It's no secret that adult websites generate an incredible amount of traffic. If you are looking to set up your own adult website, there are a number of things you have to consider in addition to the normal needs of starting a new Web venture. These potential considerations include a good Web hosting provider, following guidelines for adult content and setting up a payment system.

Get an adequate Web hosting package. If you plan on having video on your site, you need to make sure your Web hosting plan allows for a large amount of storage and data transfer. Most popular providers offer a plan that includes unlimited storage and transfer. Make sure the service is reliable, should you see a sudden influx of traffic to your website. WebHostingGeeks.com and WebHostMagazine.com both publish an independent list of the most reliable Web hosting providers.

Follow the applicable guidelines for adult-oriented Web content. Due to the international nature of the Internet, it is only the laws of a person's own country and state that apply to the distribution of pornography. In the United States, there is not a set of established laws governing the distribution of adult content on the Internet. Many individual states, though, have laws regarding the distribution of adult films and photography. You should check with the branch of your state government that oversees Internet commerce, as a number of states have strict regulations. In general, it is common practice for adult websites to provide a warning on the home page that prevents minors and those not interested in viewing porn from entering the site. Take a look at other websites similar to the one you are setting up to get an idea of the common disclaimers.

The only federal law governing adult websites is statute 18 U.S.C. 2257, which requires producers of any adult material to retain their records showing that all performers were over the age of 18 at the time of the production. It is common practice to add this disclaimer on adult websites and often on each adult video.

Set up a payment system. If you are planning on charging for access to your website, you will need to set up a way for viewers to pay. Most adult websites offer options for access by the day, the month or the year. Some sites charge per video download. You will need to set up an online merchant account with a provider that accepts adult content sales so you can accept credit cards. Some of the merchant service providers will not accept sales of adult content, so you might need to check around for one that does, as their policies are constantly changing. Popular merchant service providers include Merchant Express, Authorize.net, Charge.com and GoEmerchant.com. If you want to keep things simple, you can also use PayPal to accept credit card payments.