Migrating your business email to Google Workspace — or setting it up from scratch — sounds simple until you're mid-migration with missing calendar invites and locked-out staff. Choosing the right Google Workspace migration provider is the difference between a smooth overnight switch and a week of support tickets. Here's exactly what to check before you hire one.
What Is Google Workspace Migration and Who Needs It?
Google Workspace migration/setup covers moving your business email, calendars, contacts, and files from an existing provider (Microsoft 365, on-prem Exchange, or another host) into Gmail/Google Workspace, or setting up Workspace correctly from day one for a new business. Any company with 5+ staff mailboxes benefits from a professional setup — DIY migrations frequently lose calendar data or break shared inbox permissions.
How Much Does Google Workspace Migration Cost in 2026?
For a standard small-business migration (5–25 users, single source platform), professional setup typically costs $15–$40 per mailbox as a one-time fee, or $200–$800 flat for a small team, depending on data volume and whether shared drives/calendars need remapping. Google's native Data Migration Service (DMS) is free but requires someone experienced to configure it correctly — most of the cost you're paying for is expertise, not tooling.
What to Look for in a Migration Provider
- A written migration plan and timeline — not just "we'll figure it out"
- Experience with your specific source platform (Microsoft 365/Exchange vs. another Gmail-alternative host)
- Zero/minimal downtime approach — staff should keep working during the cutover
- Permission and shared-drive mapping — not just individual mailboxes
- Post-migration support window — issues often surface days after cutover, not during it
- Staff training or a quick-start guide included in the package
A standard 5–25 user migration should take 1–3 days elapsed time, with the heavy lifting running overnight — if a provider quotes weeks for a small team, that's a red flag.
In-House vs Outsourced Google Workspace Setup: Which Is Right for You?
If you're comfortable with Google's Admin Console and have fewer than 5 mailboxes with no complex shared drives, DIY using Google's free DMS tool is reasonable. For anything larger, or if you're migrating from Microsoft 365/Exchange with shared calendars and Teams-linked files, an experienced Google Workspace setup provider avoids the data-loss risk of a self-run migration.
Why Businesses Choose CloudHouse for Google Workspace Setup
CloudHouse Technologies handles Google Workspace and Outlook setup end-to-end — domain verification, MX record configuration, mailbox migration, and shared drive permission mapping — billed hourly with no lock-in contract, so you only pay for the migration itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Google Workspace migration cost?
Professional setup typically costs $15–$40 per mailbox, or $200–$800 flat for a small team of 5–25 users, depending on data volume and complexity.
How long does a Google Workspace migration take?
A standard small-business migration takes 1–3 days elapsed time, with most data transfer running overnight to minimize disruption.
Do you offer a one-time migration without an ongoing contract?
Yes — CloudHouse bills Google Workspace migration and setup hourly as a one-time project, with no requirement to sign an ongoing support contract.
Will my staff lose email access during migration?
A properly planned migration keeps staff working during the cutover with little to no downtime — this is one of the key things to verify with any provider before hiring them.
Can you migrate from Microsoft 365/Outlook to Google Workspace?
Yes — CloudHouse handles migrations from Microsoft 365, on-prem Exchange, and other providers into Google Workspace, including calendar, contacts, and shared drive permissions.