If your Thunder Bay business is still using a @gmail.com or @hotmail.com address as your primary contact email, you're leaving credibility on the table. In 2026, a free email address signals to potential clients that you're either just starting out or haven't invested in your business's professional image. Professional email hosting — using your own domain name — is one of the easiest credibility upgrades any Thunder Bay business can make.
Free Email vs. Professional Email Hosting
✗ yourname@gmail.com
- Looks unprofessional to clients
- No connection to your brand
- Google owns your email history
- Higher risk of spam filters blocking replies
- Can't create team@, info@, sales@ addresses
✓ you@yourbusiness.com
- Instantly signals a legitimate business
- Every email reinforces your brand name
- You control your own data
- Domain authentication (SPF, DKIM) improves deliverability
- Create unlimited team addresses
Why Thunder Bay Businesses Specifically Benefit from Professional Email
In a tight-knit business community like Thunder Bay, reputation is everything. Clients and partners talk. When a prospective client receives a quote from info@yourbusiness.ca instead of yourbusiness2011@gmail.com, the perceived professionalism is immediate — and it can be the difference between winning and losing a contract.
What Features Should Business Email Hosting Include?
- Custom domain address: yourname@yourcompany.ca — the whole point
- Spam filtering: Blocks junk before it reaches your inbox
- SPF & DKIM records: Technical authentication that prevents your emails from being flagged as spam
- Webmail access: Check email from any browser, anywhere
- IMAP/POP3 support: Works with Outlook, Apple Mail, Gmail app, and any email client
- Multiple mailboxes: Create addresses for each team member or department
- Adequate storage: Look for at least 5–10 GB per mailbox
- Canadian data residency: For businesses with privacy obligations, confirm your email data stays in Canada
Setting Up Professional Email in Thunder Bay — What the Process Looks Like
If you already have a domain name (e.g., yourbusiness.ca), setting up professional email is straightforward. The process involves:
- Purchasing an email hosting plan (separate from, or bundled with, your web hosting)
- Adding DNS records (MX records) to your domain to point email to your hosting provider
- Creating your mailboxes (info@, yourname@, support@, etc.)
- Configuring your email client (Outlook, Apple Mail, or phone app) with IMAP settings
- Setting up SPF and DKIM records for best deliverability
If this sounds technical, don't worry — Aurix Technologies handles the full setup as part of our Thunder Bay email hosting service. You just create your email addresses, and we configure everything in the background.
What Does Business Email Hosting Cost in Thunder Bay?
Business email hosting in Canada typically ranges from CA$50–$120 per year per domain, depending on the number of mailboxes and storage. At Aurix Technologies, our email hosting packages start from CA$50/year — less than $5 a month — and include:
- Custom email address using your domain name
- Spam filtering and security
- Webmail and IMAP/POP3 access
- SPF and DKIM setup
- Local Thunder Bay support
Do You Need a Domain Name First?
Yes — to get a @yourcompany.ca email address, you need to own that domain. If you don't have one yet, Aurix Technologies offers domain registration from CA$15/year for .com and .ca domains. We can register your domain and set up professional email in the same step, so you're up and running quickly.
Email Hosting vs. Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365
Some Thunder Bay businesses consider Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or Microsoft 365 for business email. These are excellent options — especially if you want integrated calendars, document sharing, and team collaboration tools. However, they start at CA$8–$14 per user per month, which adds up quickly for a small team. For businesses that just need professional email without the full collaboration suite, a dedicated email hosting plan at CA$50/year is a much more economical choice.
Get a Professional Email Address for Your Thunder Bay Business
From CA$50/year — custom email on your own domain, spam protection, full setup included. Trusted by Thunder Bay businesses.
View Email Hosting PlansQuick Summary
- A @gmail.com address undermines your professional credibility — switch to a branded email address
- Business email hosting costs as little as CA$50/year and pays for itself in trust and deliverability
- Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM) keeps your emails out of spam folders
- Aurix Technologies handles full setup for Thunder Bay businesses — domain registration, email hosting, and configuration all in one place
Ready to make the switch? Contact Aurix Technologies and we'll have your professional email address ready the same day.