Okay I want to get into this business after college and everything but I still don't know exactly how everything works. I looked on barnes and noble then amazon.com but they only have one book and it doesn't help. Do college courses include web hosting? Do you know of a website or book I've overlooked?

-Thank You.

As we've all been told once or twice on here, this is the best book you can read ;)

As for College courses, I'm sure just things like system admin, etc would help. But there's no "hosting" course...

Business courses would also be very helpful.

communication courses could benefit you.

Marketing would also be a big plus.

Business and Marketing would help more than most of the Computer Science courses. The CS courses are great for teaching programming and what such, but for hosting most would be wasted.

Take all the classes on Marketing. Without marketing you won't make it in the hosting bussiness.

support, marketing, communication and business course, don't forget computer courses, it would also help if you have a degree in computer engineering and computer science i think that will help, start out as a reseller first.

I would say to major in business and get a minor in CS. A unix class and a couple of programming classes, and perhaps a networking class should be a sufficient technical background.

Originally posted by jokersson
Okay I want to get into this business after college and everything but I still don't know exactly how everything works. I looked on barnes and noble then amazon.com but they only have one book and it doesn't help. Do college courses include web hosting? Do you know of a website or book I've overlooked?

-Thank You.
It's a very complex industry and one where you need a huge cross section of skill, to operate a successful web hosting operation.

If you're pretty computer literate and know your way around the net, then start off with a Reseller account | Basic site | Paysystems.com | Client Management software, and grow from there. It's a learn as you earn type of business. Get heavily involved with this forum. All you need to know is in this forum.

Good luck!! :D

Since you are going to college now, it is a great time to learn the industry. To hone your skills, you might want to volunteer to work at the computer lab or maintain a school web site and during vacation time to work for a local web hosting company or a related industry to pick up the necessary skills. Communication skills are important but books are one thing, actually using it is another. Be vocal in school and get to know as many people as possible, they may be your customers soon. Having good contacts is important in any business. Life skills are very important especially interpersonal skills.

Be committed to your goal. Take each semester to pick up different skills which the rest have mentioned. Before long, you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Then work towards enhancing your strengths and improving on the areas in which you are weak in.

Remember in all these to enjoy yourself in college.

Hell with all that 'enjoy yourself' stuff. You're young. These are your working without sleep years. Don't waste them on drinking without sleep. Get in here and kick some butt in the hosting arena. Then, retire at 30. That's how it's supposed to work, right guys? hehe

We're supposed to retire? Damn I thought I was supposed to have on my grave

Here Lies Joe McElwee & His Hosting Company

:) Thanks guys. I think I've got it.

Originally posted by jokersson
:) Thanks guys. I think I've got it.
No you haven't, but it's a start. :D

I am currently a Junior in college, and I am running my own web hosting business. You may want to take the academic route I am, which is Business MIS (management information systems) You learn about networking, databases, deploying technological solutions for businesses, and at the same time you learn business management principles. It wouldnt hurt to minor in graphic design or marketing also.