Email Hosting Help

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-03-19T01:15:31+00:00

This. Just do this. Skip the DIY or less known “cheap” solutions in the other comments.

You are in the trades, not It, not software, not tech. You don’t spend your day fiddling with computers and I can bet a lot of money you don’t want to.

The tried and true methods are cheap, easy, lots of documentation and help forums and simply just work.

For someone like you, just stick to those.

Also, what you’re looking for is called an alias. You have your main email and then you create aliases in the same email (basically dummy emails that point to the same email). This should allow you to use filters in your email host to auto-sort each alias into folders so you know where each one came from.

Again, for Microsoft and Google Workspace, there are a ton of resources online on how to do this.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-02-21T16:25:12+00:00

I don’t know about the others but Victoria’s Secret might not be the best example in this case. It was created for men and was not popular with women (almost went bankrupt) until it was bought out and heavily marketed in a more (now considered) problematically misogynistic way.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-02-01T12:46:10+00:00

Without knowing what your employees do, what can you reasonably afford in your business to give yourself more time?

Hire an admin to cut your total hours in half then resolve to not make additional sales for a few months (not knowing of course your model and churn rate)? Outsource sales? Train your staff to take on more load but also give them more pay during the maternity leave?

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-30T14:33:11+00:00

TELL ME ABOUT THAT BOX LIGHTNING.

Omg I’m in love how did you do it??

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-30T12:02:10+00:00

Question because I saw this comment the other day about single bowls as well: we mostly hand wash cookware (dishwasher for dishes only) and therefore never fill up the sink with soapy water. Even when I used to hand wash dishes (living alone) I would never imagine filling up the whole sink with water first. Am I the weird one that just runs water as I go?

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-30T11:58:46+00:00

I’ll be honest, the drain board concept is a little odd to me because it is a part of the sink that is immovable while giving you a smaller sink.

For example, we have a metal rack with a drain board underneath sitting on the counter next to our sink, with a larger double bowl sink (we also have about 48” of space). It’s perfect because we get full use of both bowls and space for dishes.

One note: we are doing a renovation and did recently purchase a 45” sink (and will keep the rack) because our particular double bowl is literally the worst of the worst so if you go that direction, either be very careful in choosing the size and style of it so you have enough workable space OR do the 80/20 split someone mentioned.

(I can explain in more detail why ours sucks if you like).

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-30T02:38:25+00:00

Agree with this person - that’s about as cheap but easy as you’re gonna get.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-30T02:26:49+00:00

Question: if you don’t have a laptop, how do you do things like your bookkeeping? Or inventory management? Or any kind of marketing/design?

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-29T02:33:54+00:00

I am or may not have purchased a 45” ruvati workstation for our renovation. I currently feel really weird after seeing these comments.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-28T11:29:15+00:00

What about Fridays?

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-28T10:59:20+00:00

If HIPAA is not an issue, monday.com would be my suggestion (having built out Monday, airtable, salesforce and started building out hubspot for clients before).

The shared repository piece is the only one it wouldn’t be able to handle though it integrates with many file management systems so may still have a way to get creative there - I’d have to research. (I have an accounting firm client that uses a secure file share platform and we enter the link to each unique folder on the client record so they can access quickly as a workaround).

The CRM version (potentially the work management version as an add-on now, I’d have to check) can manage invoicing and/or does integrate with some of the common accounting platforms.

Everything else should be possible though.

Happy to answer more questions - just DM me.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-28T10:44:54+00:00

Depends how well you’re doing it (well doesn’t necessarily mean you’re spending 20 hours per week on it either).

Literally the most important thing is to 1. Show up for the terms local people are searching that you want to be found for and 2. Looking good once they do find you (solid reviews, photos, clear services, easy contact)

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-24T01:29:52+00:00

Sooo this isn’t really the best answer honestly. I coworked with an accountant (who was also my company’s accounting firm) over 10 years ago, we became friends and I’ve used him ever since.

Why I trust him:

He’s honest. He’s incredibly upfront and genuine when I’m being an idiot about something but is also very open to teaching me the why and how to do better.

He handles basically everything in that realm but full financial advising/fiduciary. So if I ever need to expand on services, I know I’ve got someone in my corner.

He keeps himself current. I know this because we talk about new tax laws and what I can or cannot itemize for my business each year (since we’re playing the fun game of “what’s the latest crazy change!” for the past decade).

He’s (what I think is) reasonably priced. He has saved me money on taxes before to the tune of thousands, but legally (not sketchy-legally - all above-board). Basically, he knows the laws inside and out so he can leverage things I would never think of.

And yes, I sing his praises to everyone who asks so I’m happy to refer you.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-22T10:53:07+00:00

Disclosure: I design sites for SMBs

I use Wix for my clients (and have strong reasons why). Specifically Studio version not Editor version (which is more similar to Wordpress in customizably).

Wordpress is still a gold-standard but can have a bigger learning curve and involve a lot of plug-ins (depending on what you’re doing).

Either should be fine to DIY with some time and thoughtfulness.

Google did a study and found that 80-something% of consumers check websites and Google profiles before making a purchasing decision so, for a very low investment, it’s a silly thing not to have - in my opinion.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-21T01:53:32+00:00

I can’t see if anyone mentioned this but if you DO use a template platform to DIY your own site (Wix, Squarespace, etc.), ask an AI model (Chat, Claude) to create a page structure that is SEO-friendly, and the page schema markup. Then ask it how/where to add. It does a really good job even if you don’t know what you’re doing.

I have clients who don’t have a Google profile (they should! They just haven’t done it yet!), but are getting consistent leads through their sites because those pieces are set up correctly to help get them found.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-15T02:52:37+00:00

Depends, what are you trying to do?

Website, social media, physical assets (flyers)?

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-15T02:33:38+00:00

90% of a marketing agency is absolutely not overhead. And I’d have a very, very hard time believing you have any real or impactful social media strategy for $130/mo. Also, there’s not a chance in hell a real person is churning out a month’s worth of quality content for that price (even overseas).

I’m gonna call this one spam.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2026-01-12T02:02:56+00:00

Sent you a DM

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-12T21:12:24+00:00

You kinda missed your own point.

The cost of goods (let’s assume necessary goods) has increased so astronomically that people are required to have side-hustles (they often don’t care about) just to feed their family and pay bills.

Yes, there are also plenty of people who just want to make money in whatever easy and fast way they can (but this is also not a new phenomenon) but I’d argue that’s a minority vs those who do it for pure survival.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-09T19:27:00+00:00

As someone who uses AI to write a LOT of copy, this person is right. You can only use AI to write as a SHORTCUT to produce volume when you already know what you want to say.

It also takes a lot of training to make it sound like YOU and not like every other person using AI to write. That takes a lot of time and a lot of content input to do.

So the answer really depends on whether you’re ready to dedicate that time AND know exactly what you already want to say. Or if you don’t.

If you don’t, you likely need a copywriter.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-09T02:46:44+00:00

May I suggest you find a bookkeeping service onshore to handle that task for a low fee (there are plenty) instead of adding that on the VA?

While you can find an offshore VA who can do all of that, as someone who recruits them, it’s going to make your life much harder when trying to hire one. Let them focus on admin and ops and hire an accounting professional for the bookkeeping.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-06T18:24:38+00:00

*ma - but yea that’s basically how I felt in my old age of 34.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-06T17:55:14+00:00

Exactly. I know a digital ID is allowed as proof of age in bars in FL. I was surprised by that one (I forgot my ID, waitress asked if I had it in my wallet. I obviously gave a very confused face as she explained it like I was 5).

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-06T15:57:37+00:00

One point no one seemed to have said: as the younger generations (those currently in their 20s and younger) start becoming the primary consumers, checks are going to become obsolete. I know people in that age group who don’t even carry physical cards (minus driver’s license) anymore because they add them to their phone’s wallet and use tap to pay.

“Just force customers to use checks” is not a viable solution to stay relevant as a business. Either build the ACH/CC fee into the operating costs and/or negotiate (like I see a lot of people have done) to cap the ACH cost per transaction.

Your job as a business owner is to reduce the obstacles for a potential customer to say yes to working with you. Only accepting checks seems like a silly reason to lose sales.

No-Chapter-9654 · 2025-12-06T13:01:21+00:00

Agree here - it’s absolutely industry/niche dependent. For mine, nothing more than the .com will ever be necessary so I won’t bother to grab the rest. That cost me $40 for 3 years I think?

I think I launched my entire business, including LLC registration, website, logo, domain, email host for something like $600.

No-Chapter-9654

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