How I Flipped a $10 Domain into $1,200 – Full Breakdown

Domain flipping is the digital equivalent of real estate investing — but faster, cheaper, and often more profitable. In this post, I’ll share exactly how I flipped a $10 domain into $1,200, including where I found it, how I positioned it, and the strategies I used to close the deal.

If you’re new to domain flipping or curious about how real people make money from expired or undervalued domains, this case study will give you a complete, actionable roadmap.

💡 Step 1: Finding the Right Domain

I didn’t get lucky. This started with research.

I used ExpiredDomains.net to filter for:

.com domains only
Aged 5+ years
No spam score
Brandable and short (under 15 characters)
Clean backlink profile (checked using Ahrefs)

After 30 minutes of browsing and cross-checking in Archive.org and SpamZilla, I found a domain:

EcoGroveSupply.com
✔ Aged 7 years
✔ Past usage in the eco-products niche
✔ DA 17
✔ Indexed by Google
✔ Easy to remember and brand

It was available to register for $10.28 at Namecheap.

🛠 Step 2: Add Quick Value

A domain with potential is great, but value is what makes it sell.

I took 3 simple steps to add value:

1. Built a Landing Page

Using Carrd.co (cheap + fast), I created a simple branded “For Sale” page with:

Logo (made on Canva)
Short domain pitch
Contact form
Redirect to Dan.com listing

2. Wrote a Description

I added this to marketplaces:

“EcoGroveSupply.com – Perfect for eco-friendly shops, dropshipping brands, or green living blogs. Aged, memorable, and ready for SEO.”

3. Created a Mini Report

In Dan.com and Flippa, I included a short SEO metrics report using Ahrefs screenshots to show:

Referring domains
DA score
Archive history screenshots

🛒 Step 3: Listed on Multiple Marketplaces

To increase visibility, I listed the domain on:

Dan.com – BIN: $1,495
Afternic – With Make Offer
Flippa – With a small $9 fee
Promoted it on LinkedIn and a few Facebook domaining groups

💡 Tip: Use a consistent description across platforms, but slightly adjust the pricing to encourage negotiation.

📩 Step 4: Negotiation & the Sale

After 3 weeks, I received a message on Dan.com:

“Hi, is the price negotiable?”

We went through this conversation:

Me: “Open to reasonable offers. What did you have in mind?”
Buyer: “$700”
Me: “Appreciate the offer. For an aged, brandable .com with SEO history, I’d be more comfortable around $1,200. Let’s split the difference?”
Buyer: “Ok, let’s do $1,200.”

✅ Deal closed in less than 48 hours via Dan.com escrow
✅ I paid ~12% commission
✅ Final profit after fees: $1,040+

📊 Breakdown of Time & Costs

Item	Cost/Time
Domain purchase	$10.28
Landing page (Carrd)	$0 (free plan)
Time spent (total)	~2 hours
Listing fees (Flippa)	$9
Dan.com commission	~12%
Total Profit	~$1,040 USD

🧠 What Made This Flip Work?

This wasn’t just luck. Several factors played a role:

✅ Niche Demand

Eco + supply = B2B and ecommerce potential. Huge demand in 2024–2025.

✅ Clean History

No spam. Google still indexed it. Archive showed a real site.

✅ Brandability

Easy to pronounce. Clear niche. Broad enough to appeal to many buyers.

✅ Added Value

Landing page + SEO report helped justify the price. Most flippers skip this.

✅ Good Negotiation

I didn’t settle too low. I anchored high, showed confidence, and closed fast.

⚠️ Lessons Learned

Not every domain will sell for $1,000+. This worked because:

I targeted a niche I understood
I filtered aggressively — not just random expired names
I added value with low effort
I didn’t overprice (sweet spot: $1K–$2K)

Avoid mistakes like:

Picking generic or awkward names
Ignoring past spam history
Relying on one marketplace only

📈 Final Thoughts

Flipping domains is not passive, but it’s highly scalable. If you can flip one $10 domain into $1,200, you can do it again — and better — by improving your process.

This flip wasn’t just about money. It proved that:

🔑 One good name + research + presentation = profit.

And if you want our daily picks of expired domain gems, check out our Domain Picks section.