Hosting a server

[yottabyte]

Lowest step of entry is with game server providers (GSPs) where you get a single instance of the game server from the GSP and they give you a control panel to manage your server and some method to get plugins there. They fit many instances of game servers on a powerful physical server, and handle the hardware for you. The price point here varies, and you might be able to get a really small server (5-10 slots) for $5-10/mn. Your allocation is usually in slots, but are limited by ram and other resources too.
Next there is virtual private servers (VPS) where you rent a fixed allocation of resources on a bigger server. You install the OS and game server yourself. The provider also manage the hardware for you. The price point here is around $20+/mn and your allocation is usually ram and disk. As long as you're within the limits, you can set the slot I whatever you want.
Then, you get a dedicated server for yourself. Same deal as VPS, you have a say in the OS (typically only at sign up, and it might cost for a reinstall), and install your own game server. The provider manages the hardware for you here, too. Price point here is usually around $40+/mn for budget providers, all the way to few hundred dollars per mn for more expensive providers and more powerful servers.
Finally, you get your own hardware, and colocate it in a data center. This is where you are fully responsible for your own everything, but can get really good servers hosted for relatively cheap. You buy the hardware yourself, that's like buying a computer, it'll be as expensive as you want, then you can colo it for $40~hundreds+ per mn depending on physical size of the server, how much power it needs, and how much bandwidth you need.
Depending on what your needs are, and what budget is available, you'd generally start from GSP and move your way through to get bigger and more powerful servers as you grow.
Hope this helps!

This isn't really how Kiwike was done, but close enough.

Additionally, hosting a server takes A LOT of time. Don't get into something like this if you don't know that you will have a lot of free time to spend on it.

You will also need basic knowledge of how a Minecraft server functions, networking, console environments, basic programming, (website administrating), etc. It is essential that you know how to work the Googles and acquire this kind of information on your own. If you constantly need someone's help to run a server, maybe hosting just isn't for you.

Of course, there's also the option to just stick with a GSP and remain ignorant as to how to host a server professionally, but such a server would most likely remain a small community of max 20 players.

Ps. calling the entire Kiwike community assholes because one person was mean won't help you.