Starting a Hosting Company

[aaronfalloon]

I just bought a good domain name for a hosting company, instahosting.com and I'm wanting to setup a hosting company on it. I know that i will have to lease a server with a control panel like cPanel but I have a question.

If I install cPanel do I have to setup each account individually or can cPanel setup each account automatically based on the hosting packages I create etc?

 

[dgaussin]

Please read more before launching your hosting company...

cPanel is the panel for endusers. WHM is the panel to setup account for endusers. But you'll have to setup manually inside WHM each account sold. You can install a billing software like ClientExec for example to setup accounts automatically, but maybe it's not the best idea...

 

[aaronfalloon]

Where can I find more info?

 

[Brian]

Since you are just starting up, I recomend maybe instead of getting a dedicated server to start out with, get a reseller account, and start small. If you start picking up business, and making profits then move on to a dedicated server.

 

[dgaussin]

Where can I find more info?

Read http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=111531 for example and go to http://www.resellerguide.com/ too. Good start to learn imho.

 

[jmweb]

Please read more before launching your hosting company...

This is always great advice. Just imagine a client coming to you to ask you a basic question, yet you don't know the answer to a basic question. Obviously the client will lose faith.

I too, suggest starting with a reseller account. Then as you learn the control panel, you also have the technicial assistance of the hosts support team. This way, you'll be able to get an answer very quickly and at the same time keep your client confident. The more you know, the better.

 

[ihosty]

...

i would not recommend having your accounts setup auto, this is due to there are glithces within the billing software for example clientexec, and people can actually setup an account within the manager, and not pay for it, and unless you watch everything very close, they may end up with free hosting for sometime, so if you just starting out i would recommend that do alot of reading and always setup your account manually.

- Matt

www.volonetworks.com

 

[mituozo]

I firstly reccommend that you go out and buy a book on linux / windows. (depending on what server you plan on using), then setup linux on a cheap server or something at home to learn the ropes with linux. (installing a firewall, SIM, etc).

After that, you could read the 'Running a Webhost forum' at WHT, that comes in very handy for running a web hosting business, all sorts of questions are asked everyday about current host situations and you can learn a lot.

After you think you know enough, (will probably take months), write up a solid business plan (20+ pages), include things like where you're going to be buying the server, advertising, managing support, etc etc.

Hope that helps, I've done hosting in the past and it by no means is an easy business, a lot harder than it looks. Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it.

 

[aaronfalloon]

Thanks for the help, I'll get down to reading.

 

[Xyzer]

i would not recommend having your accounts setup auto, this is due to there are glithces within the billing software for example clientexec, and people can actually setup an account within the manager, and not pay for it, and unless you watch everything very close, they may end up with free hosting for sometime, so if you just starting out i would recommend that do alot of reading and always setup your account manually.

- Matt

www.volonetworks.com

Hmm.. I always though it was bad, Thats what you dont want.

 

[mituozo]

It's always best to manually check accounts of course, that way you can find usernames / information you think looks dodgy and filter it out. It's better to actually pay someone to check your accounts when you're larger rather than resorting to automation software. The automated software is far off perfect.

 

[adam_uk]

get a reseller

while your doing that, get an old pc. hook it up with a copy of linux installed and LEARN IT

but with web hosting they take up ALOT of time. its not a case of setting up a webpage, an ordering system and an email address for support.

 

[Talkhost]

Get a reseller and offer free hosting for a few months. This will allow you to learn a lot before taking the plunge and charging for hosting..

 

[aaronfalloon]

Thanks guys for the replys.

 

[tansks]

checkout webhostingtalk.com all experts out there.

 

[PolurNET]

From experience, it's not an easy undertaking, and a strong policy, with a flawless reputation works best. However, expecting sales to start pouring from day 1 is the number one mistake of most hosts, who want to charge a $1/mth hosting, but then quickly realize their 5 one-dollar clients are not going to help maintain the bills, or motivation for other employees.

Also, learn from the mistakes of other webhosts, to name a few: NationHosts, NemoHosting, MangoWebs, Neomedia-Host, etc are only recent examples of policies NOT to adopt or try and follow.

Good luck!