Moving from a Gmail.com or internet-provider address to email on your own domain takes four things: a domain you control, a mailbox provider such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, a handful of DNS records, and a transition plan for your old address. Done in the right order, you keep your old mail and don't miss messages during the switch.
Check your domain freeNew email setup from CAD $99Both are reliable, both work with any domain, and both include admin controls, spam filtering and multi-factor sign-in. The better choice depends on how your team already works. Plans and prices vary and change, so compare current options on each provider's own site. AIVIQ is independent and isn't affiliated with either.
Gmail's interface with your own domain, plus Google Calendar, Drive, Docs and Sheets. A natural fit if you already use a free Gmail account, work mostly in a browser or on your phone, and share files by link.
Google Workspace email help →Outlook with your own domain, plus Teams, OneDrive and, on many business plans, the desktop Word and Excel apps. A natural fit if your team or your clients work in Office documents every day.
Microsoft 365 email help →Some web hosts and domain registrars bundle basic email. It can work for one or two addresses, but check the storage, spam filtering and support before relying on it.
You add these where your domain's DNS is hosted, which is often the registrar but sometimes your web host. Your provider gives you the exact values for each one. Always copy them from the provider's admin console rather than from an old tutorial.
| Record | What it does | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Verification TXT | Proves to the provider that you control the domain. | Added first. Usually safe to leave in place afterwards. |
| MX | Tells the world which servers receive mail for your domain. | Replace any old MX records. Mixing two providers' MX records splits your incoming mail. See the MX record guide. |
| SPF (TXT) | Lists the services allowed to send as your domain. | Only one SPF record per domain. Add your website form or newsletter tool to the same record. |
| DKIM | Publishes the key that verifies your messages' signatures. | Google uses a TXT record; Microsoft 365 uses two CNAME records. You also switch signing on in the admin console. |
| DMARC (TXT) | Tells receivers what to do when SPF and DKIM don't line up, and sends you reports. | Published at _dmarc. Start with p=none and reporting, then tighten later. |
Keep the old account open and forwarding for months, not days. Customers reply to old threads, suppliers keep outdated contact records, and some accounts send password resets to whichever address you signed up with. Check it regularly for anything forwarding missed.
Be careful with internet-provider addresses. Some providers close the mailbox when you cancel the internet service, and the address can't be recovered afterwards. Finish the transition, and copy any old mail you need, before you cancel. If your business still relies on a mailbox that's stopped receiving after a move, fix that before anything else.
AIVIQ is based in Vancouver and works remotely with businesses across BC and Canada. Details are on the business email setup page, and the free public email check shows what your domain has today.
Yes. A free Gmail account stays open unless you close it. Many owners keep it for personal use, forward it to the new address during the transition and use the provider's import tools to bring old mail across.
It depends on the provider. Some close the mailbox when the service ends. Check their policy before cancelling, and copy anything you need first.
Neither is better for everyone. Workspace suits teams that work in the browser and use Google Docs and Drive. Microsoft 365 suits teams that live in Outlook, Word and Excel. Both handle business email well.
No. A .com works too. A .ca signals a Canadian business, and registering one requires meeting the Canadian presence requirements set by the registry.
Not if it's done carefully. Email and the website use different DNS records. The risk is a web host that also handled your email, or a website form that sends from the old address, so check both before you switch.
Provider prices vary by plan and change over time, so check Google or Microsoft directly. AIVIQ's setup fee is separate from the subscription, which you pay to the provider.
Tell us your domain, the provider you prefer and the addresses you need. You'll get a written scope before anything changes. No compulsory sales call.
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