> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bookeeping.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Your Custom Domain

> Point your domain to your bookkeeping portal by adding a single DNS record at your DNS provider.

# How Custom Domain Setup Works

You can run your bookkeeping portal on your own domain — for example `books.yourcompany.com` or `portal.yourcompany.com`. To do this you add **one DNS record** at whoever manages your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.). This guide walks you through it for every major provider.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes. After you add the record, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for the change to take effect.

***

## What you'll add

In almost all cases you'll create a **CNAME record**:

| Field                          | Value                                                     |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Type**                       | `CNAME`                                                   |
| **Name / Host**                | the subdomain you want (e.g. `books`, `portal`, or `app`) |
| **Value / Target / Points to** | `cname1.bookeeper.ai`                                     |
| **TTL**                        | Automatic / Default (or `3600`)                           |

> **Tip:** A subdomain (like `books.yourcompany.com`) is the easiest and most reliable choice. If you want to use your *root* domain with no subdomain (e.g. `yourcompany.com` itself), skip to [Using a root domain](#using-a-root-domain).

***

## Choose your DNS provider

Jump to your provider:

* [GoDaddy](#godaddy)
* [Namecheap](#namecheap)
* [Cloudflare](#cloudflare)
* [Squarespace / Google Domains](#squarespace--google-domains)
* [Amazon Route 53](#amazon-route-53)
* [Hostinger](#hostinger)
* [Name.com](#namecom)
* [IONOS / 1&1](#ionos--11)
* [Bluehost](#bluehost)
* [Wix](#wix)
* [Other providers](#other-providers)

***

### GoDaddy

1. Sign in at [godaddy.com](https://godaddy.com) and open **My Products**.
2. Next to your domain, click **DNS** (or **Manage DNS**).
3. Under **Records**, click **Add**.
4. Fill in:
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Value:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `1 Hour`
5. Click **Save**.

***

### Namecheap

1. Sign in at [namecheap.com](https://namecheap.com) and go to **Domain List**.
2. Click **Manage** next to your domain, then open the **Advanced DNS** tab.
3. Under **Host Records**, click **Add New Record**.
4. Fill in:
   * **Type:** `CNAME Record`
   * **Host:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Value:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `Automatic`
5. Click the green **✓** checkmark to save.

***

### Cloudflare

1. Sign in at [dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com) and select your domain.
2. In the left sidebar, click **DNS → Records**.
3. Click **Add record**.
4. Fill in:
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Target:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **Proxy status:** **DNS only** (click the orange cloud so it turns **grey**)
5. Click **Save**.

> **Important:** The proxy must be set to **DNS only** (grey cloud). Leaving it proxied (orange cloud) will prevent your portal from loading correctly.

***

### Squarespace / Google Domains

> Google Domains was acquired by Squarespace, so domains are now managed here.

1. Sign in at [account.squarespace.com](https://account.squarespace.com) and open **Domains**.
2. Select your domain, then click **DNS** → **DNS Settings**.
3. Under **Custom Records**, add a record:
   * **Host:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Data:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
4. Click **Add** / **Save**.

***

### Amazon Route 53

1. Open the [Route 53 console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/route53/).
2. Go to **Hosted zones** and select your domain.
3. Click **Create record**.
4. Fill in:
   * **Record name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Record type:** `CNAME`
   * **Value:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `300`
5. Click **Create records**.

***

### Hostinger

1. Sign in at [hpanel.hostinger.com](https://hpanel.hostinger.com).
2. Go to **Domains → DNS / Nameservers**.
3. Under **Manage DNS records**, add a record:
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Target / Points to:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `14400`
4. Click **Add Record**.

***

### Name.com

1. Sign in at [name.com](https://name.com) and open **My Domains**.
2. Click your domain, then **DNS Records**.
3. Under **Add Record**, fill in:
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Host:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Answer:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `300`
4. Click **Add Record**.

***

### IONOS / 1&1

1. Sign in at [ionos.com](https://ionos.com) and open **Domains & SSL**.
2. Click the gear/▾ next to your domain and choose **DNS**.
3. Click **Add Record** and choose **CNAME**.
4. Fill in:
   * **Host name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Points to:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `1 Hour`
5. Click **Save**.

***

### Bluehost

1. Sign in at [bluehost.com](https://bluehost.com) and go to **Domains**.
2. Select your domain and open **DNS** (or **Zone Editor**).
3. Add a record:
   * **Type:** `CNAME`
   * **Host Record / Name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Points To:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `4 Hours`
4. Click **Add Record** / **Save**.

***

### Wix

1. Sign in at [wix.com](https://wix.com) and go to your **Domains** dashboard.
2. Select your domain and click **Edit DNS** / **Manage DNS Records**.
3. Under **CNAME (Aliases)**, click **Add Record**:
   * **Host name:** `books` (or your chosen subdomain)
   * **Value / Points to:** `cname1.bookeeper.ai`
   * **TTL:** `1 Hour`
4. Click **Save**.

***

### Other providers

Any DNS provider works — the steps are essentially the same. Find where you manage **DNS records** for your domain and add:

| Field              | Value                              |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------- |
| **Type**           | `CNAME`                            |
| **Host / Name**    | `books` (or your chosen subdomain) |
| **Value / Target** | `cname1.bookeeper.ai`              |

***

## Using a root domain

Some people want their portal on the **bare/root domain** — `yourcompany.com` instead of `books.yourcompany.com`. Most DNS providers do **not** allow a plain `CNAME` on the root, so you have two options:

1. **Recommended — use a subdomain instead.** Point `books.yourcompany.com` (or `www`) at `cname1.bookeeper.ai` using the steps above. This is the most reliable setup.
2. **Use CNAME flattening / ALIAS / ANAME.** If your provider supports it, you can point the root at our target:
   * **Cloudflare:** add a `CNAME` on `@` with target `cname1.bookeeper.ai` (Cloudflare flattens it automatically). Set proxy to **DNS only**.
   * **Route 53:** create an **Alias** record on the root pointing to `cname1.bookeeper.ai`.
   * **Other providers:** look for a record type called **ALIAS**, **ANAME**, or **CNAME flattening** and use `cname1.bookeeper.ai` as the target.

If you're unsure, go with a subdomain — it always works.

***

## After you add the record

It will automatically generate a SSL certificate for your domain, and you can share your custom whitelabel URL with your clients.

***

## Troubleshooting

**"This site can't be reached" / domain doesn't load**

* DNS may still be propagating — wait a bit longer and try again.
* Double-check the record **Type** is `CNAME` and the **Value** is exactly `cname1.bookeeper.ai` (no extra spaces or a trailing dot issue).

**Verify your record is live**

Run this from a terminal, replacing the hostname with yours:

```bash theme={null}
dig CNAME books.yourcompany.com +short
```

You should see `cname1.bookeeper.ai` in the output. You can also check using a free tool like [dnschecker.org](https://dnschecker.org).

**Still stuck?** Contact our support team with your domain name and we'll help you get connected.