Shelved Domains

About Shelved Domains

Shelved Domains is a curated, high-velocity marketplace designed for the modern indie maker and founder. It directly connects buyers with a handpicked selection of premium, unused domains sourced exclusively from fellow creators, not corporate resellers. The platform's core mission is to cut through the noise and inflated prices of traditional marketplaces, offering a streamlined, efficient path to domain ownership. For buyers, it's a treasure trove of quality names across 20+ high-demand categories like SaaS, AI, and Developer Tools, all with transparent, fixed "Buy It Now" prices of $1000 or less. For sellers, it's a commission-free avenue to monetize dormant assets from shelved projects, recouping costs without the hassle of negotiations or complex listings. Every transaction is secured through established, trusted platforms like Sedo, Afternic, and Porkbun, ensuring safe and reliable transfers. Shelved Domains is the definitive solution for founders who value speed, fairness, and community-driven commerce.

Features of Shelved Domains

Curated, Founder-Sourced Inventory

Every domain listed on Shelved Domains comes directly from indie makers and founders who have shelved projects, ensuring a unique selection of high-quality, brandable names. This curation process filters out low-value speculative listings and corporate resellers, delivering a focused marketplace of genuinely premium domains with real project potential behind them.

Fixed-Price, No-Negotiation Model

Speed is paramount. All domains are listed with a clear "Buy It Now" price of $1000 or less, completely eliminating time-consuming back-and-forth negotiations. This fixed-price model creates a fast, predictable, and efficient purchasing experience, allowing you to secure the perfect domain instantly and move on to building your product.

Secure, Platform-Backed Transactions

Purchases are not handled directly by Shelved Domains but are securely facilitated through industry-leading domain transfer platforms like Sedo, Afternic, and Porkbun. This leverages their robust escrow and transfer protocols, guaranteeing a safe, reliable, and familiar process for both buyers and sellers with maximum security.

Zero-Commission Marketplace for Sellers

Sellers list their unused domains completely free of commission. Shelved Domains charges no additional listing fees; sellers simply maintain their domain on their preferred supported registrar (Sedo/Afternic/Porkbun). This maximizes ROI for founders looking to recoup costs from shelved ideas, making it a truly efficient asset-recovery tool.

Use Cases of Shelved Domains

The Bootstrapping Founder

A solo founder needs a strong, memorable domain for their new SaaS MVP but has a tight budget. They browse the curated SaaS and Developer Tools categories on Shelved Domains, find a perfect, premium name for under $1000, and purchase it instantly without negotiation, preserving capital for development.

The Indie Maker Monetizing Assets

An indie hacker has several domains from past projects that never launched. Instead of letting them expire or dealing with listing hassles, they add them to Shelved Domains. The domains gain exposure to a targeted audience of buyers, and the maker earns revenue with zero commission, turning sunk costs into recovered funds.

The Agency or Brand Seeking a Premium Name

A design agency or startup looking for a brandable, high-impact domain for a new campaign or product line can bypass overcrowded marketplaces. They use Shelved Domains to efficiently discover unique, founder-vetted names with clear pricing, securing a standout web address quickly to accelerate their launch timeline.

The Investor or Side-Hustler

An angel investor or side-project enthusiast scouts for valuable digital assets with growth potential. They leverage the curated marketplace to find undervalued, quality domains in trending niches like AI or B2B, making a strategic, fixed-cost acquisition that can be developed or held as an appreciating asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the purchase and transfer process work?

When you click "Buy It Now" on a domain, you are redirected to the secure listing on the seller's chosen platform: Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun. The complete transaction, including payment and domain transfer, is managed through that established platform's secure escrow and transfer system, ensuring a safe and standardized process.

Are there any hidden fees or commissions for sellers?

No. Shelved Domains is a commission-free marketplace for sellers. There are no listing fees or commissions charged by Shelved Domains. Sellers only deal with the standard transaction fees charged by the transfer platform they use (Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun), maximizing their profit from the sale.

What kinds of domains can I find on the marketplace?

The inventory is curated across 20+ targeted categories including SaaS, AI, Developer Tools, E-Commerce, B2B, Analytics, and more. All domains are handpicked for quality, are priced at $1000 or less, and originate from the unused projects of indie makers and founders, ensuring they are brandable and relevant.

Can I list a domain that is not on Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun?

Currently, listings on Shelved Domains must be connected to an active listing on one of the three supported partner platforms: Sedo, Afternic, or Porkbun. This requirement ensures secure, automated transaction handling and safe transfers for all parties involved in the marketplace.