Carrying-cost calculator
Citation-grade reference · Version 1.0
Domain portfolio carrying cost, without hidden assumptions.
Renewals are recurring capital commitments. This reference makes the arithmetic explicit across portfolio sizes and holding periods, with a downloadable CSV that anyone can reproduce.
Evidence boundary: the annual renewal amounts in the dataset are scenario values, not market averages. For a real portfolio decision, replace them with your actual registrar renewal prices.
Result
Enter your portfolio assumptions.
Annual portfolio renewalUnknown
Total nominal carrying costUnknown
Per-domain holding costUnknown
Formulaannual × domains × years
This isolates renewal carrying cost. It does not estimate domain value, sale probability or future renewal-price changes.
Reference table
Why small annual fees become portfolio-scale capital.
The examples below use constant annual renewal scenarios so the effect of scale and time is visible without mixing in price forecasts.
100 domains · $15/year
1 year: $1,500
3 years: $4,500
5 years: $7,500
10 years: $15,000
500 domains · $15/year
1 year: $7,500
3 years: $22,500
5 years: $37,500
10 years: $75,000
1,000 domains · $15/year
1 year: $15,000
3 years: $45,000
5 years: $75,000
10 years: $150,000
100 domains · $50/year
1 year: $5,000
3 years: $15,000
5 years: $25,000
10 years: $50,000
Method
The dataset is deliberately simple and reproducible.
Every row uses one formula: nominal holding cost = annual renewal cost × domain count × holding years.
Scenario grid
Annual renewal scenarios: $10, $15, $20, $25, $30, $50, $75, $100, $250 and $500. Portfolio sizes: 1, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 domains. Holding periods: 1, 3, 5 and 10 years.
What is intentionally excluded?
Acquisition price, selling fees, taxes, opportunity cost, financing, registrar-specific discounts, transfer costs and future renewal-price changes. Keeping them out makes the carrying-cost effect auditable.
When should you use something richer?
Use the Domain ROI Calculator when you need acquisition, holding and exit cash flows. Use Renew / Drop when the decision is whether another year of carrying cost is justified.
Suggested citation: DOMALYST, “Domain Portfolio Carrying Cost Reference,” Version 1.0, 28 September 2026, https://domalyst.com/research/domain-portfolio-carrying-cost/
Why this matters
Carrying cost changes both acquisition and renewal decisions.
Before acquisition
A rational bid should account for the years of renewals required to reach the modeled exit. A low purchase price does not guarantee a low total cost.
Calculate a max bid →Before renewal
Past spend is sunk cost. The decision is whether the next renewal payment is justified by the current evidence and better uses of the same capital.
Read the renewal framework →FAQ
How to use the reference correctly.
Are these typical renewal prices?
No. They are a transparent scenario grid. Use actual registrar evidence for a real decision.
Does the table predict future renewal prices?
No. Version 1.0 holds the annual renewal input constant. If a TLD or registrar price changes, model each year's actual or explicitly assumed amount separately.
Can I cite or link to the CSV?
Yes. The page provides a stable version label, formula and CSV URL so the arithmetic can be checked independently.