Mamapreneurs, Inc.

It’s Independence Day FAQ Friday! Happy Fourth of July to all of you fabulous mamapreneurs! To celebrate the notion of independence in general, today’s FAQ has everything to do with the modern independent woman: the mamapreneur (tm).

FAQ: What on earth is a “mamapreneur?”

ANSWER: A mamapreneur is a woman who runs her own business while also raising a family. Whether you own an online boutique, a marketing consulting firm, a restaurant or retail store, or invented a multi-million dollar product, if you get to call the shots and bear the title of Owner/CEO/President/Founder/Boss Lady, you’re a mamapreneur. A mamapreneur is someone makes her own hours, sets her own prices, gets to hire and fire employees, makes all high level decisions from what type of toilet paper to stock in the bathrooms to how to spend ad dollars, all while also juggling childcare, school and homelife.

Cheers to all of you independent mamapreneurs out there! May you enjoy a happy & healthy Independence Day with your families & friends! 

Mamas,

Just thought I’d drop a line, and let you know about an upcoming event. It’s actually targeted to large companies, but the topic is interesting. It’s the Internet Strategy Summit.

With our smaller size businesses, it’s always good to know what the big ones are up to, and how we can modify these strategies to meet our needs. So, if you’re looking to connect with other companies, hear what people are saying about Internet strategies, than this may be the place for you. Here’s the run down:

Internet Strategy Forum, Thursday, July 17th, 2008, 8am - 5pm at the Governor Hotel.

“Attendees of the Internet Strategy Forum Summit will engage with each other and with our executive keynote presenters (appearing in-person) from eMarketer, Forrester Research, Disney, Nike, Intel, IBM, WebTrends and Fandango, who will share their insights and ideas about smart enterprise Internet strategy—how to best leverage the Internet and integrate it into overall business strategy.Topics to be covered include:

* general digital strategy
* social media strategy
* personalized marketing
* CRM and customer metrics
* social commerce
* email marketing”

More infor at: http://www.internetstrategyforum.org/events/summitwest2008.html.

***MAMAPRENEURS, INC. MEMBERS: CHECK THE FORUM TO GET A SPECIAL DISCOUNT TO ATTEND THE SUMMIT!****

It’s “Working With...” Wednesday! Each Wednesday, we feature a guest blogger who shares tips for mamapreneurs on how to work with professionals in their industry. This week’s guest blogger is Dr. Arah McLaughlin of Core Elements Chiropractic.

Working With a Chiropractor
by Dr. Arah McLaughlin, Core Elements Chiropractic

Being a mother, wife and business owner is exhausting at times and it can take a toll on our health and well-being.  Personally experiencing all of the above, I have realized the need for pregnancy and post-partum chiropractic care for us women to decrease our chances of having “burn-out” and staying healthy both mentally and physically for our families and our lives. Some common areas that often need attention for us mama entrepreneurs are:

·Upper body stress and headaches as a result

·Carpal Tunnel (Yes, chiropractic is very effective in treating this common overuse injury)

·Low back aches and pain

·Rib pain

·Shoulder pain

Knowing that you are taking care of your children, cleaning the house, running a business and performing these tasks while you are getting less sleep is even more reason to take time out to maintain your health and body. I personally see that every mama is treated with extreme care and gentleness, pampered during her visit and of course, kids are always welcome to come and play or be treated as well. Please visit our website for more information:  http://www.cechiro.com

Do you ever have days (or weeks) where you are just trying to get through each hour?  I am always working hard at encouraging Moms to take care of themselves and make time for their needs.  It is my own passion and part of my business to help Moms improve their own self esteem through athletics.  Than how is it during the past month, I have forgotten to practice what I preach and worry I am not doing a good enough job as a Mom, Partner, Business Owner and “Erin”?  Do you ever feel like that? Do you feel that you sometimes need to map out each hour of your day juggling the “to do’s” in order to get through? 

I sometimes feel it could just be me who feels like this, but know that can’t be the case in the hundreds of Mom business owners I know.  As a mamapreuner we tend to be harder on ourselves than most others.  Heck, it is what gave us the spirit and determination to start our own businesses while having little ones.  I know this too shall pass, and that having two little ones and two businesses while not living by any family wasn’t going to be a cake walk....but some days I make myself think of the sweet train in The Little Engine That Could saying “I think I can, I think I can”.  I realized I have to accept those days are going to happen, and they can only excel at making me take care of myself.  Right? 

Calling all Mamapreneurs! Are you trying to figure out how to start or run your business while also raising a family? Looking for some inexpensive PR/marketing tips to help boost your biz that you can do during naps or after the kids are in bed? Confused about what steps you should take legally for your biz, and also financially for your biz AND for your family’s future? We invite you to join us at The Makings of a Mamapreneur (tm) mini-conference! This one-of-a-kind business conference offers mamapreneurs launching a business or who have been in business for five or fewer years the opportunity to learn from and connect with experienced mamapreneurs in a smaller, more effective setting: think of it more as a condensed weekend getaway workshop instead of your typical stuffy business conference. We’re mamapreneurs (tm)—we ‘re anything but stuffy!

The Makings of a Mamapreneur is where you have the opportunity to make new friends as well as new business contacts, share what you know and also bring one business idea or challenge to be workshopped in a small group facilitated by business counselors with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Small Business Association (SBA). During the four panel sessions, you’ll hear from mamapreneurs who represent the wonderful wide world of mamapreneurs: online boutique owners, lawyers, designers, independent consultants, financial advisors, retail store owners, school directors, and a few serial mamapreneurs. Light breakfast and lunch refreshments will be provided.

This conference is all about YOU: helping you learn to build a better business while also raising your family. We know how hard it can be for mamas to find full-day childcare, to take a full day away from work, and even how difficult it can be to be gone for a full day when you’re nursing a baby (my second wouldn’t take a bottle, so believe me, I know!!), so we’ve created a two-day half-day conference. We also wanted moms to walk away with more than just notes and a few random business cards; we’re limiting the number of attendees in order to make sure you get your questions answered (or at least heard!), to make sure you have the opportunity to get to know your panelists and attendees a little better, and each attendee will not only walk away with a fab swag bag but you’ll also get The Makings of a Mamapreneur Handbook, full of great tip sheets from our panelists on a variety of business and family life matters.

PLUS: Each attendee has the opportunity to apply to win the Mamapreneurs, Inc. Scholarship to Success! A package overflowing with helpful tools for budding, new and newer mamapreneurs, including:
--One personal comprehensive financial plan provided by Diane Sague Ehnes of Waddell & Reed ($1,000 value)
--One-hour business law consultation with Angela Russell, Attorney-at-Law ($185 value)
--One-hour family law consultation with Beate Weiss-Krull, Attorney-at-Law ($145 value)
--Two-hour brand marketing consultation with CRSmith Consulting ($200 value)
--Logo design or business card design services by Folklore Media ($500-$1000 value)
--One professional photo session with Reversed Lens Photography ($500 value)
--One-hour public relations media campaign consultation by Urban Bliss Design + PR ($85 value)
--Blog header plus banner ad package by Urban Bliss Design + PR ($200 value)
--One-week free trial of Power Outdoor Fitness ($95 value)

Click here to register today and SAVE $10 off registration!

Be sure to visit The Makings of a Mamapreneur webpages to learn more about the panel sessions and also learn more about the great panelists and moderators we have lined up.

The Makings of a Mamapreneur
Tuesday Sept 23 & Wednesday Sept 24
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Bridgeport Village, Design Within Reach
7475 SW Bridgeport Road, Tigard, OR 97224
$125 Non-Members; $95 Members
Register before JULY 15th & save $10!

It’s FAQ Friday! This week’s Frequently Asked Question has a family focus: How Do I Find the Right Preschool?

Answer: It seems like many mamapreneurs are in a bit of a panic the past couple of weeks. Their tots soon will be turning or recently turned 3, may or may not be potty trained yet, and they’ve been looking at preschools for the fall. Is it too late? Where to even find out what preschools are in the area that fit your criteria? What preschool philosophy is right for your family? What do you mean there’s a 2-year wait list?!

Personally, I don’t understand the preschool panic mentality, but that’s just me. I am saving up my Crazy Mom panic suit for the college search. I think sometimes when suggestions are made about what to look for in preschools, the gut instinct of the parents is too often overlooked. YOU know your children better than any teacher or director ever will; you know what type of environment your child will thrive in, what type of personalities and activities will comfort and excite your child. It also needs to be said that it is not just your child that needs to be made comfortable in a school setting, but you must feel comfortable there as well. I believe more parents should trust themselves more: trust your gut, hold onto your values, and you’ll find the school that is right for your family.

I won’t go into the traditional lists of “what to look for” and “what to ask” during school visits, because there are a myriad of resources with those lists, such as the Savvy Source’s Preschool eBook. In terms of where to find information about different preschools, here are some of the best resources I have found:
Savvy Source
ReadySetMom’s Preschool & Childcare Directory
CafeMama’s Preschool Guide
Oregon Montessori Schools (NAMTA listings)
Oregon Waldorf Schools
Parent Child Preschools of Oregon (co-op schools)

There are of course, many other resources. We have three preschools within PMI: The PLAY Boutique, Purple Moon Child Development, and Rowanberry School. All very different, all lovely in their own way. Check them out, make some calls and schedule visits, and be sure that when you visit you go with your own list of “must have"s and “would be nice but not mandatory” items for what is important to YOU and your family.

For us, we found the right one by referrals from neighbors and PMI members. We LOVE our son’s preschool. He thrives there, can be himself there. His school is honestly the reason we have not moved closer-in to the city; we haven’t found another quite like it, and we’re certain we want our daughter to go there when the time comes. 

Do you have any suggestions for folks searching for preschools right now, beyond the traditional lists? What was it that made you fall in love with your child’s preschool? Any surprises along the way during your own research that you’d like to pass along to others? Please share! And happy hunting to the mamas searching for preschools this summer! You’ll find The One.

If you haven’t hear of Urban Craft Uprising, it is a really great show in Seattle, filled with amazing independent designers from all over the Northwest. The show is juried and they’ve just set up an online application to simplify the whole process. The dates of this falls’ show are December 6th and 7th. Check them out at http://www.urbancraftuprising.com and the application is at: http://www.urbancraftuprising.com/vo.htm

I’d love to hear if anyone has participated in this in the past and what you thought of the process/experience. I’m thinking I’ll be a little too close to birthing to make it this year, but next year for sure.

When people ask me if I allow MLM businesses into Mamapreneurs, Inc. I say no: I welcome INDIVIDUALS who are moms and also independent consultants to the organization. Some people don’t get that there is a difference in what we do as opposed to other networking organizations, and that’s ok—it means we’re probably not for them . Our mission is to support the individual mothers who are working hard, trying to do what they love while also raising a family. Whether it’s for their own business or whether they are an independent marketing consultant or they work as an independent consultant for Mary Kay/Arbonne/Pampered Chef/Univera, etc., the point is they are ALL still mothers who need support.

That said, there is an interesting article in the summer 2008 issue of Brain, Child magazine, entitled “Seller Beware.” The main angle is against MLMs, painting them as total scams that should be illegal but are not because of little loopholes. The article features several moms who were “duped” into investing thousands of dollars and not making any money back; of being told they can make XX thousands of dollars a month if they work hard but then getting the hard sell from directors to not only buy lots of starting inventory but then pressuring them to bring in more associate reps to work under them, and that, supposedly, is how they make money. Now, that’s a super quick general overview of the article; I encourage you to read it for yourself.

You should know that I take no set stance on MLMs either way. For those who participate, I wonder how profitable they are, how much they feel pressured to not only sell products but bring in others to sell with them, and whether they honestly believe not only in the product, but the company. If they do, great! If not, are they doing it because of the prospect of making lots of money fast? If that’s the case, then I worry about them. When someone enters any business with false hopes, that someone is likely to be greatly disappointed. I also wonder what other “issues” are occurring in their lives that should be tended to before making the leap into business. It’s like the lottery: the people who play week after week not for fun, but for the hope that one day they will strike it rich...there are deeper issues there. And who to blame: the lottery, or the individuals? Sometimes I think our society in general likes to take the easy route and deflect responsibility onto others for actions that are, in the end, our own.

So what do you think? We have some members that do participate in these type of businesses, and I’d love to hear from those of you. Be honest and share: what is it about these companies that you love? Why did you join them? How are they different? Are there any folks out there who are totally against MLMs or have had bad experiences? Whether you are a Mamapreneurs Inc member or not, we’d love your comments. 

Birthdays get bigger and wilder all the time! Well, a friend of mine told me about donating instead of gift giving! I’ve convinced my soon to be five year old it’s a good idea. So, for his fifth birthday, we’re asking everyone to bring a can of food for the Oregon food bank.  No presents for him. Then, he and I are going to deliver it and take a tour of the Oregon Food Bank. I’ve reassured him that he will still get presents from me, Dad, and his grandparents. But, his friends will be asked to bring donations instead. 

I am just so thrilled about this idea, and hope to do it for a different cause every year. I hope it’ll be a great way for him to learn about opportunities to help others, and be involved in the community.

I am a strong woman/Mama/business owner but sometimes I simply can’t be a hard-ass and lay down the business law.

This week, I received a tug-at-your-heart call from one of my parents. She said her husband (who is a residential builder) has lost a HUGE contract and they had to quickly put their house on the market to get out from under their enormous debt. She has two children at Purple Moon (which is a substantial income generator for us). She said that there was no way possible for her to make her July tuition payment and she would have to pull her children out of school at the end of this month. 

We have a pretty hard-core 30 day policy, but for some reason I let her out of her contract.

It sucks on a few different levels. 1. We are always lighter in the summer (which means income and expenses are about flush). 2. We still have ALL of the expenses we would have during the school year including paying our fabulous teachers for their vacation time, etc. 3. It puts me in a tough spot with the biz partner (although she is MUCH more of a softie than I). 4. I have to take a pay cut.

I am normally a by-the-book kinda gal, not sure why I morphed into a “Patsy” yesterday for all of 15 minutes. I wish I had the balls to call her back and enforce our 30 day policy (although I know she doesn’t have it).

What do you do when your heart, head and wallet ALL collide?

-I have insomnia and I’m tired.
-I work 7 days a week but Mondays and Fridays are my FT kid days during the summer.
-E-mail is the best way to communicate for me; if you leave me a voice mail, you honestly might not get a call back. If you leave me an e-mail, you will definitely get a response.

I tell you all this not because you are my friends, my family, my colleagues or my clients (although you may be one or all of these things): I tell you this because being transparent about who I am as the owner of three companies and as mama to two kids is essential to the success of my businesses and peace in my personal life. Being a mamapreneur means that my businesses don’t just rely on the products or the services, they rely on the entire brand package—and that includes me as the owner. As mamapreneurs, like it or not, we ARE the brand. 

When I meet with mamapreneurs who want PR help but tell me they can’t mention their kids in any press releases or bios, or when mamapreneurs say they have to lie about their odd work hours because their clients wouldn’t understand, I am more than disappointed. Maybe it was growing up with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as my hero, but I’ve always felt that we have a responsibility as women not to conform to the rules but to help MAKE the rules. As a mamapreneur, I feel immense pride in being part of this amazing group of women who run businesses and raise families. I came from the corporate world where I’d pretend I didn’t have a life outside of the office persona, to the life of a mamapreneur, where personal and business often gets all tangled up. Why? Because I am the boss. It doesn’t matter whether you work from home or are the owner of a multi-billion dollar company with thousands of employees: you are still a mom who runs a business, you are still the one who calls the shots. You have a family at home. To pretend that part of your life doesn’t exist when you’re in business mode is doing a disservice not only to yourself, but to the entire business world and to your fellow mamapreneurs in general. Once I understood this, accepted and embraced it, I found the balance, the harmony, the peace I have always been searching for. It’s right there, if you’re willing to let go of traditional corporate thinking and just BE YOU.

One of the reasons I chose to make Mamapreneurs, Inc. an S-Corp instead of a non-profit was because I know that American corporations can do better. We CAN come back to a time when corporations aren’t looked at as mega-monsters, but as teams of individuals who are working to make the world a better place. My goal is to have Mamapreneurs, Inc. model what corporations SHOULD be. Mamapreneurs Inc. is about following through with family friendly policies and not just maintaining rhetoric on paper for appearances or awards. We’re about supporting the success of employees and members as moms, women and as business professionals. Here, working toward your version of success is important, but in doing so you don’t have to pretend to be the perfectly glossed CEO or the perfect mom.

I am human to the core, with quirks, many flaws and I will always make mistakes. I also have kids who sometimes get sick and I need to be there for them; they have doctor’s appointments and school events that take precedence over work. Work that I love dearly, but know can wait whereas many family issues cannot. Sometimes I think we mamapreneurs forget that we’re the ones calling the shots; we are responsible for whether or not our lives are in harmony or in discord. If a design client seems hesitant to work with my hours, even though I would do a fabulous job for them & even if they would pay larger corporate rates, I politely decline the project. If a potential member doesn’t seem to “get” that Mamapreneurs, Inc is more about collaboration, support & building relationships than about hard core cold networking, then I am ok with them not joining the group. The right clients and customers will always be out there. There is enough business to go around, and if you are true to yourself, your family, and your passion for what you do, then I firmly believe transparency in your business will help lead not only to great professional success but also to personal peace and fulfillment. And that, my friends, is what I believe “balance” is all about. 

Did you notice the new logo at the top of our website? The look is the same but the name has changed. Portland Mamas Inc. now is officially Mamapreneurs, Inc. We are the same organization, with the same mission, but with more offerings to our close community and a new name that will grow better with our organization. Newsletter subscribers will be getting the formal announcement shortly, along with the formal announcement of our Makings of a Mamapreneur Conference Sept 23 & 24 at Bridgeport Village Design Within Reach! Want to learn more about our name change? Be sure to sign up for our mailing list up top and get all of the latest updates! 

It’s “Working With...” Wednesday! This week’s “Working With...” guest blogger is Janet Allison of Language of Parenting.

Working With a Coach
by Janet Allison, Language of Parenting

How do I become a better business owner?  A better mama?  How do I get what I want?  Do I even know what I want?”

A Coach is ready to help you identify and achieve what you want in life.  Coaches often focus on a particular niche: Business/Career Coach, Athletic Coach, Life Coach, Family or Parent Coach.  Overall, the focus is you and how to make your life, your business, your parenting, even better!

When you are looking for a coach, ask about their philosophy and training.  My coaching work is based on the body of knowledge known as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).  There are many training programs with many philosophies, ask about them to be sure you are in alignment with your coach.

While each coach has their own approach, this is a general coaching framework:

· The first question you will examine with your coach is:  Where are you in your life right now? What’s working?  What isn’t working?  What changes would you like to make? 

· Once you know where you are, you begin to look ahead to where you want to be.  Afterall, if you don’t know where you’re going – how will you get there?!  Taking the time to be very specific about what you DO want in your life, your business, your parenting (rather than what you don’t want) helps you create the road map for your life.

· Coaches skillfully guide you to forming an action plan.  Together, you will identify resources you already have, resources you need, and ways to implement your plan.  You may have some limiting beliefs that are stopping you from moving forward (“I can’t speak in public.” “I’m not a good mom.”) A coach recognizes and assists you in clearing up these roadblocks.

· Part of the action plan you create will be how the coach will follow-up with you to be sure you are implementing your action plan fully and completely.  The coach will help you make adjustments along the way. 

· And finally, as you achieve your outcomes, the coach will remind you to ‘dream the dream beyond the dream.’ Once you’ve achieved what you set out to do, will you be dreaming the dream that comes next?

The coaching relationship is based on taking action and moving ahead.  You may only see a coach for one or two sessions depending on the topic.  This differs from a counselor/therapist relationship where conversation may be more focused on the past and understanding the actions and influences of others.

So, if you have an issue that seems to be stopping you from being your best mama, best business owner, or best self, see a coach and experience the fullest and richest life you’ve ever imagined! Be ready!  Change is good!  And life just keeps getting better and better

Janet Allison focuses her coaching practice on helping parents deepen their connection to themselves and their families.  She has just published her first workbook for parents.  She is available to speak to your group.  www.languageofparenting.com

“I must laugh because if not I would cry” is what my grandmother would say when she was having a comically challenging day. It always sounds a bit better when I hear it in my head in Spanish, as she used to say it, but in English it still gets the point across.

I’ve been on my own for six days so far and I must say it has NOT made me want to cry. I’ve enjoyed it. The quality time with Nolan after school and work has been lovely. Usually I hand Nolan duties to Josh the minute he walks in the door at 6pm which, until now, has really made special moments like bath and going to bed time as papa-only moments. This is great for Josh and Nolan, however, this week has showed me that some nights I might really benefit (and Nolan too) from having mama join in on the fun. Or, even relieve papa some days from reading duties so Nolan and I can bond in that way too. With the business taking so much of my time, even when he is around, I really do feel and crave more focused, quality time with the little man. Yesterday’s hay ride and berry picking was a huge hit ("This is SO much fun, mama!” just about made me the happiest ever; his verbal is getting so well-rounded and, well, to know he thought that and then to hear him say it was just so lovely). Today at the zoo, just he and I, was no exception either. I can’t wait to tell Josh about it when he calls again tonight.

Last night before bed I read him The Very Quiet Cricket for the first time. The book all of the sudden was chirping and, well, kept chirping.  I thought ‘Hmm, this is weird. It didn’t do this when we checked it out from the library. Maybe Nolan flipped a little switch inside or something.’ I kissed Nolan goodnight, kissed Curious George goodnight and walked out of the room with the book. I still was not finding the switch (there MUST be a switch, right?). As I walked down the last step, I finally accepted that there was no switch inside and that we had somehow broken the book. It chirped away some more—and loudly. I flipped every page, asking myself what I was going to do to make the noise just stop already. I stepped on it where I thought the little chip must be (because everything just needs more push when it’s not working, right?  ). Anyhow, I continued. I now was pressing it in a zillion different places, too, thinking something would make it stop. Nothing. Finally, thinking of my grandmother, I took a deep breath, smiling from my day with my son (but really detesting this loud chirping sound now) and did the only thing I thought I could do, at this point.  I put the library book to bed outside, far away, so neither Nolan and I could hear it.

It was time, after all, for all of us to rest...mama was happy but tired.  I cracked up thinking about the title of the book and how it was definitely NOT a very quiet cricket. I would probably say that my grandmother’s saying would change to something like “I must laugh (at where I just put the book - where I so kindly am now sharing it with my neighbors) because if not I would not be able to sleep!”

In the distance at about 9:45 I could still hear the chirping from the back yard, I smiled, and thought to myself “Ah, summer. What a lovely cricket sound that is—OUTside!”

It’s FAQ Friday! Today’s FAQ: Which Web Host Should I Use?

Answer: Like many answers here, it depends on what your business needs are. Here’s a list of the hosts that I use for a variety of different sites. There are also many interesting lists out there of Top 10 Web Hosts...all with different rankings per host, of course.

* Start Logic—I love StartLogic. I use StartLogic for two of my sites. For the past year, they have been transitioning all current customers to their new fancy platform, replacing their old one. Now, I thought their old one was just fine. The new one, while it took me a little while to get used to where things were and some different functions, also works just fine. The transition to the new platform went without problems for one of my sites; for this site, however, it’s been a bit bumpy. They have great customer service, however, and I’ve been pleased with how they have been able to resolve issues and communicate well.

* Blue Host—This is probably my husband’s favorite, and he’s the Web Developer (I’m just a pseudo Web geek). Blue Host is fairly easy to navigate to Web newbies, their pricing is great, and their control panel is user-friendly. We use them for quite a few web clients of ours.

* Verio—At first, I hated Verio. But then their customer service won me over. They are the web host of choice connected to WHOIS, which manages the domain name registry database. I’m using Verio for the first time with one of my sites, and I think I like them. Their pricing seems higher than others, but so far, so good.

* Media Temple—This is a great hosting site if you are already comfortable with the Web. You can definitely figure out how to navigate around it if you spend enough time with it, but it’s not the most user-friendly panel on the block. I use them for one of my sites, and have used them for client sites in the past, but those are typically clients that don’t want to do much modification on their own and would rather leave the updates to us.

* Yahoo hosting. I haven’t used it, but it has received good reviews. I am about to go into a client’s Yahoo hosted site, so I’ll be seeing for myself how good their service is soon enough!

There is only one hosting service I most definitely do NOT recommend and that is Go Daddy. Buy your domain names from Go Daddy, but their hosting service S-U-C-K-S. I cannot stress this enough. I had one web client who used GoDaddy as her web host, she was already too deep in to change over to another, and because of the way GoDaddy works, it took us twice as long to work on her site as it would have had she had a different host.

This is just a tiny list in comparison to the number of good hosts that are out there. Like most things related to the web (shopping carts, hosts, card processors), I recommend you fight the urge to go with the cheapest option out there. With the Web, you most definitely get what you pay for. Free usually means you will end up paying for it dearly in your time, energy and money. Be sure to shop around, make comparison charts, and go with your gut. If you have a web host you love that is not listed here, please leave a comment and let us know!