Describe your load in your own words
State the type of site, the number of products or articles, the main integrations and the expected traffic peaks. An online store depends on the cart, search and stock updates; a blog on serving articles quickly; a web service on logged-in users. These are different load profiles.
Ask the provider to explain the resources available and what happens when limits are exceeded. Do requests slow down, do errors appear, can you get diagnostic data? The word "unlimited" without an explanation of the limits gives you nothing to plan around.
Test caching and compatibility on your own site
Find out which speed features are available and who configures them. Caching static public pages is useful, but a cart or a customer account needs different rules. Ask to test a guest visit, logging in, search and submitting a form.
PHP and database versions and plugin requirements change. Before a migration, check compatibility with your actual configuration instead of relying on a generic "supports WordPress." It helps to have a staging copy where you can spot problems before switching the main domain.
A backup is only useful if you can restore it
Ask what gets backed up: files, database, email, settings. Where are the backups stored, how many versions are available and who does the restore? A backup on the same disk doesn't cover every data-loss scenario.
Ask the provider to describe how they restore one site without overwriting newer data. For an online store this matters a lot: rolling back to yesterday's database can wipe out today's orders. Backup frequency and acceptable data loss should match how your business actually runs.
Keep hosting and website support separate
A provider may be responsible for the server environment being up, but not for a bug in a third-party plugin (that's technical support) or your CRM settings. Ask where their help ends before you buy, so you don't find out during an outage that each side expects the other to act.
Compare hosting plans against what your site needs, not just on price. If you need special services or a dedicated environment, discuss server solutions. Moving to more complex infrastructure should come with clear responsibility for maintaining it.
