How long a web host has been open is a bigger part than you might think when it comes into finding the best dedicated hosting provider. Now true, most of the time you can only go by the time frame that they give you but I would say that anybody who has been selling dedicated hosting a few years would do.
Now if they just started last week or a few month ago – make sure that they have a good footing in the hosting world. See if they have any history with hosting other types of plans in the past and for how long. The nightmare scenario you want to save yourself from is the one that includes a creepy guy in his basement sitting next to your server and saying that he is one of the biggest and best in the business.
Often you can also check up on web hosts via the Better Business Bureau too. If not there, then you might try searching around places like WebHostingTalk.com to see what some of the oldest comments are about that company.
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