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Business Email With a Custom Domain: Small Business Guide
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Domain and email hosting are often purchased together, but they are two separate services. The domain is your address on the internet; the email service provides mailboxes such as you@yourcompany.com. Connecting them requires DNS records that tell other mail systems where to deliver your messages.
How to set up domain and email hosting
- Choose or use a domain. If you do not have one, start with our domain search. If you already own a domain, keep it where it is unless you have a reason to transfer it.
- Choose a business email plan. Compare our business email hosting plans by mailbox size and Microsoft 365 features.
- Create users before changing mail routing. Set up each mailbox that must receive mail.
- Add the required DNS records. Your email provider supplies the exact MX and verification records. Do not copy MX values from an unrelated account.
- Test before declaring the migration complete. Verify inbound and outbound mail for the affected users and keep access to the old system until the cutover is confirmed.
Do you need to transfer your domain to use business email?
No. In most setups, the domain registrar and email provider can be different companies. What matters is that you can edit the domain's DNS. If you want to move the domain itself, use our domain transfer page; otherwise you can leave registration where it is and change only the required DNS records.
Domain hosting vs web hosting vs email hosting
| Service | What it does | Do you always need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain registration | Gives you control of the domain name. | You need a domain if you want email at your own domain. |
| Web hosting | Hosts the website or application. | No. A domain can be used for email even if the website is hosted elsewhere. |
| Email hosting | Provides mailboxes, mail storage and mail service. | Yes, if you want functioning business mailboxes. |
Using Microsoft 365 with a custom domain
Microsoft 365 can use a domain you already own. Microsoft's admin guidance requires adding and verifying the domain, creating users, and then updating DNS records for the services you enable. See our Microsoft 365 Email page for current product options and Microsoft's domain setup overview for the current administrative process.
Ready to add professional email to your domain?
Compare the current mailbox and Microsoft 365 options, then review live pricing and billing terms before checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a domain without web hosting?
Yes. Domain registration, website hosting and email hosting are separate services.
Can I use business email without a website?
Yes. You can use a domain for professional email even if you do not host a public website on that domain.
What happens when I change the MX record?
New incoming mail starts following the new mail-routing configuration as DNS changes propagate. Prepare all required mailboxes first and test the cutover carefully.
If you do not own a domain yet, start with Domain Search and then use the domain registration flow before configuring business email.