Creating a Multi-Domain Email Setup with One Hosting Plan

If you manage multiple websites or run a business with several brands, chances are you don’t want to pay for separate hosting plans just to create professional emails for each domain. Here’s the good news: you can set up email accounts for multiple domains under one hosting plan without breaking the bank.

This guide will show you how to do it step-by-step, what tools you need, and how to manage everything efficiently.

Why Set Up Multi-Domain Email Under One Hosting Plan?

Here’s why this setup makes sense:

• Cost-effective: One hosting plan, multiple domains, way cheaper than individual plans.
• Centralized management: Manage all emails in one cPanel/dashboard.
• Professional communication: Send and receive from you@yourdomain.com for each brand.
• Better branding: Each domain gets its own professional email identity.

Whether you’re managing client domains, launching side projects, or organizing departments across brands, this approach is a time-saver.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive into setup, here’s what you’ll need:

• A hosting plan that supports add-on domains (Shared, Reseller, or VPS hosting)
• Access to cPanel (or DirectAdmin/Plesk)
• The domains added and pointing to your nameservers
• Optional: Access to DNS records (for external domains)

Step 1: Add Your Domains to Your Hosting Plan

Log in to your hosting control panel (we’ll use cPanel in this example):

1. Go to Domains > Addon Domains
2. Enter your domain name (e.g., example2.com)
3. Assign a document root (usually auto-filled)
4. Click Add Domain

Repeat for each domain you want to set up.

📌 Tip: Make sure your domain’s nameservers point to your host (or manage DNS if hosted elsewhere).

Step 2: Create Email Accounts for Each Domain

Now that your domains are linked to your hosting:

1. Go to Email > Email Accounts
2. Click Create
3. Choose the domain from the dropdown
4. Create the username (e.g., info@yourdomain.com)
5. Set a strong password and mailbox quota
6. Click Create Account

Do this for each domain you manage. You can create info@, support@, sales@, etc., for every brand.

Step 3: Configure Email Routing and DNS (If Needed)

If your domains are managed outside your hosting provider (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare), you’ll need to:

• Set MX Records to point to your hosting provider
• Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for deliverability and security
• Optional: Set A or CNAME records for webmail access (like mail.yourdomain.com)

🎯 Most hosting providers provide DNS templates or help guides. Don’t skip this step—DNS misconfigurations = broken email.

Step 4: Access and Manage Your Emails

Your emails are now live! You can access them in several ways:

1. Webmail (Roundcube/Horde)

• Log in via yourdomain.com/webmail
• Use the credentials you set up earlier

2. Email Clients (Outlook, Thunderbird)

• Use IMAP/POP3 and SMTP credentials
• Usually found in cPanel under Email > Connect Devices

3. Forwarders (Optional)

• Forward emails to a master inbox (e.g., all support emails to one address)
• Go to Email > Forwarders

🔄 Optional: Set Up Email Routing Between Domains

If you want to centralize replies or manage multiple inboxes from one login:

• Use email forwarding rules
• Create catch-all email addresses
• Use an email client that supports multiple identities or aliases (like Gmail or Thunderbird)

This is especially useful if you’re a solo founder managing multiple brands or projects.

🔐 Bonus: Secure and Authenticate Your Emails

Don’t skip this. Email without proper authentication can end up in spam folders or be spoofed.

Make sure you:

• Enable SPF (prevents spoofing)
• Set up DKIM (cryptographically signs your messages)
• Add DMARC (sets policy for email delivery)

These can usually be turned on via your cPanel or DNS zone editor.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• ❌ Not setting MX records correctly (emails won’t arrive)
• ❌ Using weak passwords (hackers love that)
• ❌ Forgetting to renew domains (emails will break)
• ❌ Mixing personal and business emails under one domain

Be intentional with how you structure your setup.

🧠 When to Upgrade from Shared Hosting

Shared hosting works fine for basic multi-domain email setups. But consider upgrading to VPS or Reseller hosting if:

• You’re managing 10+ domains
• You need more control over DNS and email routing
• You want to isolate clients or brands
• You need better performance or email reliability

🏁 Wrapping It Up: Professional Email, One Host, No Problem

Setting up multi-domain email under one hosting plan is a smart move. It saves money, simplifies management, and scales with your business.

To recap:

• Add your domains to your hosting account
• Create individual email accounts per domain
• Configure DNS properly (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
• Access your mail via webmail or clients
• Forward or centralize if needed

Done right, this setup gives you the flexibility of enterprise-level email, without the price tag.

Need help setting this up? Nest Nepal offers hosting that’s multi-domain ready, with free email accounts, cPanel, and full DNS control. Our team is always happy to help you get your inbox running like a pro.