You first need to figure out how much you're willing to spend on your server - and what you'e looking to get out of it. We list many cheap & affordable hosts on our list. Even some that are totally free! Yes, you heard that correctly: Server hosting for Minecraft, for free, 24/7. As a general rule of thumb though, you usually get what you pay for.
There's lots of options in the world of Minecraft hosting, if you have this stuff figured out, your selection will be much easier!
If you're really serious about your project, it's best to spend a bit extra and invest in a fast server with higher-quality CPUs, better support, guaranteed uptime and reliability ;)
If, on the other hand, you're only looking to host a small personal server for you and your friends, your hardware spec and support requirements should be much more reasonable, thus allowing for a cheaper hosting deal. In such cases, having live chat support is less important for example.