There are a number of online hardware comparison guides that will give you a better understanding of the options on offer and the budgets required to implement them. It is best to establish your budget and some basic requirements before seeing a vendor. Remember to consider the hardware you currently have and your predicted requirements over the next 12 months. It is also worth factoring in upgrades as computer technology is still developing so rapidly.

Some basic requirements to get you started will be:

Modems – if your PCs don't have internal modems you will need to purchase external modems (56k) that allow connection to the Internet.

Browser software – Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator will be appropriate depending on the software you already have (the Microsoft Office Suite includes Internet Explorer)

Means of connection – you have a choice here of a dedicated phone line, a digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable.

* A dedicated phone line simply operates like a normal phone line but the number is used exclusively to dial into your Internet Service Provider.

* A digital subscriber line is also a phone line but is constructed to allow phone and Internet access on the same line.

* Cable. This allows the greatest amount of data flow, so your Internet connection will be significantly faster. It will also be the most expensive option.

You will also need to connect all the computers in your office so they are networked, forming a Local Area Network (LAN). The advantages of this include:

* Easier Internet access

* Backups can be done from one central place (rather than on each machine)

* Facilitates set up of an intranet

* Allows for sharing of equipment such as printers

Once you've decided on the best options for your business you will also need to decide on an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some ISPs provide web hosting but it is not necessary to use the same vendor for both services. All ISPs have different packages available depending on your business requirements. Again, it is worth shopping around for the best price and package for you. Your hardware vendor may also have some recommendations or ask others in your industry if they can refer you to an ISP.