| What kind of service can you expect from your web | | | | cover all of your bases upfront. Find out, in writing, |
| hosting company? Are there customer | | | | what is and is not covered by the quoted price. Just |
| representatives available around the clock, every day | | | | how many extras do you really need, and which ones |
| of the year, or will you have to pray nothing goes | | | | can you do without? |
| wrong after a certain time of the day? How fast can | | | | Can some services be provided without the others, |
| you expect responses to be if there is a problem? In | | | | or are they permanently interlinked? Are all prices |
| this fast paced world that we live in, one day lost to | | | | fixed or is there room for negotiation? Some |
| a website problem is too many, and if it takes a day | | | | business people hold that there is always room for |
| or more to even get a response, where will you be? | | | | negotiation, so it never hurts to ask. Once pricing is |
| Are the staffers knowledgeable and competent in | | | | set, ask about the terms of that pricing. Do not be |
| their positions? | | | | surprised six weeks down the road with a huge rate |
| Is the turnover rate extraordinarily high? It is | | | | increase; make sure you know how long these prices |
| disheartening to build a business connection with one | | | | are good for. |
| person only to have that person leave the next | | | | And finally, there is the contract to consider. Do you |
| week. If turnover rate is high, find out if that is | | | | have to be roped into a long term contract right off |
| normal for the industry. If it is not an industry norm, | | | | the bat, or can you use the web host for a trial |
| you might want to consider working with someone | | | | period? Signing a lengthy contract can be dangerous, |
| else. If a web hosting company cannot keep their | | | | unless you are very confident with the web host and |
| own employees happy, how in the world will they | | | | the services they provide. What will happen if your |
| keep their clients happy? I know it seems strange | | | | needs change, or worse, if your business suffers a |
| for a business owner to be concerned with the job | | | | setback? Will you then have to pay a huge fee to |
| satisfaction of another company's techs, but, all | | | | end this contract at a time that you cannot afford |
| things connect at some point. | | | | to? Consider this carefully. |
| Pricing can hide some ugly surprises if you do not | | | | |