How do you connect your own domain to a small business website?

To connect your own domain to a small business website, log in to the company where you bought the domain (your registrar), open its DNS settings and add the records your website host tells you to add: usually an A record for the bare domain (yourbusiness.co.uk) and a CNAME record for the www version. Save them, wait for the change to spread (often minutes, sometimes up to a day or two), then confirm the connection with your host. You keep owning the domain throughout; you are only pointing it at the website.

What you need before you start

• Your domain name, registered in your business's name, and the login for the registrar where you bought it.
• The exact DNS records from your website host. Every host publishes its own values. Never copy records from another business's guide.
• Ten quiet minutes. The steps are short, but a typo in one character will stop the site loading.

If you are not sure who your registrar is, check your old invoices or emails for the domain purchase, or ask whoever set it up for you.

Two records, in plain English

DNS is the internet's address book. Cloudflare's explainer on DNS records covers the types; for a website you normally need two:

• A record: points a name to an IP address. For your bare domain, the name is usually written as `@`, and the value is the IP address your host gives you.
• CNAME record: points one name to another name. For `www`, the value is the host name your provider gives you.

With both in place, visitors reach your site whether they type `yourbusiness.co.uk` or `www.yourbusiness.co.uk`.

Step by step

1. Sign in to your registrar and open the domain's settings. Look for "DNS", "DNS records", "Manage DNS" or "Advanced DNS".
2. Find existing records for `@` and `www`. If an old A record or CNAME points somewhere else (a previous website or a "parked" page), edit or remove it. Two conflicting A records for `@` will cause the site to load inconsistently.
3. Add the A record. Type: A. Name/Host: `@`. Value: the IP address from your host. Leave TTL on the default.
4. Add the CNAME record. Type: CNAME. Name/Host: `www`. Value: the host name from your provider. Some registrars add your domain to the end automatically; others want a full stop at the end. Follow the registrar's help text.
5. Save and note the time.
6. Tell your website host the domain you have connected, if it asks, and wait for it to confirm. Many hosts issue the secure padlock (SSL certificate) automatically once the records are found.
7. Test both versions in a private browser window and on your phone using mobile data, not just home Wi-Fi.

Do not break your email

This is the most common mistake. Your domain may already carry records for your business email, such as MX records and TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Leave those alone. Connecting a website only needs the A and CNAME records above. If you delete or overwrite MX records, your email can stop arriving.

Before you change anything, take a screenshot of the full DNS list so you can put things back if needed.

How long it takes

DNS changes are cached around the internet for a period set by each record's TTL (time to live). Many changes work within minutes; some take longer to reach every network. If the site still does not load after a day, recheck the records for typos, extra spaces or a leftover old record.

A worked example

Brightline Roofing (a made-up business) owns `brightlineroofing.co.uk` at a UK registrar and has an old parked page on it. The owner signs in, screenshots the DNS list, deletes the old A record for `@` that pointed to the parking page, adds the new A record and the `www` CNAME from the website host, and leaves the MX and TXT records for email untouched. Within an hour both versions load the new site with the padlock showing, and email keeps working.

Key takeaways

• You add records at your registrar, using values your website host gives you.
• Usually an A record for `@` and a CNAME for `www`.
• Remove conflicting old records for the same names.
• Never touch MX or email TXT records when connecting a website.
• Test both versions on mobile data before you share the link.

FAQ

Do I lose ownership of my domain by connecting it?

No. The domain stays registered to you. You are only changing where it points, and you can point it elsewhere later.

Should I move my domain to my website host?

You do not have to. Keeping the domain at a registrar you control and simply pointing it at your site is common and makes switching providers easier.

Why does my site show a security warning after connecting?

The secure certificate may not be issued yet. Wait a little, and check that both records are correct; most hosts issue it automatically once the records are found.

Can I use a domain I bought years ago?

Yes, as long as it is still renewed and you can log in to the registrar. Check the renewal date so it does not lapse.

What if I do not own a domain yet?

Buy one in your business's name from any reputable registrar. A short name that matches your business and area is easier for customers to remember.

Asendify Instant Website gives every site a web.asendify.co address and lets you connect a domain you own, showing the exact records to add (an A record for `@` pointing to 76.76.21.21 and a CNAME for `www` pointing to cname.vercel-dns.com); to check the rest of a roofing site, try the free Roofing Website Checker.

More playbooks on other topics: https://www.asendify.co/books/

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