Morning Folks!!
Teem.com is a domain that keeps on giving like an ugly duckling sprouting into the Golden Goose. Last night I got another email from them. They have ANOTHER $173,000 in holdback money that I will be getting in 2019. That brings the total deal to $1,150,000. It is now my most lucrative hand registered domain name ever. $35 in 1998.
That means I doubled my money more than 15 times in 18 years. And that does not include PPC revenue over the years!
$35, $70, $140, $280, $560, $1020, $2040, $4080, $8160, $16,320, $32,640, $65,280, $130,560, $261,120, $522,240, $1,044,480, And that still leaves $105,000 and change!
And here is the complete list of things you could have put $35 in during 1998 and have a bigger return.
Stocks? NONE! Bonds? NONE! Real Estate? NONE! In fact, the only one I could find would be Bitcoin. But even bitcoin you would have had to buy it at 10 cents or below.
There was and has been no better investment and ROI than domain names. GREAT and even MEDIOCRE domain names that all end in .COM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The domain itself was sold for less than 10% of that final figure. The remainder came from my 1.5% equity play! It also notches another 7 figure domain sale for me. I have lost count!
In 1996, I said I would never sell a domain for under $15k and I was laughed at. In 1999, my minimum number went to $50k and the laughter was louder. In 2001 my minimum for a domain was $100,000. And it has remained that ever since. With the exception of a couple domains I sold strictly for the tex benefit.
I don't quote $15,000 anymore. Not $50,000 anymore. Not $100,00 anymore. In FACT, my lowest price going forward will be $250,000. And let me state clearly, it does not matter what the domain is. It is about the demand for that name. The importance. The overall market.
To me, it's the comparable value to opening a real world business. You can't even buy the land for $250k. 10 years RENT is $250k. 10 years of employees manning the store is more than $250k. My point is even at $250k, the domain name is CHEAP when you compare. And just because many domainers are WEAK and are FOOLS and use ESTIBOT does not mean I have to be one too!
So, you want my domain? I will sell it for a PENNY! But that equity better be worth millions!
How do you do a deal with equity?? DEMAND IT!
My biggest equity stake remains Candy.com at 12.55%. The company is a monster now. I am not at liberty to tell you their volume, but it is stunning!
I also have shares of my Punchbowl.com which is now owned partly by Party City. They have been growing at a fast pace and have major deals in place with Disney.
What's next? I don't know. I will say that Homemade.com is my #1 domain for inquiries this year. I won't be selling that baby without equity! Estibot has it at $83,000. We will see who has the closer valuation in time! Here is a hint. It ain't Estibot!
But 99% of domainers would grab that $83,000 in a heartbeat. Not me! WHY???? Because I KNOW and I UNDERSTAND, VALUE! I won't leave THAT MUCH money on the table! I'd rather pass than be a fool! My money is SAFE owning domains like this. I have no problem holding a great asset!
Homemade.com was created on December 25, 1995. One day before I got my first domain. It was bought by me from a 3rd party. I paid $5500 and also got Wad.com and Rumormill.com in the deal. That's why I don't worry about selling EVER!
Lastly, I don't care if folks know what I paid for a domain name. I know many domainers do. That's from weakness. What I paid has no bearing on value or sales price. NONE!
Rick Schwartz
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