A checklist for choosing a hosting provider
The first step is always to look at what already exists. A simple checklist turned out to be more useful than any tool. The result is not perfect, but it has worked well for over a year. Good materials and clear communication make the rest much easier.
Budget and time usually decide more than personal preference. The short answer is that it depends, but the reasons are worth going through.
This came up several times this year, so it seemed worth writing down. Most of the problems were not technical at all.
Most of the problems were not technical at all. Asking the right questions at the beginning avoids most surprises. Nothing here is new, but it is easy to forget when you are in a hurry.