I use chicago vps for hosting. Got a good reoccurring deal on a dedicated server, so I went with them. Left go daddy after their support of SOPA bill back in 2011. They have been good to me, no down time that wasn't my fault lol, but I'm not sure how their normal prices compare to others. Generally paying someone to do it will cost more than most of us are willing to spend. So I would try to get your friends to help you out and try to learn what you can. Getting your own server is ideal if someone can set it up for you, then your code can be as advanced as it needs to be. I run debian on mine. mysql for database. but there are other options, see what your friends are familiar with.