What to look for in Ecommerce hosting

Written by Brad Traversy | 09 May 2010

So you’ve built your web site and you are ready for customers to come in and shop, but before you get started there is one very important step you need to take. Finding the right ecommerce hosting service is especially important because the Internet is expanding quickly and so many companies are now relying on it to run their businesses. Because all ecommerce companies need the flexibility to grow, as well as a reliable, secure and cost-effective host, ecommerce solutions have become a lot more complex over recent years.

As the starting point for starting any online business, it is essential to carefully plan the choice of ecommerce web hosting. Having a reliable hosting provider will give your business the edge against online business competitors, while attracting potential buyers.

Because of the inherent risks involved with servicing customers online, an ecommerce site has unique needs. Here is a checklist to help you determine what to look for in a hosting service.

Server Hosting: What type of hosting service is it? Will your site be hosted on a shared server, or a dedicated server? Shared servers are a lot less expensive, but less flexible. Dedicated servers will allow you all the flexibility and space you need, but will cost quite a bit more.
Hosting Plans: As an ecommerce site, you should be offered a variety of “hosting plans” from the provider, usually anywhere from three to five choices, including: Individual/Personal, Small Business, Enterprise, etc. Each includes a specific level of service to meet your needs. Be sure to ask about the cost of upgrading from one level to another.
Bandwidth and Disk Space: The more of each of these, the better off you will be. Each package will indicate the bandwidth and disk space included but for small businesses, be sure to look for a minimum of 300 MB.
Up-Time Guarantees: Perhaps the most elemental feature of any ecommerce hosting package is guaranteed up-time. Many providers will say they have this, but don’t just take their word for it. You will want to ask for references or check their reputation on web-hosting forums.
Email Addresses and Sub-Domains: Each ecommerce hosting package will offer you email and additional sub-domains. Make sure they are providing enough to meet the needs of your business.
Ecommerce Tools: Ask your potential provider which scripting languages their platforms support. Will there be an auto-responder on your email accounts? Do they use a reliable shopping cart?
SSL and Encryption: Which type of security solutions do they offer? This will be very important to your customers, and the overall security of your site.
Technical Support: Most good ecommerce hosts provide 24/7 technical support. Make sure you test them on this claim and see how accessible they really are.

The provider you choose will most likely be your hosting company for many years to come, so you will want to be sure they offer all the services your businesses needs in order to grow and service an expanding customer base.