BleepingComputer.com: Domain Name

I need some advice! I am in the process of purchasing a 'franchise' restaurant. The chain provides website design but I have been given the task of purchasing a .com name? Domain name? I'm not even sure if that's the right terminology!! I have looked at web monkey and it seems that you can purchase the name of your choice for $9.99 a year? Does that sound right? Is there anything else I need to take into consideration before purchasing? Thanks a bunch! Janice

That's pretty much it. You likely will not get the name of your choice though, since many names are already taken, so it will likely take some time to get to find one that is acceptable.

If I want to buy a name & don't plan on using that company's web-site builders, where's the best place to buy?
I'm not sure how it works. Sorry for my stupidity.
Once I buy it, will I just have to give the restaurant's web people something like a password and the place I purchased the .com name at?
Jan

You can but the domain from wherever you want. I use godaddy.com personally. There is no password and username that goes with a domain name. (I'll see if I can explain this clearly).

A domain name is just a name, like a number in a phone book. It isn't something that you can log into. When you buy a domain, you will have to create an account to purchase that name with whatever website you choose to purchase it from. This is no different than what you would do at Amazon, or something. That account will have a user name and a password. Since that account will also have your credit information, no way do you want to give your information to anyone else.

After you have purchased the domain, you will have to assign the domain name to a name server. Depending on who you have handle your hosting, they will be able to do this for you. Or you can do it yourself. It is really simple. Name servers are simply computers that correlate domain names with IP addresses. When you type in 'bleepingcomputer.com' into your browser, your browser goes out to various name servers to find the IP address that goes with that name. Once your browser has the ip address, then it can find the computer at that address, and load the page.

Places like godaddy can handle all of that for you (for a fee, of course). Any worthwhile web-hosting service should be able to handle it for you.

Never, ever give your passwords away to anyone.

maybe she means the FTP password and user name so the company people can upload what they want in it.

This post has been edited by Wassim: 06 March 2008 - 03:32 PM

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Since she doesn't plan on using their site builder and such, there is no reason that anybody other than her should have access. I think the question comes from a misunderstanding about how domains work, and how they are tied to websites.

Yes, you're right, G..
I was wondering how the company's website builders would be able to use a domain name that I purchase now. My thought was that they'd need a way to get it and that would probably require a password!!
I'm still not completely sure how it all works but you've given me a basic idea. Thank you for your help. My plan is to go ahead and buy the name I want (which IS available!) at the site you have recommended and go from there!
Thanks again. Any time I've ever needed help w/computer issues..this site is the site I trust for good answers. I really appreciate it. Have a good weekend!! Janice

If they are setting up a website for you somewhere, they will just need to provide you with the IP address where the website is located. You then just need to point your domain to it.