The Web site for your new business has to live somewhere. How do you pick a host that won't leave you high and dry? Most hosting plans for small companies offer similar features: basically unlimited storage space, support for common databases and publishing systems, and anywhere from a few gigabytes to 2 terabytes of data transfer per month. Expect to pay between a month for the service, with a one- or two-year up-front contract.

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How do you pick from the dozens out there? Look for reviews from recent users,with a particular focus on how quickly the host resolves problems and how often the service goes down. If you expect sudden, big influxes of traffic due to promotions or Digg-inspired flooding, you'll want to ensure that the host can handle the increased demand. Ask about these issues if the company doesn't provide written policies.

If your business is blog-centric, you can get started for free with a hosted blogging service such. You can always move to your own Web host later when you outgrow it or are otherwise ready for more.