eCommerce Web Hosts

    eCommerce refers to doing business on the Web. E-commerce packages offered by web hosts often include shopping cart software, secure server for credit card transactions, etc. Other options are often included, such as software to develop an online product catalog and marketing services.

    Finding the right ecommerce web hosting company requires some consideration. Decide what products you want to sell, your shopping cart and then shop for a hosting company. You'll need more space and transfer than a non-ecommerce site, but start small with your product selection and you can still save money on your hosting. Find a shopping cart that's easy to use and understand since switching later on can result in downtime and a lot of work transferring your products. Make sure your host has solid uptime, as an online store that's down doesn't generate any sales.

    Space and transfer will place a crucial role in determining just what size web hosting plan you need. Ecommerce sites generally require more space and transfer than a non-ecommerce site due to the presence of the shopping cart upon which the online store is based. Shopping cart programs require space and their scripts for running the store will require additional transfer to handle customers as they browse, add items to their cart and check out. How much extra transfer is required depends on how many use the cart and on the cart itself. This is why its best to start small and having a clear upgrade path to handle future popularity.

    Those entirely new to ecommerce will probably not have any experience with any kind of shopping cart software. There are a number of popular choices and most ecommerce web hosting companies will provide one, if not a variety, from which you can choose. Don't immediately jump at the first cart a host offers. Ask if they have demos and try them out. Be sure it's a program you can learn and use, as it is the primary way you'll be doing your online business.

    Of greatest importance is the reliability of your chosen host. If an online store is down at any hour, no customers can come in and nothing is sold. You want the most reliable hosting for such a mission-critical site. Online merchants should always be willing to pay more for a reliable hosting company with good uptime and support.

Web Ecommerce: Where To Begin?

Recommended eCommerce Web Hosts...
Infinity Host $6.95/Mo • Free Setup Highlights:• 400MB Diskspace • 15GB Bandwidth • 400 Email Accts • 3 Multiple Websites • FrontPage support • Miva Merchant E-Commerce Software • Free merchant account set-up • Site Studio w/1,000 templates • Get Traffic Tool Box More Information Rated by CNET	Apollo Hosting $6.96/Mo • Free Setup For 1Yr+ Signup Highlights: • 200MB Diskspace • 8GB Bandwidth • 10 Email Accts • Use Your Own Domain Name • Free Design Software • MS FrontPage Exts • Autoresponders • Email Forwarding • Microsoft Media • Flash • Shockwave • Free Scripts • Free Sticky Web Content More Information Rated by Web Host Magazine
StartLogic Hosting $7.50/Mo • Free Setup Highlights:• 1000MB Diskspace • 40GB Bandwidth • Unlimited Email Accts • Free Domain • Frontpage 2000/2002 Ext • Shockwave • MIDI File Support • 100's of professional web templates • Chat • Blogger • Agora & PayPal Shopping Cart More Information "Best New Web Host Award"	PowWeb Hosting $7.77/Mo • Free Setup For 1Yr+ Signup Highlights:• 1000MB Diskspace • 5GB/Day Bandwidth • 650 Email Accts • FREE Web Address (YourName.com) • FrontPage Ext. • Flash, Shockwave, Midi, Mulitmedia Support • Built-in OsCommerce Shopping Cart More Information Rated by Web Host Magazine
iPowerweb Hosting $7.95/Mo • Free Setup Highlights:• 800MB Diskspace • 40GB Bandwidth • 400 Email Accts • Free Marketing • Free Content • Free Easy to use Web Builder • Frontpage 2000/2002 Extension • e-Commerce packages available More Information Rated out of three by CNET iPowerWeb Hosting Review	LunarPages Hosting $7.95/Mo • Free Setup Highlights:• 800MB Diskspace • 40GB Bandwidth • Unlimited Email Accts • FREE domain name registration • www.your-domain.com • MS Front Page Exts • Over 200 software tools & libraries More Information Rated by Web Host Magazine
midPhase Hosting $7.95/Mo • $29.95 Setup Highlights:• 1500MB Diskspace • Unmetered Bandwidth • Unmetered Email Accts • FREE Domain Name for Life • Neomail & Horde • Visitor Tracking • Developer Enabled • phpMyChat • Agora Cart • osCommerce • FANTASTICO More Information Editor's Choice Award - Web Host Magazine	NoMonthlyFees 1st Year: $99 • $70/Yr After Highlights:• 600MB Diskspace • 25GB Bandwidth • Unlimited Email Accts • Unlimited MySQL DB's • Unlimited FTP Accounts • FrontPage Exts • RealAudio/Video • Tons Of Free Scripts More Information NoMonthlyFees features unique bandwidth-on-demand connections, standby machines and industry-leading uninterruptible power supplies.
Aplus Hosting $5.95/Mo • Free Setup With Annual Payment Highlights: • 1100MB storage • 45GB Xfer/mo • 400 e-mail boxes • FREE domain name registration • Photo storage online • Online design tool • MS Front Page Exts • Thumbnail generator • Over 200 more software tools & libraries More Information Most Popular Web Host and Editor's Choice - CNET	Netfirms Hosting $9.95/Mo • Free Setup Highlights:• 1000MB Diskspace • 50GB Bandwidth • 100 Email Accts • Starter CD NetObjects Fusion 7 • Ms FrontPage 2002 Exts • Commerce Pro Shopping Cart Manager • Free Hit Counters • Flash and Shockwave More Information Voted Editor's Choice by Web Host Magazine
WebSiteSource Hosting $6.85/Mo(For 4 Sites) • Free Setup Highlights:• 5000MB Diskspace • 50GB Bandwidth • 1000 Email Accts • E-Commerce ready • Free CGI Scripts • Authorize.net • Site Builder • MS FrontPage More Information Rated by Web Host Magazine	JumpLine Hosting $14.95/Mo • Free Setup With Annual Payment Highlights:• 500MB Diskspace • 10GB Bandwidth • 150 Email Accts • Your own Web Server, Mail Server & DB Server • Host Multiple Web Sites • ChiliSoft (ASP) • Python • Majordomo • Frontpage 2002 Exts More Features Rated by Web Host Magazine
Yahoo Hosting $19.95/Mo • $25 Setup (currently waived) Highlights:• 100MB Diskspace • 25GB Bandwidth • 25 Email Accts • Frontpage compatible • Domain registration included • Many extras: Content Management System, guestbooks, surveys, calendars, email forms & more More Information Rated by PC Magazine.