Step‑by‑Step: Adding SPF Records to Protect Your New Business Email

Updated 2026-07-12 · Hosting Reviews

Getting your business email up and running is only half the battle; you also need to keep it from being spoofed or marked as spam. In this guide we’ll add SPF records protect new business email step by step, while also walking you through the essential decisions for domains and business email hosting.

What You Need Before You Start

To set up a reliable, professional email address (e.g., you@yourbrand.com) you’ll need three things:

1. A domain name – the part after the @ sign. Choose something short, memorable, and matching your brand.
2. Web hosting – a place where your domain’s DNS records live and where you can host a website or email service.
3. Business email service – many hosts include email tools, but you can also use third‑party providers like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

Hostinger offers an all‑in‑one package that includes a domain, shared hosting, and easy email setup, making it a solid choice for beginners.

Choosing the Right Hosting Plan

For a brand‑new business you don’t need heavyweight resources. Here’s a quick comparison:

• Shared hosting – $3‑$8/month. Good for low traffic sites and basic email. Resources are shared with other accounts, which keeps cost low.
• Cloud hosting – $8‑$15/month. Offers more consistent performance and scalability if you expect rapid growth.
• VPS – $15‑$30/month. Gives you root access and dedicated resources, useful for developers or high‑volume email.

Most small businesses start with shared hosting because it’s affordable and includes free SSL, one‑click WordPress installs, and a user‑friendly control panel – exactly what Hostinger provides.

Registering Your Domain the Easy Way

When you sign up with Hostinger, you can search for an available domain and register it in the same checkout. Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Hostinger account and go to the “Domains” section.
2. Enter your desired name, choose a TLD (.com, .net, .biz, etc.), and add it to the cart.
3. Complete the purchase – most plans include a free domain for the first year.
4. After payment, the domain appears in your “Domain & DNS” dashboard.

Keep your WHOIS contact information up‑to‑date; this is required for email verification and helps prevent hijacking.

Setting Up Business Email on Hostinger

Hostinger’s control panel (hPanel) lets you create email accounts with just a few clicks:

1. Navigate to Email Accounts and click “Create New Account”.
2. Enter the prefix you want (e.g., info) and set a strong password.
3. Choose the mailbox size – the default is usually enough for a small team.
4. Save the account. You can now access it via Webmail or configure it in Outlook, Gmail, etc.

Now that the mailbox exists, it’s time to protect it with an SPF record.

Step‑by‑Step: Add SPF Records to Protect Your New Business Email

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) tells receiving mail servers which IP addresses are authorized to send mail for your domain. Without it, spammers can spoof your address and your legitimate messages may land in spam folders.

Here’s the practical process using Hostinger’s DNS manager:

1. Identify the sending servers. If you’re using Hostinger’s email, the sending IP is covered by their default include: include:spf.hostinger.com. If you also use a third‑party service (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid), note their SPF include strings from their docs.
2. Open the DNS zone editor. In hPanel, go to “DNS Zone” for your domain.
3. Add a new TXT record.
   • Host/Name: @ (or leave blank to apply to the root domain).
   • Value: v=spf1 include:spf.hostinger.com ~all. Replace ~all with -all for a stricter policy once you’re sure all legitimate senders are listed.
   • TTL: leave default (usually 3600 seconds).
4. Save the record. Propagation typically takes a few minutes to a couple of hours.
5. Test the SPF. Use a free tool like MXToolbox SPF Lookup or send a test email to a Gmail address and check the “Show original” view – you should see “spf=pass”.

If you add other services later, simply edit the TXT record and append their include statements (e.g., include:sendgrid.net) before the ~all tag.

Speed, Security, and Ongoing Maintenance

Once your domain and email are live, keep these basics in mind:

• Free SSL – Hostinger automatically provisions an SSL certificate for your website, securing HTTPS traffic.
• Regular backups – Enable daily backups in hPanel; many shared plans include them at no extra cost.
• Update passwords – Use a password manager and rotate passwords every 6‑12 months.
• Monitor DNS changes – A simple DNS monitoring service can alert you if unauthorized records appear.

Following these habits will keep your site fast, secure, and trustworthy to customers.

FAQ

Do I need a separate hosting account for email?

No. Most shared hosting plans, including Hostinger’s, bundle email services with the domain’s DNS. Only consider a dedicated email provider if you need advanced collaboration tools.

Can I use my own domain with Google Workspace?

Absolutely. After registering the domain with Hostinger, add the Google Workspace MX records in the DNS zone. You’ll still add an SPF TXT record to authorize Google’s servers.

How often should I review my SPF record?

Whenever you add or remove a service that sends email on your behalf. A quick check every 3‑6 months is a good habit to avoid accidental failures.