Starting a business is exciting but finding a reliable web hosting service to create a website for your business can get a little confusing, especially when you’re just starting out.
I’ve been there – years ago when I first started building websites, I wish someone had just given me the lowdown on what hosting to use.
Now, I build WordPress sites for small businesses all the time, and I’ve got a good handle on which hosting providers really deliver. Here’s what I recommend to my friends and clients;
Here’s A Quick List of My Top Three Picks:
Best Overall For Businesses
- Free domain, SSL, and email
- Excellent customer support
- Free daily backups
- 100% Customer focused
- Plans starting at $2.99/month
Good Budget Friendly
- Free domain, SSL, and email
- Good customer support
- Free weekly backups
- Too many changes & upsells
- Plans starting at $2.99/month
Fair Third Option
- Free domain and SSL only
- Fair customer support
- No free backups available
- Chat support only at $2.95
- Plans starting at $2.95/month
SiteGround
Best For Small Businesses
Pros and Cons
- Excellent Support
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Daily Website Backups
- 30-Days Money-Back
- High Renewal Costs
- Database Size Limit
Why I Picked It
I chose SiteGround because they’re a very reliable web hosting company and their customer support is amazing. I use them to host this website. They’re a bit pricier than some other options, but totally worth it for the peace of mind!
Who It's For
SiteGround is great for small businesses or someone looking to create a website but do not have a lot of experience and need a dedicated customer support team ready to help them.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- Free Email Migrator
- Unlimited MySQL Databases
- Free CDN
- Enhanced Security
- Power & Hardware Redundancy
- Out-of-The-Box Caching
- Unlimited Subdomains
- Friendly Site Tools
- 100% Renewable Energy Match
- Transfer Websites to Clients
- The Ability To Add Collaborators To Help You
My SiteGround Experience
I use SiteGround on this website and they’re great!
My website is build on solid ground, not on shaky sand and it loads quickly, which is important for me because nobody likes to wait around for a slow website.
They have great security which does an amazing job protecting your website from being hacked – something that’s great for peace of mind.
But here’s the best part: their customer support is amazing! It’s like having a tech expert on speed dial. They’re friendly, know their stuff, and are always happy to help, even if you’re not a tech whiz yourself. Trust me, I’ve been there!
Another thing I love about SiteGround is that they keep things simple. Their website is easy to use, and they don’t try to sell you a bunch of stuff you don’t need. They’re just focused on giving you the best service possible.
Something that’s great for entrepreneurs who don’t want to deal with the run around.
I’ve tried a bunch of different web hosting companies, and SiteGround is the one I always recommend. Reliable, secure, easy-to-use and amazing customer support.
Hostinger
Best For Cheap Price
Pros and Cons
- Good Support
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Weekly Backups
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Higher Renewal Costs
- No Priority Support
- Too Many Website Changes
Why I Picked It
I like Hostinger because their prices are really hard to beat, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s a good way to get a website up without spending a fortune, even if it means you would have to deal with their frequent website changes.
Who It's For
Hostinger is a good option for beginners who want to create a website for themselves and if you’re on a tight budget, but keep in mind they change their website layout frequently, which can be frustrating.
If you value consistency, excellent customer support and a smooth user experience, you might want to consider spending a bit more for a different hosting provider. In my experience, I do not recommend Hostinger for small businesses.
Features & Specs
- 100 Websites
- 100 GB SSD Storage
- Free WHOIS Provacy
- Free CDN on More Expensive Plans
- Free DDOS Protection
- LiteSpeed Caching
My Hostinger Experience
I’ve tried Hostinger myself for four years, and it’s a bit like that discount store that has amazing prices but things are always moving around. One day the bread is in aisle 3, the next week it’s by the cleaning supplies!
Hostinger is really cheap, which is cool, but they kept changing their website all the time. Imagine trying to find the button to update your website, and they keep moving it!
It got frustrating because I felt like I was wasting time learning how to use their website over and over again.
For a small business owner, time is super valuable, right? You need a web host that’s easy to use and doesn’t confuse you.
While Hostinger might be good for someone just starting and on a really tight budget, I think there are other web hosts out there that are worth paying a little extra for.
Think of it as an investment in your business. You want a web host that’s easy to use, reliable, and won’t give you a headache trying to figure it out. But if you don’t mind their changes they’re worth a look.
Bluehost
Best For Your First Blog
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email - 1st Year ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
Why I Picked It
I like Bluehost because they’re beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet, which was perfect when I was just starting out. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of their customer service, so I eventually switched to a different host.
Who It's For
Bluehost is a good starting point for beginners creating their first blogs and looking for an affordable and easy way to do it.
However, they might not be the best option long-term because their customer support and billing practices aren’t the greatest.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- DDos Security Protection
- Free WordPress Staging Site
- Free Malware Scanner
My Bluehost Experience
You might have heard of Bluehost. They’re pretty popular, and I get why. It’s because a lot of people talk about them. I even used them when I first began building websites!
But if you ask me today, I wouldn’t put them at the top of my list. Here’s the thing: I think every business owner deserves to feel like a VIP, no matter how big or small. And to be honest, I didn’t always feel that way with Bluehost.
Sometimes, getting help from them felt like a treasure hunt! It took a bit too long to find the answers I needed.
And when I decided to try a different hosting service, it wasn’t as easy as it should have been to switch.
I’ve also heard from other folks that Bluehost sometimes has surprise charges or bills that are confusing. I think it’s super important for companies to be honest and clear about how they charge customers, and I think Bluehost could do a bit better with that.
Namecheap
Best For Low-Cost Shared Hosting
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Domain is Not a.com Domain
- Good Customer Support
Why I Picked It
I like Namecheap website hosting because they’re affordable and I already buy my domain names from them. Their cPanel is a little tricky to figure out at first, but overall they’re a good host to create a website with, if you’re on a really tight budget.
Who It's For
Namecheap is a great option for people who are new to creating websites and are looking for affordable web hosting, especially to keep costs down.
Just a heads up, they use cPanel, which can be a bit tricky to navigate at first, but if you don’t mind that you’re all good. If you’re looking for web hosting for small businesses I recommend SiteGround instead of Namecheap.
Features & Specs
- 20 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- Apache/Litespeed Server
- MySQL Databases
- PHP MyAdmin
- Free WHOIS Domain Privacy
My Namecheap Experience
You might have heard of Namecheap. A lot of people use them to buy their domain names. But did you know they also do web hosting?
I tried them out, and honestly, I was pretty happy. They’re not super expensive, which is great when you’re just starting and trying to keep costs down. My website ran smoothly with them, no problems.
The one thing I noticed is that they use something called cPanel. Think of it like the control center for your website. It’s been around for a long time, but it can be a bit confusing and hard to figure out at first.
Some other website hosts have easier dashboards.
But if you’re okay with spending a little time learning how cPanel works, or if you already know how to use it, then Namecheap is a really good choice.
HostGator
Best For Beginners and Bloggers
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email Trial - 1 Month ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
- No Free CDN
- No Free Website Transfer
Why I Picked It
I like HostGator because their plans are pretty straightforward, even though they’re not the absolute best and definitely not my first choice (SiteGround). I figured it’s a good starting point for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on web hosting.
Who It's For
HostGator is a good option for someone who is just starting out and need a simple website up and running. They’re owned by the same company as Bluehost, so their pricing and plans are pretty similar.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- MySQL databases
- phpMyAdmin access
- Free Malware Scanner
My HostGator Experience
I’ve used HostGator myself, and I’ve found them to be a decent option for basic hosting needs. They generally do a good job of keeping websites running smoothly. However, there are a couple of things you should know about them.
Their customer support is okay, but it’s not the best I’ve seen. Sometimes it can take a while to get help, and in my opinion they don’t always go above and beyond to solve problems.
HostGator isn’t always super clear about how much traffic their plans can handle. This can be a bit of a concern, especially if you’re expecting your website to get a lot of visitors.
Overall, HostGator is a decent option if you’re looking for basic web hosting. However, if you’re looking for over the top customer support and clear information about resource limits, you might want to consider some other options.
Which Web Hosting Service Would I Use as an Entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur myself, I understand the importance of reliable hosting with great customer support. That’s why I have to recommend SiteGround to you.
They’re who I use for this website and my web hosting needs. Their customer service is truly outstanding, and they go above and beyond to help their customers succeed.