Often times, eCommerce hosting ends up costing you a lot more than just the cost of the hosting service. More times than not, there are fees for eCommerce software, fees for a dedicated IP address, a fee for an SSL certificate and many more.

The following are the top 5 tips to help you save some money on your eCommerce hosting so you can get your business online without spending a fortune.

1. Look for Deals

Do some research and try to find the web hosting providers that clearly spell out deals they offer for eCommerce hosting. These package deals usually save you the most money because they include things such as shopping carts and IP address that you would otherwise end up paying fees for.

2. Free eCommerce Software

eCommerce software can at times be very costly. Some web hosting providers will include eCommerce software as part of their package deals, however if they do not, there are multiple free, open source eCommerce solutions that can be found on the web.

3. Use an Affordable Payment Processor

You can often times find a payment processor that is within your budget. A merchant account is generally considered ideal, but a payment processor can save you money while still allowing you to accept credit card payments online.

4. Use All-In-One Software

Make a list of the things you know you are going to need such as a shopping cart, customer relations management, accounting software, etc. Then find a software package that contains all of those things rather than getting multiple different applications.

5. Get an SSL Certificate Discount

If you want secure transactions on your website, you’re going to have to pay for an SSL certificate. Shop around for the best deal but also be wary of the “too good to be true” bargains. Some web hosts may offer good deals to help you save a decent amount of money.