When you start treating domain names as a real business, one practical question appears very quickly:
What activity code should be used for buying, managing, valuing and reselling domain names?
In France, this usually means asking about the right APE/NAF code. In other countries, the same question may appear under different classification systems: NACE in Europe, NAICS in the United States, SIC in the United Kingdom, CAEN in Romania, or other national activity codes.
The problem is simple: domain investing does not fit perfectly into one traditional box.
Is it IT?
Is it digital asset management?
Is it online commerce?
Is it consulting?
Is it web publishing?
Is it advertising?
Is it something closer to digital real estate?
This article is part of my LAB / Questions category because I do not consider the subject closed. It is a working note, open to corrections, professional feedback and examples from different countries.
The Activity I Am Trying to Classify
The activity can be described as:
Buying, managing, valuing and reselling domain names.
In French:
Achat, gestion, valorisation et revente de noms de domaine.
Depending on the business model, this may include:
- buying domain names;
- renewing and managing a domain portfolio;
- researching keywords, extensions and market demand;
- creating landing pages or small websites;
- monetizing domains through parking, advertising or affiliate links;
- negotiating sales with buyers;
- selling domain names as digital assets;
- giving advice about domain strategy, branding or digital identity.
The difficulty is that many official activity classifications were not created specifically for domain investors. A domain name can be a technical object, a brand asset, a marketing tool, a website address, a digital property, or a speculative investment.
That is why the classification depends not only on the domain name itself, but also on the main activity of the business.
Important Note About France
In France, the APE code reflects the main activity exercised by a company or establishment. INSEE explains that the APE code is assigned for statistical purposes and has no legal value by itself. It does not create rights or obligations for the business.
This is important because the APE/NAF code is not a business license. It is not the final legal definition of everything the company can or cannot do.
However, it still matters in practice because it appears in administrative, economic and professional contexts. INSEE also explains that when there are several activities, the main one is generally determined according to criteria such as turnover or number of employees.
So the real question is not:
Which code sounds the best?
The better question is:
Which code best reflects the real main activity of the business?
France: APE/NAF Codes I Am Considering
For France, I have found several possible APE/NAF codes that may be relevant, depending on how the domain activity is actually organized.
62.09Z — Other Information Technology and Computer Service Activities
French title: Autres activités informatiques
This may be one of the most flexible options for a domain-related activity when the business is mainly digital and internet-oriented, but does not fit perfectly into programming, IT consulting, hosting or portal publishing.
INSEE describes 62.09Z as covering IT and information technology activities not classified elsewhere, while excluding programming, IT consulting, IT facilities management, and data processing or hosting, which have their own codes.
For a domain investor, this code may make sense if the activity is presented as:
management and exploitation of domain name portfolios and related digital assets.
Possible fit:
- domain portfolio management;
- technical configuration of domains;
- DNS-related organization;
- digital project preparation;
- internet asset management.
Possible weakness:
This code still sounds like an IT services code. If the company mostly buys and resells domain names without offering IT services, the fit is not perfect.
62.01Z — Computer Programming
French title: Programmation informatique
This code fits better when the main activity is software development, website creation, adaptation, testing or programming. INSEE describes 62.01Z as including the design, structure, content and writing of computer programs necessary for software, applications, databases and web pages.
For domain investing, this code may be relevant if the company mainly develops websites, tools, landing page systems, marketplaces, software or automation around domain names.
Possible fit:
- developing websites on domains;
- creating software tools for domain management;
- building a domain marketplace;
- developing landing page technology;
- programming web projects before resale.
Possible weakness:
If the main activity is simply buying and reselling domain names, and not programming, this code may be too narrow.
62.02A — Computer Systems and Software Consulting
French title: Conseil en systèmes et logiciels informatiques
This code may fit if the main activity is consulting. INSEE describes 62.02A as including the planning and design of IT systems integrating hardware, software and communication technologies, as well as consulting in custom software development.
For a domain-related business, this may be relevant if the company provides paid advice to clients about:
- domain strategy;
- digital identity;
- naming strategy;
- technical infrastructure;
- DNS and email configuration;
- online brand protection;
- acquisition or sale of domain names.
Possible fit:
- consulting clients on domain portfolios;
- helping businesses choose or acquire domain names;
- advising on digital naming and online identity;
- technical consulting connected to domains.
Possible weakness:
If most revenue comes from selling domains owned by the company, and not from consulting services, this code may not reflect the main activity.
63.12Z — Web Portals
French title: Portails Internet
This code may be relevant if the company operates websites, directories, portals, media projects or content platforms built on domain names.
INSEE describes 63.12Z as including the operation of websites that use search engines to maintain large databases of internet addresses and content, as well as other websites functioning as portals, such as media sites with periodically updated content.
For a domain investor, this code may fit if the business model is not only to hold domains, but to develop them into active websites or portals.
Possible fit:
- operating content websites;
- creating niche portals;
- monetizing websites through advertising;
- building directories or media-style projects;
- developing domains before selling them.
Possible weakness:
If the domains are mostly parked, held or listed for sale, without real portal activity, this code may be too specific.
63.11Z — Data Processing, Hosting and Related Activities
French title: Traitement de données, hébergement et activités connexes
This code is connected to hosting, data processing and related infrastructure. INSEE describes 63.11Z as including infrastructure for hosting, data processing and similar activities, including specialized hosting for websites, applications or streaming services.
For a domain-related company, this code may be relevant if the business provides real hosting, DNS infrastructure, technical platforms or data services.
Possible fit:
- web hosting services;
- DNS infrastructure services;
- domain-related technical platforms;
- data processing connected to domain tools;
- SaaS or infrastructure services.
Possible weakness:
If the company only buys, holds and resells domain names, this code may be too technical and too infrastructure-focused.
My Current Working View
At this stage, I do not see one perfect French APE/NAF code created specifically for domain investing.
My current working view is:
62.09Z — Autres activités informatiques may be the most flexible candidate if the company’s main activity is managing and exploiting a portfolio of domain names as digital assets.
But this is not a final legal conclusion.
The better choice may change depending on the real business model:
- if the company develops websites, 62.01Z may become more logical;
- if the company gives paid advice, 62.02A may become more logical;
- if the company operates media websites or directories, 63.12Z may become more logical;
- if the company provides hosting or technical infrastructure, 63.11Z may become more logical.
The key point is that the activity description must match the economic reality.
A Practical Question in French
Here is the question I would like to ask professionals, accountants and domain investors:
Quel code APE/NAF vous semble le plus adapté pour une activité d’achat, gestion, valorisation et revente de noms de domaine ?
Pour le moment, j’ai identifié ces possibilités :
- 62.09Z — Autres activités informatiques
- 62.01Z — Programmation informatique
- 62.02A — Conseil en systèmes et logiciels informatiques
- 63.12Z — Portails Internet
- 63.11Z — Traitement de données, hébergement et activités connexes
Merci d’avance pour vos avis et retours d’expérience.
Why This Question Matters
The activity code is not the business itself.
Still, choosing a coherent classification may help avoid confusion with accountants, banks, administrative platforms, tax authorities, insurers or business partners.
Domain investing is still misunderstood. Some people see it as a technical activity. Others see it as online trading. Others see it as branding, marketing, publishing, consulting, or digital property management.
In reality, it can be several of these things at once.
That is why the right classification should be based on the company’s dominant activity, not only on the word “domain”.
Future Updates
This article will be updated as I find more information and examples.
Possible future additions:
- France: APE / NAF
- European Union: NACE
- United States: NAICS
- United Kingdom: SIC
- Romania: CAEN
- Moldova: national activity codes
- examples from real domain investors or digital companies
One extra point to watch in France: INSEE indicates that a new version of the French activity classification, NAF 2025, will enter into force on January 1, 2027, and will automatically change current APE codes based on NAF 2008.
This means that any conclusion written today may need to be checked again after the new classification becomes active.
Conclusion
For now, my conclusion is simple:
There is no obvious perfect activity code for buying and selling domain names.
For a domain-focused company in France, 62.09Z — Autres activités informatiques currently looks like a flexible starting point when the activity is mainly domain portfolio management and digital asset exploitation.
But it may not be the best answer in every case.
If the business develops websites, offers consulting, operates portals, sells advertising space, or provides hosting infrastructure, another code may be more coherent.
Domain names are simple to register, but difficult to classify.
And that is exactly why this question deserves a place in the LAB.
“Measure twice, cut once.”
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