There are plenty of jobs you may want or need to do when you’re setting up your small business website.

You may want to configure email addresses, set up MySQL databases to run scripts, create autoresponders, gather server details to allow you to configure scripts, view your visitor statistics and more.

Whilst there are many different ways to do this - and I have tried many of them - the absolute easiest way I have found is through a “control panel”.

Many web hosting companies suitable for small business websites provide you with free access to your own personal control panel when you order web hosting from them.

They will provide you with a username and password so you can log in and configure the settings of your site with little or no technical knowledge.

You will be faced with a well laid-out collection of icons which when clicked will take you off to other specific control areas allowing you to easily and visibly set up and modify all major elements of your site.

Here’s a sample picture of a control panel so you can see what I’m talking about…

I would strongly recommend therefore that you look for small business web hosting that provides you with a “cpanel-type” control panel though to be fair this is far and away the most common arrangement and you should find it incredibly easy to track down a suitable small business web host offering just such a service.

Both of the following two web hosting companies I recommend at this site offer a cpanel control panel and would both suitable for your uses.