If you're sending invoices from yourname@gmail.com, your business looks smaller than it is. Custom email at your domain is the single fastest way to look more legitimate, and it costs $0–6/month depending on which option you pick. Here's how to choose.
Why custom email matters
- Perception. Clients trust info@yourbusiness.com over yourname@gmail.com. Same person, same response, different vibe.
- Deliverability. Properly configured custom domain emails land in inboxes more reliably than free Gmail aliases — especially for cold outreach or mass sends.
- Branding. Every email you send is a tiny ad. The address itself reinforces the brand.
- Future-proof. If your gmail gets locked out (it happens — Google's automated systems are notoriously aggressive), your business email keeps working.
The 4 options
Decision tree — what should you actually pick?
Are you solo and just want it to look professional?
Use domain forwarding (free). info@yourdomain.com forwards to your gmail. People email you at the pro address; you reply from gmail. They never see the gmail. Done.
Do you need to SEND from your domain (e.g., signing as info@yourdomain.com)?
Use Porkbun email hosting ($24/yr). Full inbox, send + receive. Or step up to Workspace if you also want the office suite.
Do you want a real cloud office suite at your domain (Drive, Calendar, video calls)?
Use Google Workspace ($6/user/mo). Industry standard for small biz. Easy to scale to multiple users when you hire.
Are you Microsoft-native (Outlook, Excel, Teams)?
Use Microsoft 365 ($6/user/mo). Same price as Workspace, different stack. Pick whichever ecosystem you already live in.
Setup walkthrough — domain forwarding (the free option)
- Porkbun: Domain Management → click your domain → Email tab → Email Forwarding → Add Forwarder. Set up info@, support@, hello@ — all forward to your real inbox.
- GoDaddy: Email & Office → Forwarding (similar pattern)
- Squarespace registrar: domains panel → email forwarding (basic forwarding only; for hosted email you need Workspace bundle)
Forwarding takes effect within minutes. Test by sending a message to info@yourdomain.com from a different account.
Setup walkthrough — Porkbun email hosting
- Domain Management → click your domain → Email tab → Enable Email Hosting
- $24/yr per mailbox. Separate from forwarding (which stays free for other addresses).
- Webmail at
mail.porkbun.com+ IMAP/SMTP if you want to use a desktop client - Set up DKIM/SPF/DMARC for deliverability — Porkbun walks you through it in the panel
Setup walkthrough — Google Workspace
- Go to workspace.google.com → start free trial
- Verify domain ownership (TXT record at your DNS)
- Add MX records — Workspace tells you exactly what to put
- If migrating from existing email, use Google's migration tool
- 14-day free trial then $6/user/month (Business Starter) or $12/user/month (Business Standard with more storage)
Common Gotchas
What addresses to actually create
- info@ or hello@ — for general inbound. People email here when they don't know who specifically to reach.
- yourname@ (e.g., simeon@) — for personal outbound. Adds a human face to your emails.
- support@ — only if you sell anything customers might need help with
Don't spin up 12 addresses. 2–3 is plenty for solo operations. More addresses just means more inboxes to ignore.
FAQ
Can I keep my Gmail and just have a forwarder?
Yes. That's exactly what domain forwarding does. info@yourdomain.com forwards to yourname@gmail.com. You see the message in gmail, reply from gmail, and the customer sees a reply from gmail (unless you set up "Send mail as" to spoof the from address).
What if I want to send FROM my domain through Gmail?
Two paths. Pay for Workspace ($6/mo) — easiest, full Gmail at your domain. Or set up Gmail's "Send mail as" feature with SMTP credentials from your email host (Porkbun email hosting at $24/yr provides them). The Workspace option is cleaner for most people.
Do I need email at my domain to launch my site?
Not strictly — but it's the most-noticed sign of legitimacy. People notice when your "professional services business" has a gmail address listed. Set up at least free forwarding before you launch.
What if my emails go to spam?
Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records (the email host walks you through it). If still spam, sender reputation builds slowly with consistent legitimate sends — be patient. Avoid sending mass cold email from a brand-new domain; spam filters are aggressive on new senders.
Can I switch providers later?
Yes. Switching email hosts means: change MX records, migrate existing mail (most providers have migration tools), update any "Send mail as" connections. Plan a quiet weekend; doable in an afternoon.
What about iCloud Mail or other free options?
iCloud Custom Email Domain (free with iCloud+) is a real option — $1–10/month for iCloud+ depending on storage tier, includes custom domain support. Smaller market share but works fine. Skip if you're not already in the Apple ecosystem.