GoDaddy's new tool lets you accept payments without an online store or website

GoDaddy domains homepage on a smartphone
(Image credit: Shutterstock/ECO LENS)

Domain registrar and web hosting company GoDaddy has launched a new system that allows business owners to register a new domain and start accepting payments from customers instantly.

Payable Domains are branded pay links that create a checkout page, shareable via a link, that lets US-based domain name customers begin accepting payments shortly after they purchase a newly registered domain.

Available now, Payable Domains functions without the need for a website or ecommerce store, and can be customized with company logos, product images, cost of products or services, or other branded content.

Pay through domains 

Similar to Monzo’s share payment link service, GoDaddy’s new offering includes features such as the ability to share Payable Domains with customers through text, social media or a QR code, with the transaction fees of 2.3% + $0.30 per online transaction.

Business owners that use the domain registrar to purchase any domain can access the payable domain service via GoDaddy’s back-end dashboard.

“While there’s been innovation around add-on products for domain names, such as Domain Privacy and Ownership Protection services, not much has been done to enhance the capability of domain names themselves,” said GoDaddy President of Domains Paul Nicks. 

“Domains have largely been used as a digital identity for businesses, but with this new commerce capability we view the domain name taking on a far more versatile role for up-and-coming small businesses. The Payable Domain ultimately serves as an innovative and cost-effective tool for entrepreneurs to accept online payments before even setting up a website.”

GoDaddy customers that register the domain of their name or business will then receive the corresponding Payable Domain to accept payments. Domain owners will, then, be able to link a bank account to their GoDaddy Payment account once the first payment is received.

GoDaddy's Payable Domain link sharing tool screenshot

An example of the Payable Domains tool creating a link with the option to share on social media, via text or a QR code (Image credit: GoDaddy)

Currently, GoDaddy Payments is integrated in a host of GoDaddy commerce products, including its website builder, managed WordPress and managed WooCommerce store plans.

“We’re intensely focused on building connected commerce solutions that make growing a business easier, whether you’ve just named your business or are in the process of expanding its sales across the country,” said GoDaddy President of Commerce Osama Bedier. “With Payable Domains, it’s never been easier to start selling online.”

GoDaddy says that users will need to complete the verification process before they can receive payouts for transactions.

Abigail Opiah
B2B Editor - Web hosting & Website builders

Abigail is a B2B Editor that specializes in web hosting and website builder news, features and reviews at TechRadar Pro. She has been a B2B journalist for more than five years covering a wide range of topics in the technology sector from colocation and cloud to data centers and telecommunications. As a B2B web hosting and website builder editor, Abigail also writes how-to guides and deals for the sector, keeping up to date with the latest trends in the hosting industry. Abigail is also extremely keen on commissioning contributed content from experts in the web hosting and website builder field.