Windows VPS for e-commerce and business tools

What sellers and small businesses run on a VPS

A Windows VPS is a good place for tools that need a Windows desktop and should not depend on your own laptop being on:

• Accounting and bookkeeping software that you open each day or month.
• Inventory and order tools that sync stock between your shop, your suppliers and your warehouse.
• Spreadsheets and reports that update from your sales data on a schedule.
• Product and listing management software supplied by your marketplace or software vendor.
• Scheduled jobs such as nightly exports, imports, backups and price updates.
• A shared desktop for your team, so everyone sees the same files and tools.

Each of these is software you buy or build yourself. The VPS only supplies the computer to run it on.

Why a VPS and not your own PC

• It stays on. Scheduled work keeps running when your laptop is closed or travelling. See how to keep programs running.
• A fixed IP address. Some payment, shipping and software providers only accept connections from an IP address you register with them. A VPS has its own IP address that does not change.
• Work from anywhere. Open the same desktop from any device. See using a Windows VPS for remote work.
• Business tools kept apart from personal ones. Your accounting files and shop tools sit on their own server, not mixed with your personal downloads.
• Easy to resize. Start small and move to a bigger plan when your catalog or team grows.

Choose a plan by workload

Most small business software is not heavy. A rough guide:

• Spreadsheets, accounting and a few small tools: a smaller plan is usually enough.
• Inventory systems, databases or several people at once: more RAM helps most.
• Large catalogs and heavy reports: choose a larger plan.

See how to choose the right plan. Windows Server comes with your plan. Other software, such as accounting programs or office suites, needs its own licence.

Follow each platform's rules

If you sell on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Etsy, Shopify or any other platform, each one has its own rules about accounts, logins and where you operate from. Some things to keep in mind:

• Use your own real, verified details when you register and sell.
• A VPS does not change who you are or where your business is registered, and it should not be used to hide either.
• Do not use a server to run accounts you are not allowed to have, such as extra accounts the platform forbids.
• Read the platform's policy before you log in from a new place, and tell them if they ask.

Breaking these rules can get an account suspended, whatever server you use. Our acceptable use policy also applies to every FOMZE server.

Keep your business data safe

Your server holds your sales records, so protect it:

1. A strong, unique password. See how to change the Administrator password.
2. Windows Update on a regular schedule, and the other steps in how to secure a Windows VPS.
3. Regular backups kept off the server. See how to back up a Windows VPS.

Pick a region near you

Choose the region closest to where you and your team work, or to the service your software talks to most. See how to choose a VPS location.