I am looking to become a reseller of an ecommerce solution but I don't have a a server and I don't know exactly what I need. Should I rent or buy? Which is better? I will be installing software on the server and hosting my customers websites on it. Is there a recommended amount of bandwidth that I should have? Pleas help!!! Your help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Hans

If you are new to this you may want a managed solution. Rent a server from a company for awile and then after you get the hang of everything and how everything works then own your own server

I would recommend that you do reselling first. In otherwords a host sells you an account at a discounted rate and you then sell it to your clients marked up. You don't have to worry about maintaining the servers or anything. Then, just browse this board and read stuff. I have learned so much by just reading stuff here.

I suggest you research about this stuff first.

YEAH I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY YOU THINK I AM ASKING THESE QUESTIONS. DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE ITS BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I SHOULD DO OR YOU WOULD HAVE AT LEAST GIVEN ME SOME ADVICE. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME REPLYING? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. THIS IS WHAT ONE CALLS "RESEARCHING" THE LAST TIME I CHECKED. YOU KNOW.....ASKING FOR OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS IS USUALLY THE FIRST PLACE ONE STARTS IN THIS INDUSTRY ITS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT YOUR BORN WITH UNLIKE YOU MR. WEB HOSTING GURU

Hanstien,

1. Don't blow your stack the moment someone suggests something that doesn't necessarily tell you what you expected to hear..

2. Read between the lines...

From what you've posted, it seems like you don't seem sure of what is actually involved in running an E-commerce site possibly at the foundation level. Perhaps that's your start point... Take a look at your clients needs first... Are they all small sites or are you looking to take on a whopper? I suspect more likely the former in which case a reseller account is a good starting block.

Once you've got that sort of foundation information together you will then get an idea of what sort of other questions to ask... Most of the ones you've mentioned are good ones, that's true...

BUT where you will blow it is when you automatically assume that someone has just insulted your mother and other ancestors back to the 15th generation...

Just my 2penneth worth but a little humble listening goes a long way...

I am planning on hosting small to medium sized business's and at first I just need enough space to install the software and get a few customers going. Is a shared server the way I should go or a dedicated server? I don't have a lot of start-up cash and would like to start things out and as things progress I will eventually start an personal/business/ecommerce hosting company. For now I just need to build a small customer base and get the ball rolling. I will need SSL, and I don't know what else I need to get this started on the right foot. If anyone can give me some suggestions that would be great.

I'm not looking to start this huge hosting company right out of the water. I just need to get my foot in the door so I can support like 5-10 emerchants.

Thanks

In that case I'd DEFINITELY recommend going for reseller...

Not sure about E-commerce myself as all my own clients are small fry without credit card dreams so I've not yet ventured down that road but you could do worse than put up a "offers please" post in the Hosting Advertising section and see what turns up...

Edit: Actually just had a thought, some accounts come with E-commerce software already available.. make sure you ask...

What do you classify as a managed solution? I am purchasing a license and will be reselling single stores to those who would like to provide secure online transactions. I believe that I will just look for a company who rents space on shared servers at first beings I don't have any customers as of yet and then when I get the $ for my own server I will persue that. For now I just need suggestions on what I should do. I will be reselling this to small to medium sized business's/mom&pop stores which won't have a whole hell of a lot of traffic, a windows server would be first choice, I will need SSL, etc. Just the basics for now.

Thanks

What do you mean by going for reseller? I will be a reseller of the solution that I am offering who is hosting my customers sites on a server that I will rent. Is a shared server more sensible. In that I mean I would be sharing the server with others. I just need a small amount of space at first.

Originally posted by hanstien
What do you mean by going for reseller? I will be a reseller of the solution that I am offering who is hosting my customers sites on a server that I will rent. Is a shared server more sensible. In that I mean I would be sharing the server with others. I just need a small amount of space at first.

Aloha
what he is saying is a reseller is someone that resells accounts at whatever price that they want
say I am a big host and I sell accounts at $10 you can buy them form me at $5 but then you handle billing customers and support etc... for the customers you resell
this way I (the host) do not have to handle as much billing etc....
so yes you will be resellig your won software but on a HOSTING CO reseller account

just make sure that your software is not going to use to much CPU on a reseller account or they might boot ya off it

Aloha
if you are looking for a windows server
start checking out reseller plans on teh following companies
(no particular order)
www.pwebtech.com
www.ecui.com
www.hostmysite.com

thsi will be a start
there is also a guy on here Eagle he resells win2k accounts(I believe) and has some great looking plans also
so this may be a good research start

when ya want to start your own servers
these companies and

www.rackmy.com
www.efreeservers.com
and a few others can get ya dedicated win2k machines

If you could give me some names of companies that do that that would be outstanding.

Sorry...

Reseller account on a shared server.
Either:

you resell hosting packages from another company

OR

you buy a block of bandwidth, space and the services and then resell chunks to your clients...

A dedicated server would be much more expensive and whilst maybe worth considering in a year or so... for now with your spec reselling space and your service would be smarter.

Originally posted by hanstien
If you could give me some names of companies that do that that would be outstanding.

Aloha
I posted it in one of your other threads
this is a good idea why to use one thread ;)

at least you are getting info ;)

Do you guys know of any companies that I can contact that will do this?

Originally posted by hanstien
Do you guys know of any companies that I can contact that will do this?

:eek:

I would suggest you "search" for "resellers" using the "search" button.

My suggestion is to read through 1-2 pages (or more) in this forum (the Reselling Forum), get an idea of a few hosts that have been talked about, read what has been discussed, the issues that resellers have faced and see if you can put together a needs list that can be addressed via the host's web site, and via email (for answers you cannot find at the site).

I think that is what Synergy meant by 'research'. Asking questions is indeed a great way to get answers, but also try to read up a bit on things so your questions are more precise and specific to a particular area. Good luck...

Originally posted by hanstien
Do you guys know of any companies that I can contact that will do this?

Aloha
I said I posted them in another thread
some advice
you are new here and that is cool no prob but
some thoughts
do not crosspost so much
do not yell at people (such as above)
read all your crossposted threads (I gave you some companies)
chillout and do not get so pissy
people here are very cool but just remember they are not gettin paid to help you so relax and do a search this will help you get a wealth of knowledge.

so many people come here and ask questions without ever searching
not trying to sound harsh just some friendly thoughts