Creating a dedicated server pitboss game. Need Help.

So I have been trying to set up a pitboss game for Civ 5 with some friends of mine but we do not have the time to complete the game in one sitting nor can we leave it running on our computers over a few days. I've read that you can set up a dedicated server to run the game so that it is not necessary to leave the game running at all times. I have tried to create this server (tried all the port forwarding and such) and have not been able to get the game to create where my friends can join it. Does anyone here have any advice or step-by-step instructions to help me? It would be greatly appreciated.