Domain, Hosting and Email for an Australian Small Business (.com.au Explained)
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Your domain, hosting and email are three separate things, and it pays to understand which is which before you buy anything. The domain is your address (yourbusiness.com.au). Hosting is where your website lives. Email is the service that sends and receives mail at that address. You can buy all three from one company or from different ones, but the domain should always be registered in your business's name, with you holding the login.
Domain, hosting and email at a glance
What it is | Who usually provides it | What to check | |
Domain name | Your web address, licensed for a set period | A domain registrar or reseller | That you are the registrant, and the renewal date |
Hosting | The servers your website runs on | Your website platform or a hosting company | Whether it's included in your website plan |
Business email | Mail at @yourbusiness.com.au | An email provider | That the account and admin login are yours |
Who can register a .com.au?
auDA, the body that administers .au names, says com.au names are "for businesses with a connection to Australia". The most common way to qualify is having an active ABN or ACN; you can also qualify through an ARBN or an Australian trade mark or trade mark application (auDA).
The name itself doesn't have to be an exact match, but it must be connected to your business: for example, your business name, an acronym of it, your trade mark, or a service or product you offer. auDA advises aiming for a domain that closely matches your legal business name.
.com.au or .au?
Since 2022 you can also register shorter names directly under .au, such as yourbusiness.au. auDA says .au direct names are open to anyone who meets the Australian presence requirement, and that there's no need for a connection to the name (auDA).
For most local businesses, .com.au is still the familiar choice. Some register the matching .au too, so nobody else can, and redirect it to the main site.
How long a domain lasts
You don't buy a domain outright. auDA says you can register for one to five years at a time, and renew at the end of each term as long as you still meet the requirements. Some providers only offer one- or two-year renewals.
Set the renewal to automatic and keep the contact email current. If a domain lapses, your website and email can stop working.
Hosting: often included now
Many modern website platforms, including Framer, Squarespace and Wix, include hosting in the plan. With WordPress, you or your provider arrange hosting separately. Either way, ask who pays for hosting after launch and what happens if you move providers.
Business email
An address like jo@yourbusiness.com.au looks more professional than a free webmail address and stays with the business. Common options are Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, both paid per user. Your email provider will give you DNS settings to add to your domain so mail is delivered and isn't marked as spam. Ask whoever sets it up to confirm those settings are in place.
Keep everything in your name
Domain: you are the registrant, with your own login at the registrar
Email: you hold the admin account
Website platform: the account is in your name, or you can get it transferred
Passwords: stored somewhere you control, not only by a past provider
If a web designer registers the domain for you, ask for it to be in your business's name from day one.
Next step
If you're setting up a new business online, Morphic builds websites for new businesses and can connect your domain, with everything set up in your name. Get a free quote.
Also see website maintenance in Kings Park.
Related reading: Who Owns Your Website? Domains, Logins and Lock-In Contracts Explained and Website for a New Business: What You Need in Your First Month.
Key Takeaways
Your domain, hosting and email are separate services that can come from different providers.
auDA says an active ABN or ACN is the most common way to qualify for a .com.au.
A .com.au name must be connected to your business, such as your business name or a service you offer.
Domains are registered for one to five years at a time and must be renewed.
Keep the domain, email and website accounts in your own business's name.
Emon Datta
Founder, Morphic Agency
Morphic Agency is a Melbourne-based UX design agency. We've shipped 50+ products across 15+ countries.
