Discover the range of options online

Get rapid, reliable service that's existed for years, has a physical address, doesn't overload its servers and has plenty of available bandwidth.

I recommend: Visit FindMyHosting.com for an unbiased resource of thousands of hosts with customer reviews and host reliability data. No advertising accepted. Get 10 free quotes from matching Web hosts.

Get what you need in one place

Many Web hosting services cater to companies that require large-scale solutions. But for many small businesses, especially those that aren't involved in e-commerce and don't expect high traffic, a modest hosting package will suffice.

I recommend: GoDaddy.com is a popular hosting service that offers affordable plans geared to small businesses.

Look for reliability

Pricing is important, of course, but remember that lower fees may mean lower technical support. A cheaper host may go out of business soon, and you don't want to move to another host later. Be certain the host backs up server, Web site and database files daily.

I recommend: Try these reliable hosts that have been around since the late 1990s: Boston Computing Network or PhastNet.

Look for live support

Call the tech support phone number, not sales, and see how quickly you get to a technician. Try it at 3 a.m. A real person needs to answer the phone 24/7.

I recommend: See Concentric, in business since 1997, or Rackspace, whose motto is "fanatical support."

Use a host with solid financials

If you're depending on the Internet to sell products, partner with a host that won't shut down in six months. A financially shaky host could hurt your business. Ask for and read the financials.

I recommend: Check out Hostway, which serves 400,000 customers. It's been profitable every quarter since its 1998 beginning.

Find a host that grows with you

When your business grows, you'll need to upgrade – and that means more than just increased storage and bandwidth. Does the host offers e-commerce products, SPAM filters, anti-virus protection and marketing software?

I recommend: Check out these winners: Blue Host, IX Web Hosting, Pow Web, and Lunarpages.

Get help with site creation

Many hosting services also offer Web creation tools that will help you get your Web site up and running quickly. Look for design templates and easy online store set-up tools.

I recommend: Hosting services, such as ApolloHosting.com and ValueWeb.com offer a number of site creation tools to help you build your site.

Avoid host networks that have been blackholed

Some networks will host any Web sites, including porn sites and spammers. If a network gets blackholed – or blacklisted for spamming – that will affect your customers, too.

I recommend: Spamhaus is a third-party source that monitors and names blackholed networks.