How to start a Reseller Hosting Business?

[glaxxon]

Hi,

I wanted to know how exactly a reseller hosting business works?

I am not looking to start a very big hosting company, rather have a very small and targeted market in mind. Maybe at around xx to xxx customers.

So right now i am looking for good offers for reseller cpanel hosting plans and also want to know the steps that should follow this.
Will i get some sort of interface from the reseller that i can directly integrate?

According to my thinking, these are the steps that is probably have to follow:
1. Get a domain ( i already have one)
2. Design a front end for my site.
3. Buy reseller hosting.
4. Integrate the cpanel link to my site.
5. Get a support software and integrate it with my site.

Please correct me if i am wrong. I am open to any kind of advice and any experience(that you might want to share) too.

Thanks

 

[glaxxon]

Anyone?

 

[WebIntellects - Rob]

You have to be experienced enough in web hosting and learn all marketing tricks in order to attract as much as possible clients.

 

[iHubNet-Matt]

You may need a software like WHMCS which can be used for billing and support.

 

[fm1234]

I've used Site5 for seven years as a reseller, always been happy with them. They have a comprehensive wiki and support section to help you get going.


Frank

 

[XeHSean]

You may need a software like WHMCS which can be used for billing and support.

There are many reseller providers that offer this free

 

[glaxxon]

Thanks a lot guys. Any suggestions on how to integrate reselling domains to the website.
Want to give domains only as a secondary option. Who's API will you suggest? I have checked on resellerclub.com till now.

 

[fm1234]

As far as integrating domains, Site5 includes a reseller account with eNom or OpenSRS with most of their plans.

Wild West also has a good reseller program, but the hosting is only so-so and your cut of the rev on hosting is pretty trivial.


Frank

 

[glaxxon]

Site5 looks pretty good. There is hostgator also that i am currently considering.

I saw they offer enom reseller accounts, but my main concern is the integration of the API(domain). I'll probably be doing the website on my own, but i am not that great at coding, so was concerned a bit about the integration.

 

[HostMID]

If you are going to provide domain name registration service then I do recommend you to go with NetEarthOne.

 

[Xiberia]

Site5 looks pretty good. There is hostgator also that i am currently considering.

You may want to consider the issue of overselling. IIRC, I read someone complaining once that Hostgator does not allow overselling. AFAIK Site5 also does not allow it either.

I'm not an expert on hosting, and I've never done it, but the argument made by the customer who wanted overselling seemed to make more sense to me than the host's argument for not.

His point was the only real way to make money in reselling is to oversell.

I'm just a n00b here so I'm not sure if it's allowed to mention other forums but I'm sure you know of the one where people talk about webhosting. *winkety wink*

They have threads about resellers that allow overselling, as well as the arguments for and against it.

 

[lothos]

hostgator has a nice reseller hosting option.

 

[localnode]

Hi glaxxon,
Since you're starting out in the business, I can recommend NetEarthOne as a domain reseller.
You don't have to invest any money to be able to sell domains at a reasonable $8.93.

Or, if you find the Easter egg, you get a free upgrade to Tier 2, which would normally cost $400.00 in total receipts or initial deposit.


As for any API and such, I'd also recommend WHMCS.

Good luck!