What It Is
You do not buy a domain forever. You register it for a set term, usually one year or more, and then renew it to keep it. Renewal is like renewing a lease: miss the deadline, and the space can go to someone else. Most registrars offer auto-renew, which charges your saved card before the expiration date.
Why It Matters for Your Business
When a domain expires, your website and email stop working, often without warning to customers. A salon that misses a renewal might find clients getting error pages and bounced booking emails. If the domain is not recovered in time, it can be bought by someone else, including people who resell expired domains at high prices.
Good to Know
Turn on auto-renew and keep the card on file current. Consider renewing for several years at once. Watch for fake renewal notices by mail or email from companies that are not your registrar. Check the real expiry date with a WHOIS lookup. Real notices come from the company you registered with.