Hello and thanks for everyone reading my thread


I have been doing a long time without any billing software, but now is my time to get the next step towards automation and saving my time. With recent new clients Im starting to get fed up doing everything manually.

Here are my current services/softwares/registrars:


Seller in: Shared/Reseller hosting/Domain names
Starting to sell: Dedicated/Colocation services
CP: cPanel/WHM
Registrar: Directi (6.75 account)
Support software: Outlook Express :stickout:

Now what I am thinking is getting into 2 of the biggest and best (in my opinion) billing systems. I have run both as trial versions and I see that they work pretty well for my purposes and have really earned their great reputation. But there are problems in both of these systems.

WHM Autopilot

Pros:
-The system looks really good and it’s modular. The v3 is coming out and looks really promising
- It has support for my current Control panel and Registrar (Means: Cheap domains)
- It includes a support software (although a lite one but still is one ;))
- It has Dedicated Server processing form which means a great plus to me in this case
- It is really fluffy :D
- Price is better then Modernbill’s

Cons:
- It only supports cPanel. This is where the problem comes. As I’m starting to sell dedicated and colocation services, I won’t be having a need for other dedicated service providers. This means that I will have to order cPanel External licenses which actually are quite costly. As I’m just starting the business I’m trying to keep the running costs as slow as possible. CPanel doesn’t really run with the same idea. Although it in my opinion is the best control panel out there in wilderness when it DOESN’T come to the price ;))
- Although WHMAP is coming out as a version 3 it doesn’t come too fast. I’m worried that other billing systems run beyond the horizon just when WHMAP gets into the same track.


Modernbill


Pros:

- It supports multiple hosting control panels unlike WHMAP. This is a great advantage incase I wan't to change the panel later on.

- Modernbill looks good, the system and layout is really nice and it has some features that I really much like ( free domain with a package, great email template system,multiple controlpanel modularity, etc)
- Modernbill also supports Dedicated server orders. I have no clear opinion which one is better. Would be great to get your opinions out of that :)

- Free Enom 7.99 Account

Cons:

- The number one problem with Modernbill is this. The only reason why in world i would abandon Modernbill straight away. The Registrar support for Directi or the lack of it. While i have been reading modernbill's forums I have noticed Several requests and threads considering DIRECTI registrar support.

Modernbill seems to profit by resellering Enoms accounts. The main reason for leaving DIRECTI out of the registrar list seems to be that it would take the advantage away from Modernbill. And with conversation in modernbills forums, it seems that there will never be a full featured Directi support. I don't mean to mock Modernbill for their lack of cooperation in this case. I understand business is business and they are not doing this just for fun :) But the fact that they are loosing several customers because of the lack of Directi module is something that I don't like. This is just my personal opinion. I think Modernbill is great but just lacks one option that would make it a perfect billing solution for me.

What im meaning is that by getting modernbill i wouldn't take a single path when it comes to hosting control panels. But it would greatly take away profit from selling domains, because I would have to change to Enom...


A Brief story for those who are not arsed to read the whole post:

If I choose WHMAP:

1. I will have to stay with cPanel
= Higher costs for licensing (external licenses),I'll have to have cPanel as my only hosting panel option
2. I can stay with my domain registrar and continue selling cheap domains.

If I choose Modernbill:
1. I will have to change my Registar:
= Higher costs on domain names, I would have to change all my clients (around 30) to Enom = $$$ :)
2. I will have the freedom of distributing any controlpanel i want and will save money by using cheaper licese prices (iex. Ples, DA) :)


So... why writing such a long story :D

Please give me your honest opinion what I should do. I know that I should decide things like this but some help from professional point of view is really appriciated.

Im sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes. Im not native english you see :deer:

Best Wishes:

Juho Harmaa
juho.harmaa[@]i-nom.net
Finland

Personally I like modernbill way better then WHMap. Modernbill gives you room to expand.

You don't have to use enom for your registrar with Modernbill. They also support emailregistrar, opensrs, nominet, onlineNIC, register.com, and SRS Plus.

There has been some talk about having a Directi module for modernbill version 5. Also you can always write your own module using the api that directi gives you.

Haven't checked in awhile, but I dont believe WHMAP supports Directi currently....

Originally posted by InfexionKen
Haven't checked in awhile, but I dont believe WHMAP supports Directi currently....

I think you are correct on this. I just looked into the WHM autopilot forums and it seems like they only support enom. This is from an old post in there so I am not positive.

Originally posted by ivialisjso
Personally I like modernbill way better then WHMap. Modernbill gives you room to expand.

You don't have to use enom for your registrar with Modernbill. They also support emailregistrar, opensrs, nominet, onlineNIC, register.com, and SRS Plus.

There has been some talk about having a Directi module for modernbill version 5. Also you can always write your own module using the api that directi gives you.


Thank you for your reply :)

Do you have any experience with Modernbills Dedicated selling properties?

Also any kind of feedback would be great ;)

I think im turning more to modernbill in this case.

Modernbill doesn't have any dedicated servers modules but I have heard of some people who are writing a module for it so it can support dedicated servers also.

I don't really know much about it but NOC manager is suppose to be an addon suite for MB. I don't know if it is out yet. You can check at irc.whtirc.com #nocmanager.

There are other suites that can intergrate with modernbill that can used to manage dedicated servers. You might want to check out NOC wizard also. They have a 30 day trial and a demo on their site if you want to try it out first. It has it's own billing system but can also be intergrated into Modernbill.

http://www.nocwizard.com

Digitalorange

Have u looked at http://whoiscart.net/

Take a look at ubersmith.com

It's rather expensive, but might be suitable for your needs. Email them if there are features you would like to see, or to discuss price, etc.

:)