Ariff is a domain investor, broker, and consultant based in Bangladesh. He got his start in the industry almost by accident, discovered domains while looking for a side business, and turned early small wins into a full career. Since then he’s brokered major deals including Berth.com and Z.org.
Profile Questions
What is your current role and what are you (or your company) currently working on?
I’m a domain investor, broker, and consultant. I invest in domain names with different strategies—some I acquire with the intention of selling quickly, while others I hold longer-term for the right end user. I also work with clients on domain acquisitions, brokering, sales, and strategic advice. My work essentially covers the full domain lifecycle, from identifying and acquiring valuable domains to positioning and selling them to the right buyers.
Tell us a little bit about your background and your personal story.
I’m from Bangladesh and have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Before getting involved in the domain industry, I had a fairly conventional career and worked in a number of regular jobs. I currently also work full-time as one of the managers of a Spanish farm in Dhaka, although somewhat ironically, my part-time work in the domain industry contributes far more to my income than my full-time job.
I wouldn’t describe my business career before domains as particularly successful. I actually discovered the domain industry while looking for a side business that I could build alongside my regular work. I explored several possibilities, but domains were the one thing that really clicked with me. I started learning, investing, buying and selling, and gradually turned that side interest into a serious business.
Looking back, discovering the domain industry was probably one of the best things that happened to me professionally. It gave me the opportunity to build something of my own and eventually develop a career around an industry I genuinely enjoy.
How did you get involved in the domain industry?
I got involved in the domain industry while searching for a side gig that I could build alongside my regular work. I came across domain investing almost by chance, and I was very lucky that I did.
In the beginning, I started experimenting with buying and selling domains, and eventually I began making small sales—sometimes just $20–$50. Those early sales may sound insignificant today, but they were extremely important to me at the time. They gave me confidence that this was something I could actually learn and build on.
That early validation kept me going. I continued learning about domains, becoming more selective with what I acquired, and gradually moved from small sales into larger investments, brokering, and working with end users.
What have been some key milestones in your career in the domain industry?
One of the first milestones I still remember is selling a domain for $20 after registering it for $10. It was my second-ever domain registration, and I sold it within my first month in the industry. The sale was tiny, but it gave me an enormous confidence boost. It proved to me very early that you could put even $10 into a domain and actually turn it into a sale. That small transaction gave me the motivation to keep learning and take the industry seriously.
Another early milestone was getting into brokering four-letter .com domains. I started brokering several of them and made a few hundred dollars in commissions. I was so new to the business that I didn’t even have PayPal or a proper way to receive some of the payments, so I had to ask a friend to receive the money for me.
Then came a much bigger breakthrough. I brokered Berth.com, working with George Vulpes on the seller side and Kate Buckley on the buyer side. The transaction earned me a 10% commission of $1,200.
Coming from Bangladesh, that was a huge amount of money for me at the time. To put it into perspective, it was equivalent to many months of income for a typical household worker. I remember using part of that money to buy a large L-shaped sofa and a nice accent chair.
What made that period even more memorable was that this happened during COVID, when businesses and economies around the world were under enormous uncertainty. While many people were worried about the lockdown and the economy, my domain career was actually accelerating. That was probably the point when I started seeing domains not simply as a side gig, but as a genuine career opportunity.
From there, the business continued to grow, and I gradually expanded from small investments and brokering into larger transactions, consulting, and working directly with end users.
Why did you choose to support the ICA?
Nat Cohen suggested that I get involved with the ICA, and I decided to take his advice. I’m still relatively new to being actively involved, so I’m looking forward to exploring the organization more, getting to know other members, and understanding how I can contribute.
Can you share a prediction about the future of the domain industry?
I have a lot of hopes for the industry, but I’ve become a little cautious about making confident predictions. The domain industry has a way of surprising you, and some of the biggest changes over the years have been difficult to predict.
If I had to make one prediction, I’d say that premium domain names—especially strong, memorable .coms—will continue to have enduring value. Companies may change technologies, platforms, and marketing strategies, but the importance of having a credible, memorable digital identity isn’t going away.
Beyond that, I’m keeping my predictions humble. I’ve learned that in this industry, it’s often better to stay adaptable than to assume you know exactly what’s coming.
What do you like most about the domain industry?
What I like most about the domain industry is the freedom. You can work from almost anywhere in the world and compete in a truly global market. For someone living in a country like Bangladesh, that is incredibly powerful—you can potentially earn from the same global market as someone sitting in the US or UK, without being limited by your local economy.
I also really enjoy the people. The domain industry has introduced me to a lot of interesting and genuinely nice people from all over the world.
There’s also a creative side to it that I really enjoy. Finding a great name, imagining what it could become, figuring out who might want it, and putting a deal together feels surprisingly similar to working in a creative or media industry.
And finally, I love the lifestyle. Domain work gives me a lot of independence over my time. There isn’t always a fixed schedule or a boss telling you what to do at a particular hour. That freedom—and the possibility of working as a kind of digital nomad—is probably what I value most.
If you could change one thing about the domain industry, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, I would make it easier for domain owners and brokers to reach the right end users. Often, identifying the company that could benefit from a particular domain isn’t the hardest part—the real challenge is reaching the right decision-maker inside that company.
There’s also an education gap. Many businesses still don’t fully understand the value of a premium domain, or simply don’t want to consider it until they need one. I think the industry could do a better job of communicating why a strong domain can be an important business asset rather than just a web address.
Domain security is another area I’d like to see continued improvement in. Theft and hijacking may be relatively rare, but when they happen, the consequences can be extremely damaging.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges the domain industry is faced with?
I don’t see one particular challenge that I would say is threatening the domain industry. Overall, I think things are gradually getting better, and the industry continues to mature.
My own biggest challenge is more specific to my business: I still sell more domains to other investors than to end-user businesses. I’d like to increase the percentage of sales that go directly to companies that will actually use the domains. That comes back to the challenge of reaching the right decision-makers and helping businesses understand the value of premium domains.
I think there is still a lot of opportunity there.
What do you wish other people knew about the ICA?
I’m still relatively new to being involved with the ICA, so I’m probably not the best person to give a definitive answer yet. What I do know is that the ICA brings together people from across the domain industry and provides a collective voice for the industry on important issues.
I’m looking forward to learning more, getting to know other members, and seeing how I can contribute. I think one of the things people outside the industry may not realize is how much knowledge, experience, and cooperation exists within the domain community.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about joining the ICA?
I would say give it a try. The domain industry is a relatively small and specialized community, and having an organization that brings people together and represents the industry’s interests is valuable.
For me, I’m still in the process of exploring the ICA, so I’m looking forward to getting more involved, meeting other members, learning from their experience, and finding ways to contribute. If you’re active in the domain industry, I think being part of the wider community is worth it.
What unexpected doors opened for you because of your involvement in the domain industry?
The first unexpected door was financial freedom. I come from Bangladesh, where the gap in purchasing power between developing countries and the Western world can be enormous. Things that are relatively ordinary in wealthier countries—international travel, owning a personal vehicle, or simply being able to afford many modern conveniences—can be considered significant luxuries for a large part of the population.
The domain industry gave me a way to break through that limitation without having to leave my country. I could participate in a global market and earn based on the value I created rather than being limited by the local economy. At this point, I’ve found myself earning more than many people I know who live in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. That still feels quite remarkable to me.
For example, I recently brokered Z.org to an end user and earned a $90,000 commission from that single transaction. I’ve also earned $100,000 or more annually for the past three years.
The opportunities have gone beyond income as well. The business has allowed me to travel internationally—I’ve visited around 10 countries so far—and I’ve been able to buy my own car and enjoy a lifestyle that would have been much harder for me to achieve through a conventional career in Bangladesh.
So, for me, the biggest unexpected door the domain industry opened was the ability to participate in the global economy from where I already lived.
What’s the best advice ever received (domain related or otherwise)?
I’ve learned so many things from so many people that it would be almost impossible to choose one piece of advice. A large part of my education in the domain industry came from people who were willing to share their knowledge, experience, and sometimes simply give me a chance when I was still very new.
I’m particularly grateful to people such as George Vulpes, Andrew Rosener, Brent Oxley, Ryan Ewen, Braden Pollock, Luigi from Domain Empire, Kate Buckley, Kat Names, Pedro, James, and many others who have helped me directly or indirectly over the years.
I also learned a tremendous amount from people sharing their experiences on Twitter/X, NamePros, and other domain communities. In many ways, the willingness of experienced people to share what they know is one of the things that helped me progress from a complete beginner into the business I have today.
So if I had to summarize the best advice I’ve received, it would probably be the value of learning from people who are already doing it—and then developing your own judgment from those lessons.
What are your main interests outside of the domain industry?
Travel is probably my biggest interest outside the domain industry. I really enjoy visiting new countries, experiencing different cultures, trying local food, and simply seeing how people live in different parts of the world. The freedom that comes with the domain business makes traveling especially enjoyable for me, because I can continue working while exploring new places.
Favorite place to get away
Southeast Asia is probably my favorite region to get away to. I love the variety, the food, the culture, and the fact that there are so many different experiences within relatively short distances. I’ve visited around 10 countries so far, and I’m always looking forward to seeing somewhere new.
One place I’m really dreaming of visiting next is Egypt. The history and ancient civilization there have always fascinated me, so it’s high on my travel list.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m genuinely very happy and grateful to God that I found the domain industry. Looking back, I only wish I had discovered it sooner. It has given me opportunities that I could hardly have imagined when I was working in conventional jobs in Bangladesh.
At the same time, I do think about the future. AI and other technologies are changing many industries incredibly quickly, and we’ve already seen entire categories of work disrupted or disappear. I’ve seen people who were once highly successful in their fields suddenly find themselves having to start over.
I hope the domain industry continues to adapt and remains a place where people can build successful businesses and careers. If there’s one thing this industry has taught me, it’s to stay adaptable—and I think that will become even more important in the years ahead.