Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for a while, you probably have a website!  If you don’t, you need to get one ASAP.  Your portfolio will get your name out there, find you clients and sell your photos.  It is probably the most important thing for every photographer.There are a few different options when it comes to building an online portfolio / website, some that are easier or cheaper than others…Online services like Flickr and Photobucket are great, but if you are serious about your work you need to have your own URL and a branded website.The first and most recommended option would be to pay a web designer or company to build you a custom website.  This option will give you the most flexibility, and you will get a portfolio that perfectly suits your needs.  Even better, it could be more than a portfolio.  They will be able to add blog section to your website and also a shopping cart (if you want/need one) so people can purchase your work directly from the website.  As you would expect this would be the most expensive way to go and if you are just starting and already struggling with financing equipment you wouldn’t want to spend a ton of money on a website. Instead of hiring a well know agency or designer you could try and go with a website for freelancers.  With these you post a project on the website that briefly describes your requirements, and then you set the maximum amount of money that you are willing to spend for your project.  Then different people will respond to you by some kind of personal message and amount of money that they are willing to build it for.  You can review their previous assignments and reviews, and decide which one is going to work best for you. With this option you can get away with less money and still achieve great results.  Finally, there is a great (and cheaper!) alternative to custom built websites.  A few pretty big and popular online services are dedicated to hosting customizable photographers’ portfolios.  All you'll have to do is put in some time arranging your portfolio.  These can look great and definitely do the job.  There are some differences between the different services like maximum file size, monthly fee and template designs, so spend some time and find the one that is going to suit your needs.  The nice thing about this option over hiring a designer, is that it will be easy for you to change out your portfolio as you get better images.SmugMug Wix 

Pictage 
APhotoFolio 
Zenfolio 
LiveBooks
Before you are ready to go online and put together/purchase a website, get a piece of paper and figure out your URL, galleries, sections and menus.  You can even think about color theme and layout.  That will help you get to the final result much faster and you are going to have a clear idea of what you are looking for.