less competitive namespace for brand names
  
  

Cons

• Limited recognition outside niche audiences

• Not as effective for global branding as .com

• Potentially higher registration costs than common TLDs
  
  

Registration Criteria

Registration is generally open on a first-come, first-served basis. While the extension is intended for SARL businesses, most registrars do not strictly enforce entity verification.

Summary

.sarl is a specialized gTLD launched in 2014 for businesses using the Société à Responsabilité Limitée structure. It provides a clear and credible domain identity tailored to limited liability companies, especially in French-speaking regions. It is available for general registration and helps businesses communicate legal status while lacking the universal familiarity of older extensions.