So… you want to become an accreddited registrar? You want to join up with the hundreds upon hundreds of other registrars that compete with the likes of Register.com/Tucows/GoDaddy. Well if you are like most people who ask me about this, you want to know where to get started. The first thing you need to determine is what TLDs/CCTLDs you want to be accredited for. Once you know that, you need to research and find out whom the registry operator is for that TLD/CCTLD. They are the ones that will grant you to be a registrar for their particular extension.

The most popular extension is dotCOM so let’s use this as an example. The registry for dotCOM and dotNET is Verisign. Yes the same Verisign that is in the SSL business. If you visit Verisign’s registry site found here you will find three phases for you to go through:

1- Establish an account. Read and agree to all of the registry agreements.
2- Establish your financial capabilities.
3- Establish you technical capabilities.

Once you have completed all of this you are going to be an official dotCOM/dotNET registrar. If you want to add additional TLDs/CCTLDs, you need to either go directly to the registries of those extensions, or you can choose to simply partner with someone for the additional extensions.

Another thing to keep in mind, many registrars who provide “reseller” or “partner” solutions are also open to assisting you in becoming accredited. Meaning using their systems, their back-end, but your accreditation. It will costs you more, but the burden of the technology development is taken away. Allowing you to focus on growing your business. Why build something from scratch when many others have already done so.