Shelved Domains

About Shelved Domains

Shelved Domains is a curated online marketplace designed to connect buyers with high-quality, premium domain names sourced directly from indie makers, founders, and small-scale entrepreneurs. The platform addresses a significant gap in the traditional domain aftermarket, which is often dominated by corporate resellers and speculative pricing that places many desirable domains out of reach for independent creators. Shelved Domains operates on a simple, fair-value principle: every listed domain is handpicked for its quality and is priced at $1000 or less, with a straightforward "Buy It Now" model that eliminates price negotiations. For buyers, this means access to a vetted selection of domains across more than 20 relevant categories like SaaS, AI, Developer Tools, and E-commerce, all secured through trusted transfer platforms like Sedo, Afternic, and Porkbun. For sellers, it provides a commission-free avenue to monetize unused domains from shelved projects while maintaining control over their listings on their preferred registrar. The core value proposition is creating a trustworthy, community-focused ecosystem where valuable digital assets can change hands at indie-friendly prices, helping founders recoup costs and enabling new projects to launch with a strong, brandable web presence.

Features of Shelved Domains

Curated, Premium Domain Selection

Shelved Domains is not an open marketplace flooded with low-quality listings. Every domain featured is handpicked to ensure it meets a standard of quality, relevance, and brandability. This curation process saves buyers countless hours of sifting through spammy or overpriced options, presenting a focused collection of domains that are genuinely valuable for startups and indie projects across more than 20 targeted categories.

Fixed, Indie-Friendly Pricing (Under $1000)

The platform enforces a strict pricing ceiling, with all domains listed for $1000 or less. This transparent, fixed-price model removes the anxiety and complexity of negotiations and bidding wars common on other marketplaces. It guarantees that buyers are accessing premium names at prices that are realistic and accessible for bootstrapped founders and small businesses.

Secure "Buy It Now" with Trusted Partners

Every purchase on Shelved Domains is facilitated through established and secure domain transfer platforms like Sedo, Afternic, and Porkbun. When a buyer clicks "Buy It Now," they are redirected to one of these partners to complete the safe and standardized transaction and transfer process. This ensures buyer protection, secure payment handling, and professional transfer support.

Commission-Free Marketplace for Sellers

Sellers can list their unused domains on Shelved Domains without paying any additional listing fees or commissions to the platform. Sellers simply list their domains where they are already hosted (e.g., on Sedo or Afternic) and submit them to the Shelved Domains directory. This model allows founders to maximize their return when selling domains from shelved projects.

Use Cases of Shelved Domains

Launching a New SaaS Startup

An indie developer has a validated idea for a new productivity SaaS tool but struggles to find an affordable, brandable .com or .io domain on traditional marketplaces. They browse Shelved Domains' "SaaS" and "Developer Tools" categories, find a perfect, memorable domain priced at $800, and purchase it instantly to secure their brand identity for launch.

Monetizing a Shelved Side Project

A founder previously built a niche fitness app that they later decided to shelve. Instead of letting the domain name expire, they list it on their Sedo account and submit it to Shelved Domains. The domain, which is relevant and short, gets featured in the "Fitness & Health" category and is sold to another health-tech entrepreneur, allowing the original founder to recoup their initial investment.

Finding a Brand Name for an E-commerce Store

An entrepreneur starting a boutique online store for eco-friendly products needs a domain that conveys luxury and sustainability. They explore the "E-Commerce" and curated listings on Shelved Domains, discovering a premium .co.uk domain like "ecoluxuryhomes.co.uk" at a fixed price, which they can purchase immediately to build their store upon.

Acquiring a Domain for an AI Tool Prototype

A developer building an AI-powered content creation tool needs a strong, tech-forward domain name to attract early users and investors. They search through the "AI & Machine Learning" category on Shelved Domains, find a concise and relevant name priced under $1000, and use the secure "Buy It Now" process to acquire it quickly for their upcoming demo and landing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the buying process work?

When you find a domain you wish to purchase on Shelved Domains, you click the "Buy It Now" link associated with that listing. This redirects you to the secure sales page on an established domain platform like Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun, where the seller has the domain listed. You complete the purchase and domain transfer directly on that partner platform, which handles payment security and the transfer procedure.

Are there any fees for sellers to list domains?

No, Shelved Domains does not charge any additional listing fees or sales commissions. The platform is a curated directory. Sellers list their domains for sale on their preferred marketplace (e.g., Sedo, Afternic, Porkbun) and then submit those listings to Shelved Domains. Sellers only pay the standard transaction fees charged by the transfer platform they use.

What kinds of domains are listed on Shelved Domains?

The platform features a handpicked selection of premium domains from indie makers and founders, all priced at $1000 or less. Domains span over 20 categories including SaaS, AI, E-commerce, Developer Tools, B2B, Health, Music, and Community. The focus is on quality, brandable names that are ideal for startups and new projects.

Who is behind Shelved Domains?

Shelved Domains was built and is operated by Blue Whale Software. It was created to solve a common problem within the indie maker and founder community: providing a fair, affordable, and trustworthy marketplace for buying and selling high-quality domains from shelved projects.