At Go Daddy’s Growth (in Numbers) — A Look
An official look at Go Daddy’s revenue numbers.
I still remember a conversation just ahead of the Super Bowl in 2005. I was eating lunch with a bunch of techies and the topic of Super Bowl commercials came up. Someone asked “who is this Go Daddy firm, anyway?”
Flash forward to 2010. If you ask someone on the street where they would go to register a domain name, they’ll likely say “Go Daddy”. Regarding half of all newly-registered domains are registered at the firm.
Go Daddy continues to grow like gangbusters. I’ve noted some of the firm’s numbers on Reglike ahead of, but yesterday I had a chance to get an official historical look at the firm’s growth from Ryan Corder, Senior Director of Finance for the firm.
Sources: The Go Daddy Group, SEC Filings
The firm’s growth since the opening up of registrar accreditation has been staggering. In 2001 the firm grossed $4.3 million in GAAP revenue; last year it hit $610 million. I had previously noted revenue of $750 million for 2009, but this was actually sales. (As a growing firm, GAAP revenue lags sales since sales are recognized over a period of time.) For 2010 the firm forecasts between $940-$950 million in sales.
Perhaps more notable as a privately-held firm is Go Daddy’s cash flow. The firm forecasts an operating cash flow of $140-$150 million for 2010.
Go Daddy’s employee base has grown with the revenue, bringing much needed jobs to Arizona and Iowa. In 2003 the firm employed 323 people; it now keeps 2,700 (and growing) on the payroll.
No wonder Bob Parsons is always smiling.
