Is there a web site host that you prefer to use? If so, include this information in an e-mail to us and we will point your domain name to the primary and secondary DNS that you indicate.

If you would like us to locate a host for you, please let us know and we will obtain a host that fits your budget and web site needs.

Your web site hosting needs are primarily determined by the nature of your web site. If your site is being used to present information only, your needs are much different than if you are selling a product.

It is more costly to run an e-commerce site. You must locate a host that handles credit card transactions in a secure manner. You must also have a merchant account. Also consider how you calculate shipping cost and the amount of sales tax that you are required to collect. Your needs include the creation of a back-end database that will store information about each transaction enabling you to track orders and maintain inventory. As you can see, there is much to consider when selling a product online.

The server hard drive space needed to run a basic small business or educational web site is 35MB. Most hosts offer at least this amount. Many offer 50MB as a starting point.

Server hard drive space is really not a price point consideration as hard drives are so large these days. The true question to ask is how often and in what manner is your data backed-up? This is the true expense when hosting large web sites.

Another option is to back-up your web site locally. This means keeping update back-up files for each graphic and page in your web site. Also remember to back-up information that is gathered through your web site and then stored on the web server (such as order information and customer service requests).

Expect to pay at least $5.00 per month ($60.00 per year) for basic web hosting services. Most hosting services offer at least 35MB of space, 5 or more e-mail addresses, common web builder application interfaces and CGI capability. This is for an informational/educational site only. E-commerce sites are much more expensive.