In order to have a web site you need hosting. There is no way around it. It's the lifeline of your online business. With so many choices out there, it is difficult to choose. Although price is a driving factor, not all cheap or low cost hosting sites are worthwhile.

Here are a couple of things to consider when deciding on a web hosting company:

• How long has the hosting company been in business?
• Do they offer toll free support or make you pay extra for it?
• Are there set up fees and if so, what does that include?
• Do they provide web site statistics? More than just a hit counter?
• Do they offer any other services such as web site design, search engine optimization or other marketing services?