Client Resource
Email Hosting Options
My hosting does not include email. That's not unusual. Most serious web hosts keep the two separate on purpose. Here's what that means for you and what I recommend.
Here’s something worth knowing upfront: my hosting does not include email hosting. That’s not a limitation. It’s a deliberate choice. Mixing email and web hosting on the same server means that if anything goes wrong with that server, you lose both your website and your email at the same time. Keeping them on separate services means your email keeps working even if something happens on the web side, and vice versa.
So you’ll need your own email provider. The goal is a professional email address at your domain: you@yourbusiness.com instead of yourbusiness@gmail.com. It matters more than it might seem. People make quick judgments about credibility, and a free email address from a business that’s been around for five years raises an eyebrow it shouldn’t have to.
The good news: you have solid options at every price point. Here are the three I’d point most clients toward.
Your three main options
Pricing note
The prices listed here were accurate as of June 2026. These plans change, and free tier availability (especially for Zoho) can change over time. Check each provider’s current pricing before signing up.
Not sure which to pick? Short version: if you use Google for anything (Gmail, Drive, Calendar), Google Workspace is the natural fit. If you’re on Windows and use Office apps regularly, go Microsoft 365. If you’re a solo operator watching expenses, Zoho’s free tier is worth trying before you commit to a paid plan.
What I need from you
Once you’ve picked a provider and created your account, there’s a DNS step on my end. Every email provider requires something called MX records to be added to your domain’s DNS settings; these are the instructions that tell the internet “email for this domain goes to this provider.” I handle that part, but I need the values from your provider to do it.
Here’s how to get them to me:
1
Sign up with your chosen provider
When it asks for your domain name during setup, enter it. Don’t worry about the DNS verification step yet (that’s what I’ll take care of).
2
Find the DNS setup section in your provider’s dashboard
During or after setup, the provider will show you a list of DNS records to add (usually labeled “MX records” or “DNS records for your domain”). Screenshot that page or copy the values somewhere.
3
Send them to me
I’ll add the records to your DNS settings in Cloudflare. (Not sure what Cloudflare is? The Nameservers & Cloudflare guide explains what it is and how it works.) Once the records are in, your email will start working (usually within a few hours).
Once your email is live
Protect your new business email account right away with a strong password and two-factor authentication. Your business email is a high-value target; it’s often the key to resetting passwords on every other account you own. The Passwords & 2FA guide walks through exactly how to do this.
That said, the heavy lifting here is on your provider’s setup wizard and my end, not yours. Once you’ve picked an option and created the account, send me the MX records and I’ll take it from there. Part of what your care plan covers is making sure these kinds of technical handoffs go smoothly.
Questions about which option fits your situation? Reach out and I’ll think it through with you.
Questions about this? Reach out — I'm happy to walk you through it.