Two-step setup: hosting now, point your domain when ready

Buying hosting for a domain you registered somewhere else? You don't have to migrate the domain to CanSpace, and you don't have to wait — you can have your hosting up and running today, then point your domain at it whenever you're ready. This article explains the workflow.

The two pieces

A working website needs two things in place:

1. Hosting — a server somewhere with your files and a database.
2. Domain — pointed at that server, so visitors typing your domain land on it.

These are independent. Your hosting can be at CanSpace while your domain stays at GoDaddy / Namecheap / wherever — they just need to be connected via DNS.

Order of operations

The order we recommend:

1. Order your hosting plan from CanSpace.
2. Build / migrate your site on the new hosting (preview it via the hosts file trick).
3. Update DNS at your registrar to point at CanSpace.
4. (Optional) Transfer your domain to CanSpace as a separate, independent step.

Each step is independent and reversible. The only one that visitors notice is step 3 (DNS).

Step 1: order hosting

Visit canspace.ca/web-hosting and pick a plan. During checkout:

• You can use your existing domain — just enter it in the "I want to use my existing domain" field. We won't touch it; we just need to know what domain your hosting account is "for".
• Or you can register a new domain at the same time (we'll handle the registration alongside).
• Or you can transfer in a domain (we'll start the transfer alongside).

For someone with a domain already registered elsewhere who isn't ready to move it, the first option is exactly right.

You'll receive a New Account Information email with your cPanel login, server hostname, and nameservers. Step 1 done.

Step 2: build / migrate your site

Now you have an empty hosting account. You can:

• Build a new site from scratch using SiteJet, WordPress (via Softaculous), or any other software.
• Migrate an existing site from your current host. We'll do this for free with any new hosting plan — see What's included in our free website migration.

While your domain still points at the old host, visitors continue seeing the old site. You're working on the new one in private.

Step 2b: preview the new site (before changing DNS)

Want to test that the new site looks right before flipping DNS? Use the hosts file trick — add a one-line override on your computer that maps your domain to your CanSpace IP. Just for you. See Preview your site before updating DNS.

Step 3: update DNS at your registrar

When you're ready for the world to start seeing the new site, update DNS at your existing registrar. Two approaches:

Option A: change nameservers (recommended)

Replace your domain's existing nameservers with the CanSpace pair (in your New Account Information email — e.g. ns27.canspace.ca + ns28.canspace.ca).

This is the simplest setup: cPanel manages your DNS zone, MX records and DKIM are configured automatically, and changes you make in cPanel propagate without needing to update anything at the registrar.

Option B: keep nameservers where they are, just point the A record

Leave nameservers as they are. Add an A record (and a www CNAME) pointing your domain at your CanSpace server's IP.

This option is useful if:

• You've already set up complex DNS (Cloudflare, custom records) you don't want to recreate.
• You use email at a third-party provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) and want to keep MX records exactly as they are.
• You're doing a phased migration where some subdomains stay at the old host.

The catch: if you ever need to change cPanel-managed records (say, add an SSL CAA record or change MX for new email), you'll do it at your DNS provider, not in cPanel.

What happens during DNS propagation

After step 3, DNS resolvers around the world start to see the new IP. Most update within a few minutes; some can take 24-48 hours. During the propagation window:

• Some visitors hit the new site (CanSpace).
• Others still hit the old site (whatever it was).
• Both sites are technically live; visitors just see whichever DNS reply reaches them first.

This is normal and unavoidable. The transition usually takes only a few hours in practice. To track progress, check whatsmydns.net.

Step 4 (optional): transfer the domain to CanSpace

Transferring the domain to CanSpace is a separate step — you don't have to do it. It's purely about who registers / renews the domain. If you transfer:

• You consolidate your bills (one renewal at CanSpace instead of two at separate providers).
• You manage everything from one client area.
• If you used Option A above, your nameservers stay pointing at CanSpace through the transfer.

Transferring doesn't disrupt anything if your nameservers / DNS are already pointing at CanSpace. See Transfer a domain to CanSpace.

Common questions

Can I cancel hosting at the old host before DNS updates?

You can, but don't — keep the old hosting active until DNS has fully propagated. If something goes wrong on the new host during propagation, having the old site still serving as a fallback is useful. Cancel the old host a week or two after the cutover.

Will my email keep working during the cutover?

Depends on your email setup. If you used a third-party email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), it'll keep working — DNS just needs the right MX records. If you used your old host's email and you're switching to CanSpace email, you'll need to migrate mailboxes; see Migrate your email from a non-cPanel provider.

How long should I overlap?

2-4 weeks is a comfortable overlap window. By then DNS has fully propagated, you've confirmed the new site is stable, you've migrated any mail you needed, and you can cancel the old host with confidence.

Can I do this in a different order?

Yes. Some people prefer to update DNS first and build the site live (with a "Coming soon" page in the meantime). Others do a same-day cutover with everything ready before flipping DNS. The order above is just the most common.

Related articles

• Point your existing domain at CanSpace hosting
• Transfer a domain to CanSpace
• Preview your site before updating DNS
• What's included in our free website migration

Not sure how to coordinate the cutover? Open a support ticket and we'll guide you through it.