Lets get to work!
Now that you have done your homework, you are ready to get started! Starting a new forum involves both time investment, and money investment. If you do not have at least $1,000 to invest into your new forum, then forums aren’t your thing. The money will go towards forum software, custom skin, domain/hosting, and a jump start campaign.
Easy/Logical/Smart Route
- Purchase a vBulletin license as your forum software. IPB is fine, but vBulletin is preferred. If you plan on keeping your forum for longer than 2 years, then an owned ($160) license is the right choice for you. If not, then you may want to go with a leased one ($85). This is for you to decide.
- Have a professional vB designer/coder to create you a SEO-friendly CUSTOM vBulletin skin. For a cheap skin, you could get them for just $300-$400. Although, if you purchase from a respected skinner, then prices can go as high as $800++. Alternatively, you could also always go with a premade skin. I would recommend one of my previous sites that I used to own, CustomizeVB.com for very quality vBulletin skins.
- You may start with shared hosting since you are just starting a forum. Make sure your host allows you to be able to upgrade your hosting plan as you go along. You could get very quality hosting for as little as 5 bucks per month. I would recommend my previous host, WireNine.com for quality hosting and 24/7 live support.
- This is a must. You have to purchase your own domain name. Please don’t go with a .tk or one of those free domain name services. A .com or .net is a must, and is very important because unless you plan on changing it later, this will be with you and your forum till the end.
Total Cost: $450 to $1000
Freebie/Stupid Route
- If you just don’t have the cash to buy your own vBulletin license or IPB license, there are many free forum software out there. phpBB and SMF are two very good forum software. They do have a lot of useful features, but not even close to the amount vBulletin offers. If you have to go with free, choose SMF over phpBB ;).
- SMF has a whole stack of free forum skins that you can choose from. Simply download and install. Painless.
- Go to Google, and search up ‘Free Web Hosting’. Now choose one of the 106,000,000 listings and sign up for a free account. There might be advertisements, but that’s ok. At least its free :/.
- If you really really REALLY have to, get a free domain name. There are tons of services out there offering free domain extensions.