It can be a challenge for individuals and businesses with limited budgets to find quality small business Web hosts. Most hosting companies focus either on the corporate market and high traffic Web sites, or upon low-traffic personal or informational Web sites. Few concern themselves with the small and home office sector because the limited scale of operations is low creates smaller margins.

This has resulted in the explosion of Web hosts offering shared hosting packages to small and medium companies. While most of these Web hosts do not have the technical or financial muscle to provide state-of the-art services, the customer base they specialize in can't afford those resources anyway. To keep costs low, some own only one or two servers while others offer reselling solutions.

Therefore, before deciding to host a Web site with a Web host of this kind it is especially important to examine their claims and market pitches carefully. It is especially important avoid resellers. A reseller may make claims of high quality service but this cannot be guaranteed, as they do not own the hosting companies. Rather, they are only acting as middlemen and can exert no more pressure on the parent host than any similarly sized customer.

In order to find a reliable host, make a short list of potential Web hosts in the appropriate city. It will then be possible visit the premises and verify the claims of each business, paying particular attention to their hardware. This can't be done when merely cross-checking Web hosts on the net. If possible, obtain a list of some Web sites hosted by the Web host. Then contact owners of these Web sites and inquire about their experience with the host.

Also determine which hosts offer the services required, and the costs of those services. Ask questions to evaluate the knowledge and expertise of each hosting firm. Ensure, as much as possible, that the host is honest and committed to customers by asking them relevant questions.

A host who is flexible, scalable and who can grow with a business is an ideal choice. Any sign of rudeness, impatience and unresponsiveness in a host should be regarded as a major warning flag. The initial contract should be for the shortest period available, to allow for evaluation of the host before a major commitment is made. If more than one site needs hosting, consider spreading them among several hosts.

Since small hosts are more familiar with the needs of small businesses they are likely to provide a better fit. Even so, it's important not to get carried away with hosts that offer more than is required while skimping on support. The customer is expected to posses the technical knowledge to select the necessary features and self-sufficient enough to negotiate an affordable price for them.