OK, first off, thank you for reading this message. I'll be as specific as possible. After spending several hours reading this forum, I would imagine what I am looking to do is very simple compared to some of the other companies here.

I am in the process of starting a business that provides online storefronts for multiple local businesses. Standard options: web hosting, catalog services, cc processing, order fulfillment, etc.

The research I have done has me considering Miva Merchant. I currently have a co-located Linux server doing basic web hosting that would be able to handle Miva's software, so server and bandwidth cost is not really the issue.

I am primarily concerned with the initial investment of purchasing licensing from Miva, as well as all the additional purchases for each module (mailer, payment, service club, etc.), especially because I will need to do this for each storefront we provide services for.

Should I just eat the startup costs and go with Miva, or should I use another host that provides Miva services and just purchase a license for each domain? Or is there another eCommerce solution that I am overlooking that would better do what I want to do with less of an investment? Or more of an investment but offer better services than Miva? I discovered osCommerce here, and will do additional research on that project, but I'm not sure if they offer all the solutions that Miva does.

I am somewhat pressed for time, primarily because Miva is going to increase their prices again in 9 days. If additional information is necessary I will provide it asap.

Again, thank you for your information. I am amazed at the support that you guys provide each other. Hopefully I will be able to become a productive member of this online community as well.

Ryan

bump

Go directly to Miva and get wholesale pricing if you can afford to lay down about $700 upfront.

Most of your customers won't need the addons and if they do, then charge them for them. Just buy the licenses upfront and eveything else is buy as you need it.

I've discovered that Miva offered wholesale licensure after reading several messages on this forum. Unfortunately, when I was doing my initial research and spoke with a Miva sales rep, he didn't mention this option. Even after I explained we intend on having multiple stores and plan to add.

Gotta make that extra buck I guess.

Anyhow, thanks for the reply. How many basic domain licenses can I expect to get when negotiating to $700.00?

Ryan

To buy licenses at a discount there are two options.

1. Buy licenses at a small discount and resell them to whomever you wish.

2. Buy licenses as a Hosting Partner (Standard Hosting Partner is what you will look up on their site). The hosting partner fee is $495/year and that covers your phone and email support from Miva. Then you are able to buy licenses at a big big discount.

I've been through 4 different contract options as a Hosting Partner. The latest offering has the option to buy as little as 5 licenses at a time, but I can't tell you the price because we signed a non disclosure agreement.

If you are doing hosting for ecommerce sites and you want to sell Miva then the Standard Hosting Partner program will pay off. Even if you only sell 5 stores a year, you'll save money going with the partnership over buying retail.

Do you want me to get my sales rep to contact you about the partnership? He'd be happy to get a new customer. ( And in case you're wondering I don't get comission, but it is nice to keep the guy who sets my pricing happy).

7out, thanks a million for your thoughts. The representative from Miva seemed to think that the hosting partnership was the best option as well.

I have another question - I PM'ed you on this, but wanted to present it to the other members as well.

My question is, is it reasonable to expect to negotiate better licensing pricing or other aspects of the contract as a new business? I just want to make sure that I am not missing out by not negotiating with them a better deal.

Given that I have not dealt with Miva before, I'm not sure - however on the same note I see lots of posts here stating that they've negotiated better terms and seem happy with the results.

Thanks again,

Ryan

I've negotiated better terms before (better than the standard terms), but this new contract seems to be standard and the rep told me that the terms of the contract were not negotiable.

I had a custom contract before since their contract was lacking to say the least, and I can either use the standard new contract or continue under the terms of my previously negotiated contract. Since the new contract that you are reading was drafted in response to meet my needs, that is what I will probably be using.

This is the best contract Miva has ever had. I had to buy 100 licenses at a time to even come close to what I can get them for now in blocks of 5.

Not at the volume you are talking about. They deal with host who buy 1000s at a time.

You got the best rate they can give. I mean $56.00 for a $695 license!