Independent professionals are all about value for money when it comes to choosing web hosting, but still value sustainability
- The Liquid Web survey examines how independent professionals rate web hosting
- Being sustainable comes first, yet half of respondents would pay an extra $50 per year for sustainability
- On average, companies spend just under $20 per month on web hosting services
Independent professionals are increasingly finding that web hosting is an essential investment for business growth, although sustainability is often not their primary focus when choosing a provider.
New research from Liquid web found that professionals spend an average of $214 annually on hosting, achieving a remarkable ROI of 2,319%, with solopreneurs able to achieve up to 2,846%.
While more than half of respondents claimed they were open to paying extra for environmentally friendly solutions, they primarily looked for services that offer a tangible return on investment.
Value for money with a hosting provider
More than half of respondents (54%) said they would pay an additional $50 annually for eco-friendly hosting solutions, indicating that sustainable practices are an emerging consideration.
Meanwhile, 23% of respondents claimed to budget more than $500 annually for optimal performance and support.
Liquid Web found that the provider migration process is both time-consuming and expensive, requiring an average of 6.6 hours or $115 in resources.
And yet it appears that independent professionals still regularly switch hosting providers due to cost, performance or support issues. Nearly 7 in 10 indicate that they switch at least once, while 13% do so annually.
Hidden fees and unexpected billing are major triggers, with professionals finding these to be 35% more likely to switch providers.
“It’s fascinating to see how solopreneurs, freelancers and digital nomads are prioritizing sustainability and customer support. It provides valuable insights to tailor our offering to their evolving needs,” said David Eblen, Chief Product Officer at Liquid Web.