Hello,:)
Im a 15 year old who has alot of free time and I was wondering if there is a way I could start my own hosting company.
Is it possible for me to get a credit card or something I could use to pay for things with.
Thanks:D

Yes its possible, its been done before many times by young teenagers.

I'll give you my advice. I am in no way discriminating against you because your 15. I was also a teenager in the hosting/design industry.

As far as my situation, this is what I have to say.
At 15, you are in high school, an important part of your life. Make sure you work on and have a regular social life with your peers, and keep it that way. I got involved with computers, and regret missing lots of social events and doing things with friends, and working on new friendships. I love working with computers and working in the hosting industry, but I wish I had gone out with my friends more to see movies and to goof around, rather than sitting at home expanding the business and answering support calls. I got into the industry because I have an illness that kept me at home and made me miss a lot of school. I needed a new hobby, because the illness took me away from other things I liked to do with other people like sports and soccer. There was the possibility of making money and I loved seeing people watch me succeed in the business world at such a young age.

Unless you already know a lot about the hosting industry and business, I say just run a web site. There are thousands and thousands of hosting companies out there, always becoming bigger, better, faster, and cheaper. Unless you have an idea about something new to offer, you are just another sardine in a ocean with sharks and whales. Owning a hosting company is running a 24/7 business. People will be depending on you at 2:00 am every day. These people could be running their own businesses and making money. Vacations are a no no unless someone can run your business for you. It is not easy, and you will more likely be losing money than making it. I know of many web sites that need help running and some even might have money making opportunities, I think you would be better off going with that and becoming a webmaster. (PM me if interested)

If you are really interested in starting a business, here is my advice:
Talk to your parents, they will have to have many things in their name or give permission because you are under 18.
Read this forum. This forum is the bible of web hosting. Sit down whenever you have free time and read read read. To run a web hosting business, you must know your stuff! When a customer emails you and asks you what version of perl is installed and the full path to it, you shouldn't have to look. Book on small businesses would a wise purchase.

Contact a lawyer, find out what is legal for you to own and run in your state and country. Get proper papers, and get your company incorporated. If you screw up, your customers will want to sue, but they can't sue a minor. They can sue your parents.

Start reselling for a company. Reselling for a company will give you experience in the hosting industry, and you can study more and have a goal to move to your own server one day.

In closing, I've left a ton out. Credit card merchants, telephone lines, SSL certificates, ect. By the time you get started, you could easily be in a 1500 dollar hole. I have given you information on how to have a chance at succeeding, many people just jump to the reselling stage and don't know what the hell they are doing. Being 15 and having bad credit is not fun. Like I said earlier, work on web sites or for web sites. Keep a good high school life if possible.

Contact me if you want to know more, glad you got through that book I wrote lol.


Holy cow, no smilies? :confused:

As an FYI to new members, posts that just say "Contact me" are useless to the people who are reading this thread for info. If you would like someone to contact you, use the PM or email function.

Thanks

<<MOD NOTE: Post was removed>>

Yeah, I'm 16 and have thought about getting into the business, but it just costs too much and requires way too much time. If I wanted people to pay using something other then PayPal, or check then I'd have to use something like PaySystems.com which probably charages some outrageous amount of cash. Then providing support would just be crazy, that kill any social life that I have. No more Parties, dates anything. So instead I've just decided to become a Webmaster and a WHT Addict. Maybe I'll think about starting my own Host when I'm fresh outta of college. Of course by then everyone will have T-1 lines in their house so their would be no need for host.

Enjoy, your social life while you still can. It can be difficult to balance, everything properly.

In my case, I have to balance having a girl friend, homework from one school, and then homework from my other school. And, then work.

Of course, I don't run a web host. And, I manage to still find some spare time. But, when the situation goes sour, you'll wish you weren't in the high-tech industry.

... WOMEN!!! Especially at your age (15)... hey I lost my virginity in that age... that was 10 years ago.

I am not of the folks who "wants to go back"... I am happy where I am now BUT everything at its designated time.

My personal advice as someone who is also still very young: Go out, fall in love (not too often), have sex, go out, have fun have sex.... ahw and if I didn't mention it before: HAVE SEX !!!!! :D

The younger you are the cooler it is cause it gets less interesting over the years... unfortunately ;)

Originally posted by ShareFile
My personal advice as someone who is also still very young: Go out, fall in love (not too often), have sex, go out, have fun have sex.... ahw and if I didn't mention it before: HAVE SEX !!!!! :D

Easy for you to say. I never had much luck in that department, and it wasn't because I didn't make an attempt.

Having a social life is good, but if you can't manage that then going to university (and getting a chance to actually *think*, rather than memorize **** like you do in high school) makes a good alternative.

<edit>"attempt" as in "attempt to find an interesting/interested MOTOS". I wasn't even thinking about sex, the entire concept wouldn't make much sense without an available MOTOS.</edit>

Originally posted by JTY
[B]Enjoy, your social life while you still can. It can be difficult to balance, everything properly.
B]

Well maybe he is an antisocial introvert. Then his social life would IMPROVE. Because he could interact with the customers. Assuming THBS is a he.


Sorry. :(


Hey THBS - if you really want to do this thing, you could go with a reseller host that provides support for your customers. The only one I can think of right now is OLM, but if you post something on the requests form, I'm sure you'd find some others who do that, or some who would do it just for you. If none of those company's offers appeal to you, perhaps you could go to sleep earlier and get up early mornin' and answer support ?s, and then have some Oreo O's with Marshmallows. Then after school check again. It shouldn't take all that long - you'll probably only have about 10-15 customers. :stickout: But beware of excessive growth! Because then it COULD take a while. Then you could find another computer lovin' guy/gal to help you.

Hello,

I figured I'd throw my opinion into the mix since I too was pretty young when I first found an interest in the web hosting industry.

For me I started working for a local hosting company when I was 15 (I'm atleast 19 now) called Cybrex, aka, CT Global, aka Century Technologies, etc... which turned out to be a big scam but since I was so young I really placed too much faith in the people I was working for. Anyhow the host paid for their mistake and are now in jail on a number of charges.

Since then I've been trying to get things going my way and to be honest it does cost a lot of money. But if you are interested there are a number of youth grants (or atleast in Canada there is) that offer you $3000 dollars to start you business. Mind you that isn't much but you are supposed to contribute atleast that much yourself as well. Do a business plan, all the marketing research, and plan how you're going to deal in this highly competitive market. I have 37 pages done so far and I'm wouldn't nearly call it finished.

As well, like everyone says it costs! And it really does. Everything costs and it's not until you are about to finally take the first step that you begin to realize the amount of money and working capital you are going to need. Little things like getting a 1-800 #, SSL cert, p.o. box, all stuff that is not a necessity but rather a quality added service really adds up. Unless you plan to put everything on one month of making or breaking your business then you really haven't planned.

My father is a manager of the local bank so money really isn't a problem but again webhosting ties into so many things. One important thing from my view is location, location, location. I'm located in the Maritimes of Canada, not the idea place to start a NOC or even co-locate a server. Thus that's one thing in a business plan you must research and consider.

So in ending, at 15 years old if you have some spare time sure why not discuss webhosting here maybe do graphics and HTML design in your spare time but don't pass up your youth. Already atleast 19 I wish I could go back and re-experience times that I had, don't waste them rushing into the working world.

Originally posted by ShareFile
... WOMEN!!! Especially at your age (15)... hey I lost my virginity in that age... that was 10 years ago.

I am not of the folks who "wants to go back"... I am happy where I am now BUT everything at its designated time.

My personal advice as someone who is also still very young: Go out, fall in love (not too often), have sex, go out, have fun have sex.... ahw and if I didn't mention it before: HAVE SEX !!!!! :D

The younger you are the cooler it is cause it gets less interesting over the years... unfortunately ;)


LOL:D Great one ShareFile, but do we really want 15 year-old boys and girls running around with little babies? Then, some of these 15 year-olds may have to start a hosting company to support these new families.


In recent years, there has been a huge push to stop teenage sex, maybe that is why everyone is doing the exact opposite and getting pregnant at 15. I mean, even now, they are forcing kids to take Health classes to graduate high school, hoping that they wont have sex.

Oh well, im out :)


Jim

You get to be 15 only once in a lifetime, just enjoy when you can and while your parents are still paying the bills. If you really want to start a business, do something that does not involve long hours, constant attention to customers and stress.

Thanks for all your advice :D

Originally posted by THBS
Thanks for all your advice :D


It sure covered a WIDE range of topics :D


Jim

You know, I was surprised in the past about the number of single parents around here... after the advice above, I'm not nearly as surprised any more.

Is there no one left that belives you shouldnt have sex until you are married? At 15 you should not be having sex. You should wait untill you are married with someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.

Originally posted by Tetraboy
Is there no one left that belives you shouldnt have sex until you are married?

Some of us, perhaps. But not many.

Incidentally, I've started a poll on the subject.

I would have figured atleast 90% still belived like that. But maybe its because I live on the bible belt where there is a church on every street.

Originally posted by Tetraboy
Is there no one left that belives you shouldnt have sex until you are married? At 15 you should not be having sex. You should wait untill you are married with someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.

I beleive the exact same thing as you :)

Originally posted by Tetraboy
I would have figured atleast 90% still belived like that. But maybe its because I live on the bible belt where there is a church on every street.

90%? I doubt it's more than 5%. I think the average age is somewhere around 15-16 in North America now?

Certainly most university students I've spoken to just automatically assume that once a couple have been dating for a few months, sex will follow.

At 15 isn't that illegal? And aren't they worreied about aids etc. and getting babies?

Originally posted by Tetraboy
At 15 isn't that illegal?

As for legality, it depends upon the jurisdiction; in most places it is legal as long as your partner is close to your own age.

And aren't they worreied about aids etc. and getting babies?

Think how stupid the average person is. Half of the population is even more stupid than that.

I think it's fair to say that a sizeable number of people are not even remotely concerned about such matters.

Originally posted by Tetraboy
At 15 isn't that illegal? And aren't they worreied about aids etc. and getting babies?


The US has a the 3 years law. Basically, it means that if your under 18, you can have sex with a person that is your age or within a 3 year range. If your over 18, you cannot have sex with anyone under 18.


Maybe thats why there are so many 16 year old mothers and kids dying at 19 after contracting HIV/AIDS at 14.

Its sad, but there are groups trying to change this.


Jim

On a related subject, I wonder how much the percentage is that thinks looking at porn is wrong ( and some think it should be illegal )

Comments for the thread...

I'm in the bible belt, 2 churches on every street, as well, and I'd say 75% of the people at my high school were having sex....

High schoolers think condoms do the trick, and they usually do with pregnancy but not STDs.

As for legality, as jimb said. Cops found kids doing it in the back seats of cars and the usual places but they didn't do anything about it....

I know times aren't like the old times, but my grandmother had my mother at 17, and my great grandmother had my grandfather at 15, she was married at 14. I also read that The Virgin Mary had Jesus around the age of 15. Girls hit sexual maturity, so they have sex.

Wait till we're married for sex? Sure its what people should do I guess, but we're human and we don't do what we should, especially with teenagers and hormones :) .

Originally posted by Rewdog
I know times aren't like the old times, but my grandmother had my mother at 17, and my great grandmother had my grandfather at 15, she was married at 14. I also read that The Virgin Mary had Jesus around the age of 15. Girls hit sexual maturity, so they have sex.

Except that she's called the "Virgin Mary" because she's supposed to have not had sex :D

Smart!!!

Well I believe what Tetraboy believes. That is terrible!!! At least the average age is not 13 years old. I promise to stay abstinent until I am married.

hehe, true. But if God says their ready at 14, why not? :D

I heard a thing on TV about the average age coming down to something like 13.

I'd some say probably are getting some at the earliest 13, and the average would be 15. The thing you have to remember with the bible is back in the early times people were old at 25-30 so they were pumping out kids as soon as they could. Getting married at the age of 12. So ya know they really didn't have to deal with raging horomones much as kids do today.

Going even further off topic, I came across the following wonderful quote a few days ago:

"98 percent of people surveyed were fully in favour of sex being taught in school."

I wonder if the intention was for this to be participatory learning? ;)

Now, that'd be interesting...

My cousin was recently found raped and murdered (found on Nov. 8, 2001), and the investigators believe the motive was sex related. The reason I bring this up, she was only 14. As far as she was concerned, sex was ok, and look where she's at (just like as discussed here). We believe that she was pregnant at 13 and aparantly had an abortion.

If some demented 20 year old can see kids having sex and he decides to get some easy, young *****, it wont stop another person to go "overbaord" (I cencored the word myself). The reson I use 20 year olds, all nine suspects are 20-25 and lived in the same small neighborhood as her.

Kids dont see any inherent danger in such activities, and my cousin only proves that the comments "They cant hurt me", "its only sex.", or "Its not dangerous, everyone else does it" dont mean squat.

I haven't had any, and I'm 20. I'm also proud that I havent had any. I'm waiting for the "right person".

The idea of kids having sex and children really disturbs be. It didnt bother me too much until my cousin was raped and murdered by a bunch of 20 year old horny goats looking to get laid (ohh, I'm getting a little harsh and mad). I'm going to stop now before I say things on a public forum I'll prolly regret (or get banned for saying). I'm done with the sex topic. I was just sharing *my* experiences and *my* beliefs......

If I would have had the knowldege and ability of of doing websites when I was 15, I would go into the hosting business. The reason I say this cause I never had very many (if any) friends so my social life was zero (it still pretty much is now). So running a hosting business or even doing freelance webdesign would let me meet all kinds of new people.

But anyways.... I'm done rambling now...

*hears the audience wake up as he steps down from the poduim*

I think Sex is ok if you are not married as long as you love the other person and it is serious. Looks like I dragged up an old post but I was bored here. As long as people are responsible about sex it can be a very fulfilling experience and bring you closer to a partner. That's just my opinion on this matter any how. Sex is an important thing and should be taken seriously.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you bring a thread thats over 2 months old to the top? Escpeccially when its about sex... what a nice topic to talk about when also talking about OC3 lines ;)

lol, I saw a thread in the webhosting forum and it had a reference to this one (not sure why most of this topic is OT)

Think it might have been somewhere within this one

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44107