Where to install products - Local or Server

I have created my Zen Cart on my local computer and have moved ot to my Hostmonster server. My question is:

Where should I install new products?

1. On my local server and move the upgraded database to my server. this would eliminate putting the server in "under construction" mode for a long period of time.

If I did it this way I would first download the database on the server to my computer, make the product additions on my local computer and then upload the changes to the server. Is that correct?

2. Enter the new products directly on the server. If I did it this way do I need to take the server Zen Cart off line while I make the product additions as I mention above?

Thanks.............

Add them to the server

As long as it won't matter if a partially finished product listing is accessible on your site, there is no need to take it down while adding products.
All that will happen is that new products will "pop" one by one into the navigation as you click "update".

And, really, you don't even have to have partially finished products on the site. Just make them inactive when you add them. The final step, for me, when I add a product is to activate it. Occasionally, I will then check it in the catalog and need to make an adjustment, but the item is able to be purchased as soon as it hits the live site.

Of course, if you aren't using attributes or PWAS then there is only one step to adding a product anyway, so setting it as active from the get go makes sense.

HTH!