After you feel comfortable with the level of support a provider offers, consider what features are available. A basic understanding of what you know (and what you don't) will help direct your choice. If creating a site from scratch is intimidating, look for a provider that offers free website building software. This will save you from knowing html. You will also need a domain name to get your site up and some Shared Web Hosting providers even offer these for free. A free domain name should not be the main selling point for which provider you choose. After all, you can purchase a domain name from anyone from $2.99 - $12.99/year.
(2). Get A Linux Plan - A Linux plan is more reliable and use up less resources than windows. A word of caution here though, unlike windows that is not case sensitive linux is, so make sure that you use all lower case letters in your file names to avoid any recognition problems.
Which all brings me back to what is Affordable Web Hosting? I have my pages hosted at GVO and I pay a higher monthly cost than if I used certain other cheaper hosts.
No limit on sub-domains. You want to be able to add subdomains to your site in order for you site to grow and be more profitable. You also will have the option to create different sites for different products or services that you are selling.
Is the name you want already taken? Chances are this is a good possibility. Unless you hold the copyright on the name there is little chance you can get Shared Web Hosting UK it inexpensively.
Will they hold your domain to ransom when you come to transfer away? Can you be in full control of your domain at all times? Is the company just another reseller of a reseller of a reseller?!
The hosting company that I use also allows you to purchase a new domain name with PayPal. This is what I did. The online domain name purchasing website did not accept my debit card. However, I was able to email full payment via PayPal along with the domain name that I wished to purchase. This request was then carried out within minutes by the support team, whom emailed me confirmation of purchase.