The Dedicated Server for a Small Business listed here can give you complete control over your growing business’ data, and that means it could be one of the best investments you can make in 2022.
We’ve put together the list of Dedicated Server for a Small Business, best file server for small business, best server for large business and the cost of setting up a server for small business. Once you have a server of your own, you won’t look back.
Dedicated Server for a Small Business
What is a Server Solution for a Small Business?
A server solution for a small business can be anything from a simple website to an all-encompassing online presence. The three main types of server solutions are on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid.
On-premises servers are used by businesses that own their own hardware and software. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most popular ones are Rackspace, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services. These servers are often used to store your data, run your applications, and provide some basic customer service. Cloud-based servers are virtual machines that you can access from anywhere in the world. They offer several advantages over on-premises servers such as faster response times and greater scalability. Hybridserver solutions combine the features of both on-premises and cloud-based servers. This type of server is often used by businesses that want to have multiple websites or applications running simultaneously on different platforms.
Best Small Business Servers
1. Dell PowerEdge T20 [barebones]
The best small business servers do not have to be massive or expensive. Take the PowerEdge T20 for example; it has benefited from a wealth of knowledge derived from the 20 years of experience Dell has building servers. While the barebones version(opens in new tab) doesn’t have a hard drive, it’s certainly cheap – in the recent past, it has been priced at less than £100 (with cashback offers, that is – it’s always well worth keeping an eye out for these).
It has a Haswell-based Pentium processor that can clock up to 3GHz and supports up to 32GB DDR3 ECC RAM (note that this model comes with 4GB). Expansion capabilities include four SATA ports (32TB if you use 8TB hard drives), four I/O slots and 10 USB ports. Astoundingly for a PC of this price, you also get two DisplayPort connectors, a VGA one, two PS2 and one serial port. Other than a Gigabit Ethernet port, the other points of interest are a 290W PSU and an Intel-based RAID controller.

2. DELL POWEREDGE T30
Dell PowerEdge T30 is an affordable, entry-level server available either as barebones or a fully configured server. Even though it comes in a small tower form factor, it packs a ton of essential server features. In addition, it is budget-friendly and has expansion potential that can address future growth requirements. All of these features make the Dell PowerEdge T30 a very attractive option for small and medium businesses.
DELL POWEREDGE T30 SPECIFICATIONS:
- CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5
- RAM: Up to 64GB
- Storage: Up to six SATA HDD
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics P530
- Connectivity: 10 x USB ports, HDMI, VGA, PS2, Display port, serial, Gigabit Ethernet port
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 36 x 17.5 x 43.5 cm
The specifications are customizable, which makes it a versatile server. It offers flexible memory options. For critical usage, you can use ECC RAM and for less critical requirements you can use DDR3L. The T30 works well with both Windows Server and Ubuntu. The installation process is simple and usually, you don’t need any additional drivers.
Here are the pros and cons of Dell PowerEdge T30:
Pros:
- It has a fast quad-core Xeon processor,
- There is room for 6 internal disks,
- Budget-friendly.
Cons:
- Only one network interface controller (NIC) onboard,
- No hot-swappable drive bays.
3. HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen 10
If you’re after a robust, yet versatile, server for your small business, then the HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen 10 is an excellent choice. Packed with Intel Xeon Scalable processors, this offers a big performance boost over the previous models. You need to fit your own storage, but it supports a wide range of fast options, as well as wide support for graphics and computer options as well.
It supports the full gamut of Intel Xeon Scalable processors – from Bronze up to Platinum – and has room in there to be able to install up to two.
While it starts out as a tower server, as your business grows, the HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen 10 can be turned into a rack server for an affordable way to scale up your business without having to buy a new server altogether.
4. LENOVO THINKSERVER SR650 2U
The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 2U is a general-purpose server designed to fill many different roles. It is a flexible server that makes excellent use of the Intel Xeon Scalable platform and is designed to handle a wide range of workloads, such as databases, business analytics, and big data, virtualization and cloud computing, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), enterprise applications, etc. It is an ideal 2-socket 2U rack server that provides reliability, ease of management, and security, as well as performance and flexibility for future growth.
LENOVO THINKSERVER SR650 2U SPECIFICATIONS:
- CPU: Intel Xeon Scalable 4210
- RAM: Up to 3 TB (24x 128 GB 3DS RDIMMs)
- Storage: Up to 24x 2.5-inch or 14x 3.5-inch drive bay
- Graphics: Supports a range of NVIDIA Quadro, Tesla, and AMD Radeon
- Connectivity: USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet port
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.7 x 44.5 x 76.4 cm
The SR650 server has a unique design called AnyBay, which allows you to use different drive interface types, such as SAS drives, SATA drives, or U.2 NVMe PCIe drives, in the same drive bay. Lenovo SR650 offers a wide range of possible configurations allowing you to customize almost everything including storage bays, drives, memory, CPU, networking, and more.
Here are the pros and cons of Lenovo ThinkServer SR650 2U:
Pros:
- Highly flexible and customizable.
- Suitable for a wide range of deployments and configurations.
- Hot-swappable drives, power supplies, and fans.
- Good remote management controller.
Cons:
- Doesn’t come pre-populated with hard drives.
- May need drivers for Ubuntu installation.
- Networking is provided via a LOM, which isn’t included by default.
5. Lenovo ThinkServer TS150
Lenovo took over IBM’s x86 server range back in 2014 and has built on the best of the ThinkServer tradition. The TS150 is now the most affordable of the range and is a 4U enterprise-class server that competes with the Dell T20. It comes with support for RAID 0,1,10 and 5 (via an on-board controller). Like the competition, this one can accommodate up to four 3.5-inch HDDs in total, which means that it can go up to 40TB of storage when loaded with the relevant hard drives. The relatively-recent Intel Xeon E3-1200 v6 processor should be powerful enough for small and medium enterprises.
Lenovo also claims that the acoustics of the TS150 are even quieter than a typical library at 26 decibels. As is the case for the competition, you also get an impressive array of ports and connectors: eight USB ports, four PCI/PCI-e slots, three video connectors (including a pair of DisplayPorts), Serial, Gigabit Ethernet and three audio connectors.
Cost Of Setting Up A Server For Small Business

The average cost to rent a small business dedicated server is $100 to $200/month. You can also setup a cloud server starting at $5/month, but most businesses would spend about $40/month to have adequate resources. If you wanted to purchase a server for your office, it may cost between $1000-$3000 for a small business.
The cost of a small business server will depend on how much CPU, bandwidth, disk space, and memory is required. There are other considerations, as well. These include RAID, DDoS protection, and hard drive type used in the cloud server or dedicated server.
Best File Server For Small Business
1. Microsoft OneDrive for Business
Best for Microsoft 365 Customers
Bottom Line:
A no-brainer choice for Microsoft-focused businesses, Microsoft OneDrive for Business increases the number of files types it can view. Artificial intelligence makes accessing recently edited and most important files, folders, and projects quicker and more intuitive.
PROS
- Ubiquitous professional cloud storage available in most platforms.
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, and Microsoft Teams.
- Outstanding mobile app support.
CONS
- Short on existing integration options.
- Must use desktop application for offline access.
2. Dropbox Business
Best for Integration and Security
Bottom Line:
Dropbox Business improves on an excellent cloud file storage solution for small to midsize businesses. It offers Smart Sync and Remote Wipe features and an increased focus on collaboration.
PROS
- Expanded functionality evolves product from storage solution to full-on file-sharing platform.
- Solidly business-focused.
- Offers a remote-wipe security feature.
CONS
- Online file editing isn’t included.
- Lacks private key management.
- Missing text optical character recognition (OCR) for mobile scanning.

3. IDrive Team
Best for Small Teams or Remote Workers
Bottom Line:
IDrive Team is a good choice for small business cloud backup. It’s got a solid feature set, end-to-end data encryption, and it handles both small offices and distributed workers or remote teams.
PROS
- Affordable pricing
- Supports PCs, mobile devices, and NAS
- Easy remote management features
- Offers USB hard drive restores sent through the mail
CONS
- No trial version
- Weak on anti-malware and ransomware protection
- Microsoft 365 email supported only on Business plan
Best Server For Large Business
1. HPE SYNERGY 660 GEN10
The HPE Synergy 660 Gen10 is a top-of-the-line server designed for large businesses. Nevertheless, we are including it here because in many cases there can be no compromise on performance. If you can afford it, the Synergy 660 Gen10 is the best blade server owing to its speed, sophisticated data processing capabilities, and the ease with which it can balance physical, virtual, and containerized applications.
HPE SYNERGY 660 GEN 10 SPECIFICATIONS:
- CPU: Max 4 Xeon Scalable CPUs
- RAM: Max 6 TB
- Connectivity: Up to 2 hot-pluggable 10G Ethernet switches
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 6.35 x 43.03 x 59.92 cm
The HPE Synergy enables you to rapidly boot up infrastructure ready to run physical or virtual applications. The Synergy 660 is designed for high operational velocity and to reduce operational complexities, giving you noticeably large improvements in your data processing with cloud-like speeds on-prem.
The Synergy 660 Gen10 is a 10U full-height, single-wide, compute module that plugs into the HPE Synergy Frame 12000. It supports up to four hot-pluggable SFF SAS SSD drives for up to 61.2 TB (4 x 15.3TB) storage. It is highly scalable as well as offers flexibility in I/O configurations. The system protects assets against downtime associated with hacking and virus infection as well as offers threat detection, protection, and recovery. It includes management features such as auto-discovery, quick provisioning, and third-party integrations.
Here are the pros and cons of HPE Synergy 660:
Pros:
- Four-socket Xeon blades,
- Top of the line performance,
- Excellent management features,
- Enterprise-class capabilities.
Cons:
- It is expensive.
2. Windows Server
Windows server is one of the best servers which can help you power your business. Whether you have just decided to choose a server for your business or working to harness your business. The Windows Server 2016 brings the latest cloud-inspired technologies to the everyday business. Moreover, Windows server contains good features that can help you to make existing resources so that your business can spend more time focused on bringing new solutions, services and experiences to your clients.
Windows server is designed to fit your business and despite having a good security and cloud storage, it contains the following features.
- Windows Nano Server
Nano Server is a pared down headless version of Windows Server. This Server will have a 93% smaller VHD size, 92% fewer critical bulletins and 80% fewer required reboots. In addition, Nano Server is a Windows Server installation options and it’s completely headless.
- Containers and Hyper-V Containers
Windows Server containers and Hyper-V containers are the latest buzzes in IT technology as they threaten to supplant virtualization as a core IT technology.
- Docker Support
Docker is an open-source engine that’s used for building, running and managing containers.
- Rolling upgrades for Hyper-V and Storage clusters
Rolling upgrades feature allows you to add a new Windows Server 2016 node to a Hyper-V cluster with nodes that are running Windows Server 2012 R2.
- Hot add & remove of virtual memory network adapters
Another great new feature in Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V is the ability to add and remove the virtual memory and virtual network adapters while the virtual machine is running.
In addition to these, it contains the following features:
- Nested Virtualization
- PowerShell Direct
- Linux Secure Boot
- New Host Guardian Service and Shielded VMs
- Storage Spaces Direct
3. HPE PROLIANT ML350 GEN 10
The HPE ProLiant ML350 is a robust and versatile server and a good investment for any small and medium-sized business because it supports dual processors, has lots of memory, and impressive storage. The ML350 Gen 10 comes with Intel Xeon Scalable processors, which gives it an excellent performance boost. Although it doesn’t come with built-in storage, it does support a wide range of storage options. It is designed as a tower server but can be easily turned into a rackmount server giving you flexibility for future growth.
HPE PROLIANT ML350 GEN 10 SPECIFICATIONS:
- CPU: Intel Xeon Scalable 4210
- RAM: Up to 3 TB (24 x 128 GB LRDIMM)
- Storage: Up to 24x 2.5″ drive bay
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics P530
- Connectivity: USB ports, iLO Management port, VGA, Display port, serial, 4 x NIC ports
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 47 x 18 x 65 cm
HPE has a modular design that allows you to configure different storage arrangements including LFF 3.5″ and 2.5″ SFF drive bay drives. A fully-populated configuration gives you 24x 2.5″ SFF drives in the chassis. The HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen10 is a highly flexible server because of the large number of configuration options available for the CPU and memory, storage, and even GPUs making it an excellent option for small and medium-sized businesses.
Here are the pros and cons of HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen 10:
Pros:
- Highly flexible and customizable,
- Suitable for a wide range of deployments and configurations,
- Robust storage options,
- Great remote management.
Cons:
- Doesn’t come pre-populated with hard drives,
- Some upgrades may require additional cooling.
4. Dell PowerEdge T20 [barebones]
The Dell PowerEdge T20 has benefited from a wealth of knowledge derived from 20 years of experience Dell has building servers. This server is cheap and in the recent past, it has been priced at less than £100.
It has a Haswell-based Pentium processor that can clock up to 3GHz and supports up to 32GB DDR3 ECC RAM (note that this model comes with 4GB). Expansion capabilities include four SATA ports (32TB if you use 8TB hard drives), four I/O slots and 10 USB ports. Astoundingly for a PC of this price, you also get two DisplayPort connectors, a VGA one, two PS2 and one serial port. Other than a Gigabit Ethernet port, the other points of interest are a 290W PSU and an Intel-based RAID controller.
CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Storage: No drives included | Connectivity: Up to 12 x USB ports (4 x USB 3.0), 2 x DisplayPort, VGA, serial, 2 x PS2, Gigabit Ethernet | Dimensions (W x D x H): 17.5 x 43.5 x 36cm
Tips for successfully Using Server Solutions for a Small Business.
Start with a plan: Determine what your business needs and how much money you can afford to spend upfront. Once you know the basics, it’s important to invest in server solutions that will support your business goals.
Diversify your investments: Mix and match server solutions according to your business needs and budget. Avoid overspending on one solution and selecting a provider that won’t meet your specific needs.
Stay up-to-date on financial news: Keep up to date on industry trends by reading financial publications or watching financial shows online. This way, you’ll be prepared for any changes in the market that may impact your business.
Be prepared for volatility: volatile stock prices can cause a lot of stress for small businesses, so make sure you have strategies in place to deal with fluctuations. For example, keep track of stock prices on an online platform or set up a trading account so you can manage your portfolio DAILY.
Conclusion
Server Solutions can be a great way for a small business to increase sales and reach a larger audience. However, it’s important to have a long-term investment strategy and be prepared for volatility in the market. By diversifying your investments, staying up-to-date on financial news, and preparing for potential fluctuations, you can ensure success.