Making domains the easy part

About Zarla

Zarla is an all-in-one platform that helps local, service-based businesses get online fast. Built for trades like junk removal, pressure washing, and other “we come to you” services, Zarla supports customers who often start with little or no digital presence. By combining websites, domains, branding, and lead generation into a single, guided experience, Zarla removes complexity and gets businesses to their first lead quickly. That focus on speed and simplicity informs everything Zarla builds—including its approach to domains.

The challenge: one client base, very different expectations around domains

Zarla’s customers don’t all want the same level of involvement. Most want a completely hands-off, white-glove experience. They don’t want to think about domains, DNS, or configuration at all—they just want their website live. But a smaller subset of customers want more control. They’re curious, more technical, or simply want the option to manage DNS themselves.

“We do have the occasional client that comes in and is like, ‘I want to take over my own management.’”

— Adam Seabrook, COO, Zarla, Inc.

Supporting both groups—without increasing support risk or complicating Zarla’s platform—was the real challenge.

Why becoming a registrar wasn’t an option

Adam considered what it would take to own domain management outright. The conclusion was clear: becoming a registrar—or even replicating registrar-level tooling—would be expensive, time-consuming, and a distraction from their core business.

Even a basic, customer-ready solution would require significant engineering effort, ongoing maintenance, compliance considerations, and long-term operational responsibility.

And that investment wouldn’t make domains a strategic advantage—it would simply move necessary complexity in-house.

Zarla needed a solution that removed registrar burden entirely, without forcing them to give up control over the customer experience.

Why OpenSRS: flexibility backed by long-term trust

Zarla wasn’t just looking for features—they were looking for infrastructure they could rely on for the long haul.

Adam explained,

“I don’t think OpenSRS is going anywhere any time soon.”

That confidence came from OpenSRS’s track record. Adam pointed to the fact that some of the largest platforms on the internet have trusted OpenSRS for years.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shopify switch from you guys. They’ve always used you—and if they haven’t switched, there’s obviously a reason.”

For Adam, that history mattered. Domains are foundational infrastructure. Once they’re embedded into a customer experience, switching providers later is risky and costly.

“A lot of the stuff I looked at four or five years ago just doesn’t exist anymore.”

OpenSRS’s longevity gave Zarla confidence they were building on something proven—not experimental.

The solution: a flexible, white-label domain experience with Storefront

OpenSRS Storefront gave Zarla a clean, out-of-the-box solution that could be up and running within minutes—without becoming a registrar or building anything themselves.

“Once that was there, we were like, ‘Oh, okay—this solves it.’”

One solution,

multiple service models

With OpenSRS Storefront, Zarla can support every type of customer using the same underlying system:

White-glove clients

Zarla handles everything behind the scenes, including domain selection and DNS.

Self-service clients

Customers who want control can manage their domain and DNS themselves through Storefront.

Hybrid scenarios

Zarla can still step in to help when needed, without losing visibility or access.

This flexibility allows Zarla to meet clients where they are—without forcing a one-size-fits-all experience.

Why white-label was critical

Zarla works with non-technical customers who already find the digital ecosystem confusing. Sending them to unfamiliar platforms undermines trust.

“I don’t really like sending clients off to… some random ugly-looking thing. It doesn’t have our logo and name on it.”

Storefront keeps the domain experience under Zarla’s brand—reinforcing that Zarla is the single, trusted partner responsible for the customer’s online presence.

Fast to launch, built to last

Because Storefront works out of the box, Zarla didn’t need a long implementation cycle or ongoing registrar overhead. They could:

Launch in minutes

Avoid registrar compliance and complexity

Keep their platform focused and simple

Know that OpenSRS APIs are available if deeper integration is ever needed

That combination—speed today and stability for the future—made the decision straightforward.

“[OpenSRS] was listening to us and reacting to what we needed.”

Together, those updates reflect OpenSRS’s ongoing commitment to building for resellers—and supporting them as their needs evolve.

Results: flexibility without added complexity

Zarla doesn’t treat domains as a revenue stream. The value shows up in operational simplicity and service coverage.

One domain solution for every client type

No need to build or maintain registrar tooling

Lower support risk when customers want control

A consistent, branded experience

As Adam summed it up:

“This solved a problem we ran into straight away.”

Why it matters for web builders

Zarla’s experience reflects a broader reality for web builders and agencies:

Many clients expect you to handle domains for them

Some clients want white-glove service; others want control

Becoming a registrar is expensive, time-consuming, and complex

Building domain tooling from scratch diverts focus from growth

OpenSRS Storefront provides a practical middle ground: a white-label solution that supports both service models without forcing a tradeoff.

The takeaway

Zarla didn’t need to become a registrar to meet every client’s needs.

With OpenSRS Storefront, they gained a flexible, branded domain solution backed by infrastructure that’s been trusted at scale for decades—so they can focus on what they do best.

Simplify domains—your way

Whether your clients want full white-glove service or hands-on control, OpenSRS Storefront lets you support both—without building or maintaining registrar infrastructure.

Learn more about OpenSRS Storefront