Overview
By default, the links you share with clients and the emails they arrive in use Handoff's address. With Custom Domains, they use yours instead, so every client touchpoint looks like it came from your business.
Links: proposals, invoices, the Client Portal, documents, daily logs, shared files, and Sub & Vendor Portal links use an address like share.contractor.com.
Email: client and vendor emails come from an address like [email protected] instead of [email protected].
Custom Domains is available on the Scale plan.
Before you start
You need a domain your business owns, like contractor.com, that already has a website or email on it.
You need access to the DNS settings where your domain is managed (for example, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Squarespace). If someone else manages your website, you can email them the instructions during setup.
You need the Custom domains permission. By default, only Admins have it.
Setup happens in two parts: links first, then email.
Step 1: Set up your links
Go to Settings → Company settings and find the Custom Domains card. Click Set up.
On the Links card, click Set up.
Enter your domain, like contractor.com, and click Continue. Your links will use the share prefix, for example share.contractor.com. Whatever is on your main website keeps working.
Handoff checks your domain right away and lets you know if anything needs fixing first.
Add the records to your domain:
If your domain is on Cloudflare (on desktop), click Continue to Cloudflare and approve the record there. You never share a password or API key with Handoff.
Otherwise, open your DNS settings and add the two records shown (a CNAME and a TXT record). Use the copy buttons to avoid typos, save your changes, then click Submit for review.
Handoff checks your records automatically. This usually takes a few minutes, but DNS changes can sometimes take longer. You can click Check again at any time.
When the Links card shows Connected, your client links use your domain. This includes links you shared before setup: when you copy them in Handoff, they show your address. Links already sent on Handoff's address keep working.
Tip: If someone else manages your domain, click Email these instructions to someone else to send them the records.
Step 2: Set up email
Email uses the same domain as your links, so set up links first. Once your link records are verified, the Emails card unlocks.
On the Emails card, click Set up.
Enter the part before the @, like hello. You'll see a preview of how your emails will look to clients. Click Continue.
Add the three records shown where your domain is managed, then click Submit for review. Handoff checks them automatically.
Click Send test email. The test goes to your company email by default, but you can change the address.
When the screen shows Your test email arrived, click Turn on sending.
Client emails now come from your address. Until sending is turned on, emails keep going out from [email protected] on your behalf, and replies still come to you.
Status and what it means
Setup required: setup hasn't been started or finished.
In review: Handoff is checking your records.
Connected: your links or emails are using your domain.
Needs attention: something isn't working. Open the card to see what's wrong and how to fix it.
If something stops working
Handoff checks your domain every day. If your records keep failing over a few hours (for example, after a change to your DNS settings), your links and emails go back to Handoff's address so clients aren't affected, and you're notified with the reason.
Links switch back to your domain automatically once the records are fixed.
Email needs a new test: fix the records, click Send test email, then Turn on sending again.
To protect your email reputation, sending from your domain is also paused if too many clients mark your emails as spam or too many emails bounce. Emails go out from Handoff's address until you send a new test and turn sending back on.
Disconnect your domain
Disconnect links: on the Links card, click Disconnect. Links you've already sent on your domain stop working, including proposals and invoices in your clients' inboxes. Send those clients a new link. New links use Handoff's address. Disconnecting links also disconnects your email domain.
Disconnect email only: emails go back to being sent from [email protected]. Your links aren't affected.
Nothing is lost when you disconnect. Your proposals, invoices, and other shared items are still available on Handoff's address.
Send branded emails without a custom domain
On Scale, you can remove Handoff branding from your email content even without your own domain. Go to Settings → Company settings → Brand and, under Emails, turn on Send emails with your own branding. Your emails use your company name, logo, and brand color, with no mention of Handoff.
If you've set up email on your own domain, this is turned on automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Does this cost extra?
Answer: No. Custom Domains is included in the Scale plan.
I don't see Custom Domains in my settings.
Answer: Ask an Admin to check that your role has the Custom domains permission.
I don't have my own domain. Can I still use this?
Answer: You'll need to buy a domain first. You can still turn on branded emails in your Brand settings.
Can I send text messages from my own number?
Answer: No. Custom Domains covers links and email only.
What happens if I leave the Scale plan?
Nothing changes until the end of your paid period. After that, your links and emails go back to Handoff's address, and links already sent on your domain stop working. If you re-subscribe, set up links again (your DNS records still work, so there's nothing to change) and set up email again from the start. Your old links on your domain work again once links are reconnected.