Creating a Google Apps Account is easy, and for a business with 10 users or less it is free to you depending on your business needs. It is a perfect solution for any small business where in addition to receiving a free email service, a business can make use of the Google Apps Marketplace.

Google Apps for individuals and small teams features a user maximum of 10 users; an email inbox size of 10 GB; a custom email address; the use of email, calendar, docs and team sites; and self-service online support.

Although the next levels, Google Apps for Business and Google Apps for Business with Vault, boast 24/7 customer support and 99.9% uptime guarantee along with a handful of other features each, it is near as reliable.

An account requires using your own domain which you can register through Google or through a domain name registrar of your own (GoDaddy, NameCheap, etc.). Even though you can set up email through the same hosting company as your business website or blog, if you are a fan of Google’s Gmail you’ll prefer the feature-rich Google Apps account. Not only can you manage one domain, you can add additional domains and manage email accounts as domain aliases on the account once they are verified. So each of the 10 users on the business accounts can then be assigned emails for each business entity. This is perfect for multi-site admins who can manage email from a number of aliases in one account.

When you sign-up for Google Apps have your domain ready, or be ready to purchase one to get started. You are assigned a verification code file to upload to your hosting server. Google explains how to create the file and where to upload it. There is also detail about creating MX records (mail exchanger records). These records are key in prioritizing and routing email.

After the initial set up and domain verification you can create emails, add domains and create domain and email aliases, and shop the Google Apps Marketplace. Users will need to add additional email addresses (the same the admin added in the master account settings) and verify directly in their mail settings to start receiving email from secondary domains. In Mail Settings under Accounts is a link to “Add another email address you own.” In the process of adding the email the user is prompted to send a test email and input the verification code received in it.

Once emails are set up, tested and verified, you are ready to get down to business and manage your email and business with ease.