How I Set Up a Business Email With My Domain (Without Paying for Google Workspace)

 fter launching my website earlier this year, the next thing I wanted was a proper email address. Using myname@gmail.com just didn’t look professional when messaging clients. I wanted something like hello@mywebsite.com.

But I quickly found out that platforms like Google Workspace charge $6/month per user—which adds up fast. So I decided to set up a free business email using my web hosting account. Here’s exactly how I did it.

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📌 Step 1: I Logged into My Hosting Panel

I use Hostinger for hosting, but this also works on other platforms like Bluehost or SiteGround. Inside the hosting dashboard, I found the “Email Accounts” section.

There, I created my new email:

📧 hello@lunaslens.com

The setup took less than 5 minutes.

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🔐 Step 2: I Created a Strong Password and Accessed Webmail

After setting up the email, I created a strong password and launched the webmail app (like Roundcube or Horde, depending on the host).

It worked immediately. I could send and receive emails through a browser—but I didn’t want to keep checking webmail every day.

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📥 Step 3: I Connected It to Gmail (For Free)

Here’s where it got fun.

Inside my personal Gmail, I went to:

Settings → Accounts and Import → Check mail from other accounts

I clicked “Add a mail account” and entered my new domain email.

• Incoming server: usually mail.yourdomain.com (IMAP or POP3)

• Username: full email (e.g., hello@lunaslens.com)

• Password: the one I created

• Port: Usually 995 for POP3 (secure)

Then, I did the same for “Send mail as” so I could reply using my custom email directly from Gmail.

Now, all my business emails come into my regular inbox, but they look super professional.

📬 Step 4: I Set Up an Email Signature

Inside Gmail, I added a signature like this:

Luna M.
Lifestyle Photographer
📍 New York, NY
🌐 www.lunaslens.com
📧 hello@lunaslens.com

It instantly made my emails look polished and credible.

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🛡️ Bonus Tip: Enable SPF, DKIM, and SSL

To avoid landing in spam folders, I went back to my hosting panel and enabled:

• SPF and DKIM records – For email verification

• SSL encryption – So email data stays secure

If you’re unsure, just search “How to enable SPF/DKIM on [your host]” and follow the step-by-step guide. Most hosts make this easy now.

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✅ Final Thoughts: Free, Professional, and Effective

I now have a professional email address that didn’t cost me a dime beyond my hosting plan—and it’s fully integrated into Gmail.

If you run a business, blog, or personal brand, having a custom email adds trust and credibility. You don’t need Google Workspace or a tech background—just a little time and curiosity.