Here Some advice!
Starting a message board and using Vbulletin ?
First i hope your a webmaster knowing coding and how vb works because you will be looking at $$$$ / month just for maintenance and security patch if you don't do it your self. I would suggest to use xenforo instead, a more stable platform. Anyhow a bunch of Old timer programmer of VB have switch over to xenforo, thats the words around.
What would be the best hosting company to use for this project?
ExpressVB specialize on Forum hosting my experience with them was great.
hope this help but understand Board business is a though one! You not only need money but you need the most important THE POSTER.
Charging membership fee ( forget about it for at least 5 years ) and it all depend of the quality of your content.
IMO