I develop web sites for friends and small businesses. I don’t provide hosting but I am always asked how to identify a good web hosting company. There are 5 “must have” features in quality web hosting. They are:

1. 24/7 live support. Phone support is the best option but it is a bonus to find a web hosting company that provides 24/7 live chat support along with phone support. Many times things you think are big issues can be resolved in a matter of minutes and it’s nice not to be on hold.

2. 30 day money back guarantee. If a company believes in its service and products, they will not be reluctant to offer a full money back guarantee. In fact, I would be skeptical of a company that doesn’t offer some kind of guarantee. Make sure that you read the details of the guarantee.

3. Windows and Linux hosting at comparable prices. Some hosting companies will offer both Linux and Windows web hosting but some will charge much more for one or the other. A good hosting company will rarely have more than a few dollars difference in the price of these options.

4. Shared SSL. This is absolutely necessary if you want any e-commerce capabilities. SSL is what provides your customers with a secure connection to enter credit card information, etc. Some hosting companies will charge for this but the good ones will always have shared SSL free of charge.

5. Free setup. Some companies will charge for setup. This charge is anywhere from $20-$50. This is such a bogus charge because most web hosting companies have this process completely automated and in many cases nothing manual has to be done. So in reality you are paying this charge for absolutely nothing!

Of course, there are many other important things to look for in web hosting but many of them really depend on your needs. It should be very easy to find a reputable web hosting company that offers these 5 things. Web hosting is a very saturated market which is great for the consumer. The key is to take your time. Don’t forget that many of these companies will register your domain name for free if you sign up for a hosting account with them.

Aaron Davis is a partner with Compucar, LLC http://www.compucarllc.com Compucar, LLC is the world's only manufacturer of desktop computers that look like cars