The economic downturn and high unemployment rate have inspired many people to follow their dreams and start their own businesses. The benefits of starting your own business are vast: you get to be your own boss, set your own hours, follow your passion, or just earn some side income to make ends meet.
But in the excitement of starting their own business, many would-be business owners forget to plan out all of the details, especially when it comes to their online presence. You know you'll need a well-designed website, but have you thought about website hosting? The following five options are among the best website hosts for small business.
Hostgator has taken the web world by storm and has quickly become one of the best website hosts for small business. The company currently hosts more than five million websites and is still growing rapidly. The reason for Hostgator's growth is its reliability, server stability, and friendly, around-the-clock customer service. The company even uses Facebook and Twitter to keep customers updated and fulfill support needs. Hostgator's hosting packages currently start at $3.96 per month and include small business website hosting essentials like unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, an easy-to-use control panel, and more.
Bluehost is another one of the best website hosts for small business that has become very popular in recent years. Founded in 1996, the company offers extremely reliable web hosting and is great for hosting WordPress websites and blogs. Starting at $5.95 per month, Bluehost's packages include unlimited hosting space, unlimited file transfer, unlimited e-mail accounts, a free website builder with templates, and 24 hour customer support.
InMotion Hosting ranks as one of the best website hosts for small business due to its reliability and superior customer service. Founded in 2001, the company is entirely employee owned and operated and uses only U.S. based customer service agents. The company has won several awards and recognitions, including high ratings from CNET and the Better Business Bureau. InMotion Hosting uses Linux and Unix operating systems, which web developers consider to be the most stable. Packages start at $5.95 per month and include 24-hour customer support, unlimited hosting space, e-commerce support, and more.
1&1's web hosting is a favorite among web developers, which makes it one off the best website hosts for small business. The company offers customers a choice between Windows and Linux platforms, 24-hour support, free domain names, and promises to never include hidden fees. Customers can choose between a variety of packages including the starter package with a base price of $4.99 with three months free or a business package that starts at $9.99 per month and offers six months of free service.
Your Web Designer
Business owners can also consider hosting their website with their web designer. Freelance web designers and web design agencies often purchase server space from hosting companies, which means business owners can get the same reliability for an often cheaper price. Not all web designers offer hosting, but the benefit of hosting the website with one who does is that the business owner does not have to worry about setting up or managing a hosting account. When you're busy managing your own budding business, having one less thing to worry about can be a big burden off your shoulders.
These five options are among the best website hosts for small business because all offer reliability, 24-hour customer support, and a solid reputation. However, every business has different needs. The company or option you choose should be the one that will help your business reach its full potential.
Lisa Walters - Lisa is a social media and online marketing professional who loves to help businesses develop smart social media and marketing strategies. ...
