Over a third more entrepreneurs register domain names in January than at any other time of the year, according to web hosting company Amenworld.com.

In 2007, the company saw a 36% rise in .co.uk domain name registrations and a 22% rise in .com applications and has seen a steady rise every January since 2005. It expects to see more of the same in 2008.

"Along with giving up smoking or hitting the gym, registering a domain name is rapidly becoming one of the most popular and fashionable new year's resolutions," said Andrew Fassnidge, marketing manager of Amenworld.

"It's encouraging to find that people intend to begin online ventures as part of their good intentions for the new year."

The company is warning entrepreneurs that registering a domain name should be one of the first things a new business does to prevent any potential rivals getting there first.