What would it cost to acquire the existing .CEO new gTLD Registry if it was for sale?

Acquiring the existing .CEO gTLD Registry would involve a negotiated sale, and the price would depend heavily on its performance and the owner's willingness to sell. There's no fixed "market price" for individual gTLDs like there is for, say, a barrel of oil.

Here's an breakdown of the factors that would determine the cost, and what we know about .CEO that might influence it:

Key Factors for .CEO's Value:

1. Registry Operator and History:
   • The .CEO gTLD is operated by CEOTLD Pty Ltd. They were one of the applicants in the 2012 ICANN New gTLD Program.
   • It launched around March 2014.
2. Number of Active Registrations: This is the most crucial factor. The value of a gTLD registry is largely derived from its recurring revenue from domain renewals.
   • When it launched, there was some initial excitement, with reports of "hundreds already registered and thousands more on the wait list" and plans to release 45,000 "premium" .CEO names.
   • However, a report from May 2014, not long after launch, indicated the company had 1,023 domain registrations, with 93 of those being "promo" (likely free). This suggests that initial growth may have been slower than anticipated for a premium-priced TLD.
   • To get a precise valuation, you would need current, audited registration numbers for .CEO. This data is typically not publicly available for individual gTLDs unless disclosed by the registry or through market research firms that track domain volumes. Without this, any price is speculative.
3. Wholesale Pricing and Revenue:
   • Registrar prices for .CEO vary, but typically range from $80 to $150+ per year for renewals, with some initial registration promotions being much lower (e.g., $9.99).
   • The registry (CEOTLD Pty Ltd.) sets the wholesale price that registrars pay them. A higher wholesale price, combined with a healthy number of renewals, means greater revenue for the registry.
4. Market Niche and Brandability:
   • ".CEO" is a highly specific, professional gTLD. Its target market is clearly defined (Chief Executive Officers). This can be a strength (highly targeted audience) or a weakness (limited market size compared to generic gTLDs like .com or .online).
   • It offers a clear brand identity, which is appealing to its niche.
5. Marketing and Brand Recognition:
   • Has CEOTLD Pty Ltd. invested heavily in marketing and building the .CEO brand? If it's a recognized and respected TLD within its niche, that adds value.
6. Operational Efficiency and Contracts:
   • What are the terms of their contract with ICANN? Are there any compliance issues?
   • What are their agreements with their backend Registry Service Provider? Are these contracts favorable?

Estimated Cost (Highly Speculative without current data):

Given the likely relatively niche market and past indicators of registration volume, it's highly improbable that .CEO would command prices in the tens of millions seen for generic gTLDs like .app or .shop.

If the registry is not experiencing significant, sustained growth in registrations, the acquisition price would likely be:

• Low to Mid Six Figures (USD $100,000 - $500,000+): This would cover the value of the string itself, the existing infrastructure, and any current (but perhaps limited) recurring revenue. This price point would be more likely if the current owner is looking to exit and the number of active domains is relatively low (e.g., in the low thousands).
• Potentially up to a few million dollars: If .CEO has managed to build a substantial base of high-value, actively used domains (e.g., tens of thousands or more) and has a strong, profitable renewal rate, the price could escalate into the lower millions. This would require robust financial performance.

To get an accurate price, you would need to:

1. Approach CEOTLD Pty Ltd. directly to inquire about a sale.
2. Conduct thorough due diligence, including:
   • Reviewing their financial statements (revenue, profit, expenses).
   • Auditing their active domain registration numbers and renewal rates.
   • Examining their contracts with ICANN and their Registry Service Provider.
   • Assessing their intellectual property (trademarks, etc.) and any legal liabilities.

Without access to the actual registration data and financial performance of CEOTLD Pty Ltd., any figure is an educated guess. It would be a business acquisition driven by the potential for future revenue from domain sales and renewals within the "CEO" niche.