The first step in building a successful WordPress website for your home business is choosing the right web hosting. A quality WordPress host will not only provide excellent website speed and performance (critical for all business sites), but you’ll also get the optimized features that make working with WordPress easier and more efficient. So, in this article, we take a look at the Best WordPress Hosting for Home Business.
Key WordPress Hosting Features for Home Businesses
To begin with, let’s go over what you should look for in a WordPress hosting plan for your business site.
- Pre-Installation or Easy Installation of WordPress
- Choice of Data Centers
- Optimized Environment for Speed
- Responsive Customer Support
- WordPress Site Builder
- Option for Managed Hosting
For the easiest start, you ideally want WordPress pre-installed for you–or at least get one-click installation of the software. Because your server location can make a big difference in website speed, you should also look for a web host that allows you to select your data center location. Next, look for optimized server and network configurations for speed. For example, advanced caching systems or network speed zone technology are preferred.
Customer support is definitely another key to great web hosting. Because we’re looking for WordPress hosting here, you should look for responsive support that emphasizes WordPress. For total beginners, you may want to look for a WordPress hosting plan that includes a website builder for easier site creation. And, on the other end of the spectrum, if you’re an advanced WordPress user that is looking for mission-critical hosting, you may want to consider going with a Managed WordPress Hosting plan.
Managed vs Non-Managed WordPress Hosting
One of the first questions you should answer for yourself when starting out is do you need managed WordPress hosting? For most people starting out, the answer is no. There are a number of quality WordPress hosts that do a great job with their non-managed hosting plans—and they’re a lot more affordable.
However, there are reasons why at some point you might opt for a managed hosting plan. And, if you know your business site will be mission-critical, and you have the budget, you could select a managed hosting plan from the start.
The big advantage with managed WordPress hosting is that you get more premium features that allow you to spend less time on maintenance tasks and more time on other parts of your business. Again, for most websites starting out it isn’t necessary though.
WordPress.org Recommendations
Since we’re considering web hosting for WordPress, let me start out by going over the three recommendations made by WordPress.org. While I’ve used all three of these hosts, and I consider them to be quality options, the list isn’t the same as my top three choices—which I’ll go over afterward.
Bluehost
Although Bluehost has hosting plans for all levels of users, they are best suited in my option for newbies that need more guidance starting out creating their first WordPress website. Bluehost includes a customized WordPress dashboard and guided help in creating your site.
DreamHost
While DreamHost is more suited for experienced WordPress users, they do now include their own WordPress site builder which does make creating websites easier for beginners. Personally though, I’ve always found DreamHost’s user interface to be not the most intuitive to use.
SiteGround
SiteGround has been one of the more respected web hosts in the WordPress community. At one time, they offered perhaps the best value of any WordPress host. However, they have continued to move more toward being a premium managed hosting provider which unfortunately means higher prices.
My WordPress Hosting Recommendations
While I like the three web hosts on the WordPress.org list, over the years I’ve had better success using the following three web hosting companies. Currently, they would be my first three choices when choosing WordPress hosting for a home business website.
InMotion Hosting
- WordPress Pre-Installed
- Max Speed Zone Technology
- BoldGrid WordPress Site Builder
- Easy to Use Control Panel Interface
- Responsive Customer Support
- 90 Day Money Back Guarantee
If I had to pick one web hosting company for most WordPress website, I would choose InMotion Hosting. I’ve been an InMotion Hosting customer for over 10 years, and they currently are hosting this website.
Besides offering everything you would expect from a top web hosts including great features, an easy to use interface, excellent speed and performance, solid security, and responsive customer support, what’s great about InMotion is that they are a good fit for both WordPress beginners as well as seasoned WordPress veterans.
With InMotion Hosting, you can get WordPress pre-installed for you, and you also get the BoldGrid WordPress website builder that can make creating a website much easier if you haven’t used WordPress before. On the other hand, they also provide features and performance that experienced WordPress users will appreciate. And, InMotion even has their own line of Managed WordPress Hosting plans if you want even more premium features.
GreenGeeks
- 300% Renewable Energy Match
- Global Sponsor of WordCamp
- WordPress Acceleration Platform
- Hosting Account Isolation
- Pro Active Service Monitoring
While GreenGeeks is best known for being the industry leader in green web hosting, they are also one of my top recommendations for WordPress hosting. GreenGeeks is a global sponsor of WordCamp and is very involved in the WordPress community.
GreenGeeks’ two major objectives are helping the environment and helping their customers achieve success. Utilizing 300% renewable energy and partnering with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation has helped them become the best green web hosting company. And, proving fast servers, great customer support, and an optimized platform for WordPress has made them an excellent choice for hosting WordPress websites.
WP Engine
- Managed WordPress Hosting
- EverCache Technology for Faster Page Loading
- Automated and Snapshot Data Backups
- Automatic Updates
- Free Genesis Themes
- Website Staging
There is managed WordPress hosting and then there is WP Engine’s Managed WordPress Hosting. While most people don’t need managed hosting to start off with, if you’re looking for the best premium WordPress hosting experience, then I recommend you check out WP Engine.
WP Engine only does WordPress Hosting. That means you get an environment that is totally geared towards WordPress success, and you get true expert WordPress support. WP Engine does cost more than the other hosting options I presented here. But, if you’re really looking for premium WordPress hosting features and faster performing websites (and you can afford it), WP Engine is worth it.
