ALL the hosting companies in Australia that I have researched have more expensive hosting plans than we can get offshore. Not only that, unfortunately our Australian web hosts have a dreadful reputation for poor customer service, more than usual downtime and lack of support.

I don’t always host my clients website websites … instead, I sign them up directly to some of the best hosting companies on the net. That way they only pay the minimum amount instead of the premium price that most resellers charge. There are two companies in particular that I recommend above all other for their excellent reputation, customer service, wide variety of options and very well priced plans.

HostMonster are an excellent company for a variety of website hosting requirements, but have particularly good plans for people who are just starting out small…

…At the moment, they have special prices for hosting your own websites that start from only $5.95 per month including your free domain name.

If you do a google search of satisfied customers or complaints and problems associated with web hosts, HostMonster usually has one of the BEST reputations.

Updated Information APRIL 2011: If you want to host only one domain with HOSTGATOR, at the moment they have a plan for only $3.96 US per month which would be perfectly suitable for a splash page or blog or do it yourself website by making use of their FREE SiteBuilder and SiteStudio Website Building Tools along with Free Website Templates. They are currently offering to transfer your existing Website and Domain Name FREE.

HOSTGATOR provide particularly good options if you intend to have more than one website, you want to be a reseller or you have an Internet related business.

Beside that, they have a wide variety of plans for all purposes and the live chat line will answer any questions you might have immediately. I may even be moving all my websites over to HOSTGATOR in the coming months.