text: If you area novice web designer then I agree with what most people say here, the client pays.  In fact, I would not even disguise it in your prices, have them establish the service and then provide you the administrator/anonymous FTP access.  I think the going rate for novice development of web pages in my area (Texas) is $50 per page.  A web designer should get in and get out, which means no continuing requirements with web hosting fees. If, on the other hand, you are a web administrator, then you are talking more long term commitment. The only way I would suggest holding onto the hosting fees if you lease a presence on the web and sub-divide that presence among your clients. Many ISPs allow that and you collect the aggregate coin and pay the one flat rate to the ISP.  It's up to you, but novice should stay simple.