A practical small-business checklist for choosing an entry web hosting plan
For a first company website, the cheapest plan is not automatically the right plan. A better way to shop is to make sure the entry tier actually covers the website, email, database, SSL and migration needs you expect for the next few years.
A practical checklist:
1. How many websites do you really need?
If this is one business site, one-site hosting is usually enough. Paying for a bigger multi-site package before you need it rarely helps.
2. Is the storage realistic?
A normal small-business WordPress or PHP site can often fit comfortably inside 10 GB if it is not being used as a giant video or backup archive. If the site carries lots of large media, ask for a storage estimate before committing.
3. Does business email come with the plan?
Check the mailbox count, not just whether the word “email” appears on the sales page. A five-mailbox allowance can cover addresses such as hello@, billing@, support@ and a couple of named users for a very small team.
4. Are SSL and databases included?
For a standard WordPress site, you need HTTPS and a database. They should not be surprise add-ons after checkout.
5. What does migration actually mean?
A host saying “migration available” should still define scope. One ordinary website move is different from transferring many sites, large mailbox archives, custom applications or complicated DNS setups.
6. What is the real invoice?
When a host advertises an effective monthly price on a multi-year term, calculate the prepaid total and check the renewal basis.
One current example is DotMoose Shared Starter. The plan includes one website, 10 GB storage, 5 email accounts, 2 databases, SSL, and PHP/WordPress support on Canadian-hosted service.
The current MOOSE294 launch offer makes the first 36-month Starter term C$105.84 before tax, which is C$2.94/month effective across the prepaid term. The full C$105.84 is paid up front for all 36 months. The current normal three-year Starter total is C$172.51, and renewal after the promotional term uses the then-current three-year Starter rate.
While the launch domain bonus remains available, an eligible order can also include one standard non-premium .com or .ca registration at C$0 for the first year. Normal domain renewal pricing applies later and .ca eligibility rules still apply.
Current offer details:
https://dotmoose.com/hosting/#starter-launch
Full pricing:
https://dotmoose.com/pricing/
The useful takeaway is not that every small business needs this specific plan. It is that an entry hosting plan should be judged by the complete first-term cost, included resources, migration scope and renewal terms—not a monthly headline in isolation.