Connecting a Custom Domain to Your Business Website

Why This Matters

Your AEC Stack website launches instantly at yourcompany.aecstack.com — that gets you online fast. But for long-term credibility, you want visitors going to yourcompany.ca or yourcompany.com. A custom domain signals permanence, professionalism, and ownership. General contractors bidding on municipal work, bonding companies reviewing your prequalification package, and clients Googling your business all notice the difference.

This guide walks through every step of getting your own domain and pointing it at your AEC Stack-hosted website.

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Quick Overview

Total cost: $10–$20/year. Total hands-on time: ~20 minutes.

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Step 1: Register Your Domain

Where to Register

Choosing Your Domain Name

• Use your trade name, not your numbered company. northshoreplumbing.ca beats 12345678ontarioinc.ca
• .ca is ideal for Canadian construction companies — signals local, trustworthy, Canadian-owned
• .com works too if .ca isn't available or you plan to work cross-border
• Keep it short — it goes on business cards, vehicle wraps, and hard hats
• Avoid hyphens — north-shore-plumbing.ca is harder to remember and looks less professional
• Match your email domain — if you plan to set up [email protected] email, register northshoreplumbing.ca

Registration Steps (General)

1. Go to your chosen registrar
2. Search for your desired domain name
3. Add it to your cart (1-year registration is fine to start)
4. Enable WHOIS privacy (free at most registrars) — keeps your personal address off public records
5. Complete checkout
6. Verify your email when the confirmation arrives

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Step 2: Point Your Domain to Your AEC Stack Website

This is where you tell the internet "when someone types northshoreplumbing.ca, show them my AEC Stack website."

Option A: Using Cloudflare (Recommended)

If you registered with Cloudflare or transferred your domain there, this is the simplest path since your AEC Stack website already runs through Cloudflare.

1. Log into Cloudflare Dashboard
2. Select your domain
3. Go to DNS → Records
4. Add a new record:

• The @ record handles northshoreplumbing.ca (root domain)
• The www record handles www.northshoreplumbing.ca

5. If Cloudflare won't let you add a CNAME on the root (@), it will automatically "flatten" it — this is normal and correct.

Option B: Using Squarespace Domains

Squarespace became one of the world's largest domain registrars after acquiring Google Domains in 2023. If your domain is managed through Squarespace, follow these steps.

1. Go to account.squarespace.com and log in
2. Click Domains in the left sidebar
3. Click on the domain you want to configure
4. Select DNS from the left-hand menu
5. Scroll down to the Custom Records section
6. Click Add Record and enter:

7. Click Save
8. Add a second record to handle the root domain:

Important: Squarespace (like most registrars) cannot add a CNAME on the root domain (@). You have two options:

• Option 1 (simple): Only use www.yourcompany.ca. Add just the www CNAME above. Most visitors type the full www anyway, and search engines will index whichever you use.
• Option 2 (better): Transfer your DNS to Cloudflare (free) — Cloudflare supports CNAME flattening on root domains, so both yourcompany.ca and www.yourcompany.ca will work. See Option D below.

Where to find it in the Squarespace interface:

• Dashboard → Domains → (your domain) → DNS → Custom Records → Add Record
• The "Type" field is a dropdown — select CNAME
• The "Host" field is where you enter www (not the full domain)
• The "Data" field is where you enter yourcompany.aecstack.com

Option C: Using Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Other Registrars

If your domain is registered at Namecheap, GoDaddy, or another registrar, you need to add DNS records there (or transfer DNS to Cloudflare for better control).

At Namecheap: Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS → Add New Record

At GoDaddy: My Products → DNS → your domain → DNS Records → Add Record

Add these records:

Note: Most registrars can't do a CNAME on the root domain (@). The workaround is a URL redirect from yourcompany.ca to www.yourcompany.ca, which then CNAMEs to your AEC Stack site.

Option D: Transfer DNS to Cloudflare (Works With Any Registrar)

If your registrar doesn't support CNAME flattening on the root domain (Squarespace, Namecheap, GoDaddy — most of them), transferring DNS to Cloudflare gives you the most flexibility. Your domain registration stays where it is; only the DNS management moves.

1. Sign up for a free Cloudflare account
2. Click Add a Site and enter your domain
3. Select the Free plan
4. Cloudflare will scan your existing DNS records
5. Cloudflare gives you two nameservers (e.g., anna.ns.cloudflare.com)
6. Go to your registrar → Nameservers → change to Cloudflare's nameservers
   • Squarespace: Domains → (your domain) → DNS → Domain Nameservers → select "Use my own name servers" → enter Cloudflare's two nameservers
   • Namecheap: Domain List → Manage → Nameservers → Custom DNS
   • GoDaddy: My Products → DNS → Nameservers → Change
7. Wait for propagation (up to 24 hours)
8. Once active, follow Option A above to add CNAME records

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Step 3: Wait for DNS Propagation

After adding your DNS records, it takes time for the change to spread across the internet.

• Cloudflare proxied records: Usually 1–5 minutes
• Other registrars: 1–48 hours (typically under 4 hours)
• Nameserver changes: Up to 24 hours

How to Check Progress

1. Visit https://dnschecker.org/
2. Enter your domain (e.g., northshoreplumbing.ca)
3. Select record type CNAME
4. Green checkmarks mean it's propagated in that region

While You Wait

• Your yourcompany.aecstack.com URL continues to work
• Both URLs will work once propagation completes — visitors can use either one
• No downtime: your website is always accessible during this process

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Step 4: Verify Everything Works

Once DNS propagates:

1. Open a browser and go to https://yourcompany.ca
2. You should see your AEC Stack website
3. Try https://www.yourcompany.ca — should work too
4. Check that the SSL certificate is valid (padlock icon in the address bar)

Troubleshooting

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Advanced: SSL/HTTPS

If Using Cloudflare (Automatic)

Cloudflare provides free SSL automatically. No action needed. Your site will be served over HTTPS with a valid certificate.

If NOT Using Cloudflare

You'll need to ensure SSL is handled. Options:

• Transfer DNS to Cloudflare (free SSL included) — recommended
• Contact AEC Stack support for assistance with custom SSL configuration

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What About SEO?

When you switch from yourcompany.aecstack.com to yourcompany.ca:

• Your AEC Stack subdomain continues to work — no broken links
• Search engines will index your custom domain once it's live
• Google treats custom domains as more authoritative than subdomains
• Recommendation: Once your custom domain is confirmed working, use it on all business materials (cards, bids, invoices)

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Domain + Email: The Full Package

Once you own yourcompany.ca, you can set up email on the same domain:

• [email protected] for general inquiries
• [email protected] for personal email
• See Guide 10: Setting Up Professional Email for step-by-step email setup

This gives you the complete professional web presence:

• Website: https://yourcompany.ca
• Email: [email protected]
• Both on your own domain, both signaling a real, established business

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Recommended Registrars by Situation

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Quick Reference Card

What you need:

• A domain name (~$10–$20/year)
• Access to DNS settings (at your registrar or Cloudflare)

What you add:

Type:   CNAME
Name:   @ (or www)
Target: yourcompany.aecstack.com

What you get:

• https://yourcompany.ca → your AEC Stack website
• Professional URL on all business materials
• Better SEO authority
• Foundation for professional email

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Need Help?

If you get stuck at any step, AEC Stack support can help verify your DNS configuration. Have your domain name and registrar login ready when you reach out.