It is increasingly important to have a business website these days, and there are numerous tools and platforms that can help you do so. You will need your own web hosting unless you bought your web address or domain as a standalone product. Some website builders and e-commerce platforms include hosting as part of their products, but in some cases, you will need to purchase your own. A number of top options are available if you’re looking for the Best Small Business Web Hosting.
Start a small business hosting company today and see the advantages of using the Best Small Business Web Hosting. By understanding the different types of small business hosting companies, you can choose the best one for your needs. Here are four reasons why you should choose a small business hosting company:
Best Small Business Web Hosting
Things to Know Before Choosing the Best Web Hosting for Small Business
As you research the best web hosting for small businesses, you may run into terms and phrases that are unfamiliar to you. It’s important to know what you need, and what’s just nice to have.
What Does Caching Do for a Website?
A cache holds data temporarily, which uses less processing power on a server. Caching can happen on hardware or through software. If you’ve visited a website once, that page’s data is cached, so the next time you access it, everything loads faster. It’s a beneficial feature that can improve the performance of your site—especially for returning site visitors.
What Is a CDN, and Do You Need One?
A content delivery network (CDN) is a physical form of caching. A CDN typically spreads data across several servers located around the world. Usually, your site is hosted on a single server in one location.
Some web hosts let you choose the server that best fits your audience. If your audience is global, then you may need to use a CDN. It allows faster loading times for anyone who accesses your website regardless of where they live.
How Important Is WHOIS Privacy?
When you register a domain name, you have to include contact information, including your address and phone number. Anyone can lookup WHOIS information on any website, so if you don’t mask your info, you could be opening yourself up to spam, telemarketers, and other unwanted contacts.
Some web hosts include WHOIS privacy with their hosting plans, but not all. You can use a business address and phone number, rather than your personal info. It may be worth the added cost to get WHOIS privacy masking, which will display information that isn’t personally identifying.
Why You Need an SSL Certificate
A secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate is an encrypted code that keeps data that transfers to and from different machines. You’ll know a site has this if you see the small lock icon at the top left of the URL in a browser (it’s also indicated by the “s” in “https”). So, it protects your site and your site visitors.
It’s important to have an SSL certificate especially if you have an eCommerce website because it helps secure credit card information and passwords. Plus, you’ll have an easier time ranking in Google’s search engine results if you protect your site with an SSL certificate.
Most web hosts include an SSL certificate at no added cost, though there are some still that charge extra for it. Also, most use the Let’s Encrypt version of an SSL certificate, which is a domain-validated (DV) SSL. A single-domain SSL certificate is enough for most small businesses, though you may want to purchase an extended-validated (EV) SSL certificate, which provides more validity for your site.
Best Hosting Providers for Small Businesses
1. Bluehost: Best for beginners
Bluehost is a perennial favorite for personal and business web hosting because of how easy it is to set up and use the company’s services. Like Namecheap, Bluehost offers very affordable web hosting solutions for small businesses that need simple sites and complex e-commerce outfits alike. You can even get a free domain when signing up for some of their one-year plans.
Bluehost offers the following hosting packages:
- Shared: The most commonly used option by individuals and small-business owners alike. Includes e-commerce compatibility, WordPress integration and dedicated customer service for $7.99 per month.
- VPS: Upgrades from the Shared tier to provide a virtual private server, which adds a level of security and access for businesses that need more flexibility with how they use their server space. Costs $29.99 per month.
- Dedicated: Provides the utmost level of security and support for high-traffic websites. This is one of the best web hosting options for small businesses with robust e-commerce websites that need as much bandwidth and security as possible. Costs $119.99 per month.
2. HostGator
HostGator is our top recommended hosting provider for small businesses, scoring an impressive 4.9 out of 5 in our research overall. This is a huge leap from its previous third place position in our pre-2022 rankings when it scored 4.3! It’s a beginner-friendly, feature-rich service with a reliable uptime of 99.99%.
HostGator’s plans are relatively cheap, and they come with a 45-day money-back guarantee, so small businesses can test out the water without risking precious savings. It’s also worth mentioning that HostGator has the highest help and support score of any hosting provider we tested – across all categories, not just small businesses!
Price: 3.7/5
When it comes to HostGator’s shared plans, there’s plenty for you to sink your teeth into. The three shared packages are:
- Hatchling – from $2.75/month. Entry-level, and great value for money.
- Baby – from $3.50/month. Offers more help for those growing a small business.
- Business – from $5.25/month. Best for businesses that are already growing fast.
We highly recommend shared hosting plans for small businesses. They don’t cost a lot of money, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, the 45-day money-back guarantee is a low-risk way of trying it out for yourself before making a decision.
3. Namecheap: Best for technical support
If you’re a newcomer to managing your website, the best web hosting for your small business might be the one that provides you with round-the-clock technical support, and is willing to go the extra mile to make sure your site is up and running just the way you want it.
Namecheap goes above and beyond in this department, offering 24/7 support through chat — no question is too big or too small for Namecheap’s team of technical support specialists, who are even willing to step in and make changes for their customers if they don’t have the technical savvy to do it themselves. And as the name implies, their web hosting prices are pretty competitive as well.
There are several Namecheap hosting tiers:
- Stellar Business: Provides unmetered bandwidth so your site never slows down during high-traffic periods. Comes with free automatic backups as well, and is PCI compliant and e-commerce friendly. Costs $4.44 per month for the first year, then goes up to $8.88 per month.
- EasyWP Turbo: Inexpensive hosting for WordPress sites with up to 250,000 visitors per month and 50 gigabytes of storage included. Costs $7.88 per month, with the first month for $2.
- Qasar: Full VPS hosting with Linux-based servers, allowing companies that need a total command of their networks the flexibility to run their digital presence as they see fit. Costs $24.88 per month, with a new signup promotion of $19.88 per month.
- Xeon E3-1240 v3: A physical server solution for businesses that need to go the extra mile for their websites and digital environments. Costs $74.88 per month, with the first month for $36.88.
4. Bluehost
While HostGator tops the charts, Bluehost certainly makes a compelling case in second.
Bluehost has remained consistent, with its score staying at 4.6 out of 5 since our pre-2022 research. However, in that time, Bluehost has dropped into second place from its previous position at the top of the list. That being said, in our market analysis testing, Bluehost remains victorious with an impressive 4.9 out of 5, making it our most trusted hosting provider with users. With comprehensive features, excellent customer service, and affordable shared hosting plans, it continues to be a solid choice for small businesses.
Let’s take a deeper look at what Bluehost has to offer.
Price: 3.5/5
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Bluehost’s shared hosting plan prices range from $2.95–$28.99, making them a cost-effective choice for any new or small business. Its four plans – Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro – all come with cheap introductory fees to help you get started. Here’s what a 12 month subscription looks like:
- Basic: from $2.95/month
- Plus: from $5.45/month
- Choice Plus: from $5.45/month
- Pro: from $13.95/month
Bluehost’s hosting plans also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not completely happy with the service you receive, you’ll get a full refund.
5. HostGator: Best for tech-heavy businesses
If you need more from your site than just a place for customers to find you online, you might be looking at dedicated server hosting as your preferred method of managing and storing your website data. Should this sound like your situation, HostGator might be the best website hosting company for your small business.
For those who don’t know, dedicated server hosting means getting your own server within a company’s existing network. Instead of sharing server space with other websites, you’ll get your own dedicated server, as well as the software and customer service tools required to keep things running smoothly.
HostGator also offers more introductory-level hosting options as well, which are on par with other providers in terms of pricing and services.
Here’s what HostGator offers:
- Dedicated server plans: There are three tiers, each using Intel Xeon-D CPU servers. Plans also come with eight, 16 and 30 GB RAM options. All dedicated servers also include three dedicated IPv4 IPs, DDOS protection, unlimited databases, fully redundant network and 24/7/365 live support. Prices start at $118.99 per month.
- Shared web hosting business plan: Less intense and expensive than HostGator’s dedicated servers, which makes it a better fit for businesses with lighter needs for their websites. This plan includes unlimited domains, unmetered bandwidth, free SSL certificates, SEO tools and even a free business domain name. Prices start at $5.95 per month.
Best Web Hosting For Beginners
1. SiteGround
SiteGround is one of the most popular web hosts with a first-class reputation stretching far and wide, from Canada to Singapore. You know why? They tick all the boxes. Not only do they offer a custom-built beginner-friendly dashboard, but also an easy onboarding process, and excellent support.
Maybe that’s why SiteGround is a little pricier than Bluehost, but they make up for that with some of the best support in the hosting industry.
Top features for beginners
- Website setup wizard – after you sign up, SiteGround offers a simple wizard to help you launch your website.
- User-friendly custom dashboard – SiteGround built its own user-friendly hosting dashboard that makes it easy to manage your website(s) and access key tools.
- Free email hosting – SiteGround makes it easy to create your own branded email address.
- Automatic WordPress updates – if you’re using WordPress, SiteGround automatically updates the software for you.
- Automatic backups – SiteGround automatically backs up your data on all plans to keep for peace of mind.
- Excellent 24/7 support – SiteGround offers 24/7 support via phone, live chat, online tickets, and has top-rated support according to the 800+ users who participated in our WordPress hosting survey.
Pricing
SiteGround offers three hosting plans:
- StartUp – $2.99 per month for a single website.
- GrowBig – $4.99 per month for unlimited websites.
- GoGeek – $7.99 per month for unlimited websites with more resources and priority support.
2. Hostinger
| Features | Free SSL, weekly backups, SSD storage, LiteSpeed web server |
| Uptime | 100% |
| Speed | 511ms |
| Best for | Cheap performance-focused hosting for beginners |
Hostinger dominates as one of the best web hosting providers for beginners not only for its simplicity but also because of its affordability. This combination of being inexpensive and easy to use makes Hostinger one of the best providers for virtually any purpose. What’s more, it doesn’t scrimp on excellent features and performance despite its pocket-friendly price tag.
Here are Hostinger’s highlights for beginners:
- Hostinger has its own custom control panel called hPanel. It’s powerful and functional without being intimidating – perfect panel for beginners! You will get to enjoy 1-click installations and a dedicated WordPress management tool.
- There’s an impressive variety of customer support options available: 24/7 live chat, email, a ticketing system, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Based on personal experience, their agents are particularly skilled and very friendly.
- The host uses the latest tech to ensure fast and reliable performance results. LiteSpeed web server technology, caching, and the latest PHP are just some examples of the performance-boosting features it offers.
Hostinger ticks all the most important boxes: price, ease of use, customer service, and performance. I’ll admit that while I was a bit sceptical at first, the results quelled my doubts.
3. Bluehost
| Features | Functional interface, cPanel, WordPress staging |
| Uptime | 99.99% |
| Speed | 361ms |
| Best for | Beginner-focused WordPress hosting |
Bluehost is one of the biggest names when it comes to beginner web hosting, and for a good reason. It offers a beginner-friendly and functional panel, plus it comes with automatic WordPress setup, and management tools.
Here’s why Bluehost is a solid pick for web hosting beginners:
- Bluehost offers an easy setup process. It launches a WordPress setup tool upon your first login and immediately starts the domain and SSL activation process. The host is one of the best WordPress hosting solutions out there.
- It has a user-friendly dashboard and cPanel for painless server and website management.
- Bluehost comes with an AI-based website builder that generates a site based on a few questions. You can then add customization later on using WordPress or, if you’re happy with the result, you can leave it as is.
If you’re looking for the best host for personal website use, Bluehost’s easy management, WordPress tools, and website builder make it a formidable contender.
4. DreamHost
DreamHost is another affordable and beginner-friendly host that’s created a custom dashboard and hosting experience. If you want to use WordPress, DreamHost even offers its own WordPress website builder that will guide you through setting up a custom WordPress website.
DreamHost also offers an affordable month-to-month billing option, whereas the previous three hosts all make you pay for at least one year at a time.
Top features for beginners
- WordPress website builder – in addition to installing the core WordPress software, DreamHost will also set you up with a drag-and-drop builder and 200+ templates to help you quickly build a beautiful website.
- One-click installer – in addition to the WordPress builder, there’s also an all-purpose installer that lets you install WordPress or other content management systems.
- Custom hosting dashboard – DreamHost built their own user-friendly hosting control panel to help you manage your sites.
- Automatic WordPress updates – if you’re using WordPress, DreamHost will automatically update the core software for you.
- Automatic backups – DreamHost automatically backs up your site to keep your data safe.
- Free email hosting – DreamHost will host your email for free and makes it easy to set up. Note – this doesn’t apply to the cheapest tier – there’s a small fee to add email hosting to the cheapest tier.
- 24/7 support – you can get help whenever needed.
Pricing
DreamHost offers two types of hosting, both of which are excellent for beginners and include the WordPress website builder.
If you want the absolute cheapest entry point, you can use their shared plans:
- Starter – from $2.59 per month for a single website.
- Unlimited – from $3.95 per month for unlimited websites.
Tips for Starting a Small Business Hosting Company.
To get the most out of your small business hosting company, use the right tools. Consider using an online platform likehosting or a word processing and spreadsheet software like Office 365. If you’re starting from scratch, also check out our guide on how to set up a business hosting company.
Get the Most from Your Small Business Hosting Company
Successful small businesses depend on strong customer relationships and good customer service. To ensure that your customers receive top-notch service, make sure you do everything you can to improve your customer experience. You can do this by providing high-quality support, responding quickly to customer inquiries, and maintaining positive relations with your employees.
Increase Your BUSINESS ROI
When it comes to small business hosting companies, results speak louder than words! By following these tips, you can increase your business’s income and reach new heights while keeping costs low. So start planning now – and see those profits grow!
Conclusion
If you’re looking to start a small business, choosing the right hosting company is an important part of the process. In this paper, we’ll cover the different aspects of starting a small business and give you tips on how to get started. We’ll also provide you with helpful resources so that you can increase your business’ success. By following these tips, you can quickly create a successful small business.