What you pay for
A domain is a yearly registration, not a purchase. You pay the registrar every year (you can prepay several years) and the name stays yours as long as the registration is renewed. Stop paying and it eventually goes back on the market; see what happens if you stop paying.
- .com: roughly $15 to $25 CAD a year.
- .ca: roughly $15 to $30 CAD a year. A .ca requires a Canadian connection (citizen, resident, registered business or trademark) under CIRA's Canadian Presence Requirements.
- Other endings (.io, .co, .shop, .app): anywhere from $20 to $80 a year; some are far more.
- WHOIS privacy: free at most registrars now. If one charges for it, that is a sign to compare.
Why some domains cost thousands
When the exact name you want is already registered, it may be listed for resale on a marketplace. The price is whatever the owner thinks it is worth; short dictionary words and exact brand names go for thousands. Before paying a premium, consider a .ca version, a slightly longer name, or a different word order. The name matters less than people fear; the business behind it is what gets remembered.
Where to buy, and in whose name
Buy from a registrar, not through your web designer, and register it in the business owner's own account with the business's email and card. The person who controls the registrar account controls the website and the email on that domain. If a developer has already registered it for you, ask them to transfer it to your account; the guide on how to own and manage your domain walks through it step by step, and transferring a domain between registrars covers the mechanics.