If you've always wanted to build a Web site about your areas of expertise or home business, there exist many paid Web host options. Too many, in fact. We started with these popular sites: Hostway, iPowerWeb, Homestead, and Brinkster.

For between $5 and $10 per month (based on a yearlong contract), these services let you upload your Web site to a hosted server. The advantage over hosting your own server is, clearly, maintenance. You're paying for someone else to provide storage, security, and bandwidth that in most cases are beyond the average person's capabilities. Here's a look at the entry-level plans offered by iPowerWeb, Homestead, and Brinkster.