I'm just interested in seeing which type of reseller account more people prefer.

Well I preferred the bulk model... and if only I had a $ every time this poll and the "which to choose mc/splash/vo " poll,

I can buy my farm and retire! ;)

Cheers
Balaji

i prefer bulk everytime

Hi,

Could those who prefer one type plan over another share their reasons why?

And how much more profitable or easier to manage they find their choice to be in practice?

Also any downside they typically encounter -- how often and what they do about it.

I'm sure lots of folks would find your sharing helpful.

Thanks!

Louis

I think the good thing about bulk reseller plan is that you can give customers what they need (you can customize the plans to fit every customers needs). However, the bad thing about this is that you have to pay for the full reseller account and not only the resources you use. For example, if you have signed up for a bulk reseller plan with 2GB space and 30GB bandwidth and you're paying $50/mo for it and you only have 2 customers that only use about 2-3GB bandwidth, you still have to pay $50/mo.

Now the good thing about pre-made plans is that you only pay for plans you profit from. For example, if you only have 2 customers, you only pay for 2 extra accounts which hopefully you profit from. The bad thing is that you can not customize plans to fit your customer's needs. What will you do if a customer wants 25GB bandwidth when the biggest pre-made plan offers only 20GB bandwidth?

Basically, you have to look at your needs. If you want to take less risks and don't want to pay much in the begining, go with the pre-made plans. If you have customers with many different needs, go with the bulk reseller.

I hope this helps.

Originally posted by Mr. Amazon
Copyright © 2001-2002. All rights reserved.
:D :D :D

And now whi bulk:
1. easy to customize
2. easy to manage
3. easy to personalize
4. easy to pay
5. easy to add customers
6. easy to ...

I'm a forever fan of bulk plans (until deds.)

Good luck !;)

I voted for bulk. ;)

I'm targeting small (1 to 20 page) brochure type websites that don't use a lot of diskspace or bandwidth. The bulk plans are the only cost effective solution for me.

Voted for bulk. Reason:

You can define your own business plan

Originally posted by 4solutions
I voted for bulk. ;)

I'm targeting small (1 to 20 page) brochure type websites that don't use a lot of diskspace or bandwidth. The bulk plans are the only cost effective solution for me.
Ditto :)

I'm targeting small (1 to 20 page) brochure type websites that don't use a lot of diskspace or bandwidth. The bulk plans are the only cost effective solution for me.
Double ditto :D


Only if you have individual clients that would use up much of your bulk plan on their own, bulk is the way to go. You can get bulk plans for dirt cheap, but even if you want to avoid those particular companies, there are companies with good reps in the $25 - $50/month range. Even if you just count your own business site, family site, and one friends site, you're in the hole for very little.

- Doug

I prefer bulk because it gives more control over the packages, sometimes i get people who want a customised package or sometimes someone does some work for me in exchange for a free account and a bulk account means i dont have 2 spend extra to give them an account

I prefer bulk anytime.

1) you can create customized packages
2) you have better control over disk space and bandwith
3) you can sell extra space and bandwith
4) You don't have to e-mail your provider to make
dns, mail, space, bandwith change.


In conclusion bulk is the best :D

I find it hard to believe that there are still hosts out there flogging the old "resell 1 domain at a time" routine. That's so sad and so old, IMHO.

I had that BS setup with Jumpline.com and it was a nightmare for my credit card invoicing. They were billing me part domains here and there etc. It was impossible to track.

I think that most developers/business people etc love the idea that they can setup as many domains as they like providing they don't go over the disk/data limitations for "X" dollars per month.

The market drives this kind of change and hosts who don't keep up will go the way of Al Gore. :D

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
...hosts who don't keep up will go the way of Al Gore. :D Al who??

:D

Originally posted by 4solutions
Al who??

:D


LOL!


oh, and I vote for Bulk accounts.. That is where it seems the industry is heading..

I'm not sure what you mean by type of reseller account, I went for a reseller account because I wanted to host all my domains externally, and also be able to resell the services to other people so my domains host for free. In fact my domains are now hosted for a negative ammount, ergo they're making me money :D

bult style :cool:

I Initially wanted a reseller account to hold my bunch of personal/business domains. I was paying a heap for those domains each month [even as a "reseller" :rolleyes: under the "buy 1 domain at a time" BS model] so a US$35/mth account for all of my domains was extremely desirable.

However being the pure capitalist I am, I naturally saw a workable business model here. So 5mths later, I have over 100 hosting clients and make a very nice living with my hosting business.

I won't get rich but it's a nice lifestyle and the good folks at PaySystems.com keep sending me money every fortnight, and the wire transfers keep getting bigger by the fortnight!! :D

where can i get for $35 ?

Originally posted by cocerinha
where can i get for $35 ? For a start try:

http://www.voxtreme.com/resellerplans.htm

http://www.mchost.com/plans/

http://www.splashhost.com/reselling.htm

Or, even in the advertising section here at WHT:

http://webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=4


Best of Luck,

Keith

When u guys say bulk, what exactly do you mean, do u mean unlimited space or unlimited domains.
Phil

Bulk = one large account (e.g. 1GB space/15GB bandwidth) to carve up as we please into multiple accounts/domains, each of which we charge for, but do not pay for. Some companies will permit as many domains as space allows, while others do place a reasonable limit.

- Doug

Thanks Doug. The plan Im looking at is 2000Mb space 15Gb b/w unlimited domains. Im assuming I may not be able to do customized plans on this web space. Yes No?
Regards
Phil
PS. I spose the best thing to do is chat with one giving me the reseller account.

Originally posted by Elysium
Thanks Doug. The plan Im looking at is 2000Mb space 15Gb b/w unlimited domains. Im assuming I may not be able to do customized plans on this web space.

Thats exactly what bulk reseller plans are usually for ..so you can create your own plans/accounts within the disk space and bandwidth limits.

Originally posted by Elysium
When u guys say bulk, what exactly do you mean, do u mean unlimited space or unlimited domains.
Phil
Think of it like you're buying a cake and you can carve up that cake and sell the as many pieces as you like. The best part is even if you carve up a piece and sell it to someone, they won't eat all that cake and what they didn't eat gets added back onto your cake. Kind of simple yet complex all at the same time. :D

Aussie Bob is right... bulk is like having your cake and eating it too! *or is that two?* ;)

To me, this question of reselling bulk versus individual accounts, is all just a matter of numbers. If I am hosting 100 websites that are small and don't use much diskspace or bandwidth, I can either pay $395.00 a month at venturesonline, or about $30.00 to $50.00 for a bulk account per month. Let's see... $395.00 minus $50.00 = $345.00 more profit in my pocket per month. That's $4,140 more per year for my ex-wife to spend (okay, bad example :D ).

But seriously, that's why I believe the bulk accounts are the best choice for most resellers.

Of course, your situation may be different...

Originally posted by 4solutions
Aussie Bob is right...
Had to happen sooner or later :eek: :D
bulk is like having your cake and eating it too! *or is that two?* ;)
You can sell off each slice for however much you like but those slices will only be eaten up to maybe 20%. So you in effect get 80% back to sell again etc.
To me, this question of reselling bulk versus individual accounts, is all just a matter of numbers. If I am hosting 100 websites that are small and don't use much diskspace or bandwidth, I can either pay $395.00 a month at venturesonline, or about $30.00 to $50.00 for a bulk account per month.
Gee, that's a tough call. :D
Let's see... $395.00 minus $50.00 = $345.00 more profit in my pocket per month. That's $4,140 more per year for my ex-wife to spend (okay, bad example :D ).
Good to see you've got your priorities correct there. :D
But seriously, that's why I believe the bulk accounts are the best choice for most resellers.

Of course, your situation may be different...
They're a great option and can save folks heaps of $$$$ if they're using an old "buy 1 domain at a time" reseller plan. Saving money is a good thing even if it's not beneficial for some hosts pushing the old type reseller plans. But they wouldn't suit everyone, but I'm yet to find someone where they're not better off etc. :)

sorry for this stupid question, i don't understand what is Bulk Reseller Account?? And what is Reselling Individual Accounts ???

Sorry for my worst english :blush:

This has been explained before, but I will try to explain again

Bulk = you buy one account, for instance with 5 Gb of disk space and 10 GB of data transfert, let's say for 35$ per month. With that, you have a control panel that allows you to manage this account. From there, you can either keep this account for yourself, either create "sub-users" and domains and share the resources you have with them. This way, you create your own plans, and resell your resources. You could sell virtually anything, as your users might not know you are a reseller. Examples of theses have been mentioned below... splahost, mchost, etc.

If you resell individual accounts, you usually have one "normal" account with a web host, and then you propose your host's account to potential customers. Even if it is done under your domain and brand, you can not define the plans as you wish. You are "obliged" to use the plan(s) proposed by your web host. From there, either you receive a percentage on each account sold, either you can buy an account at a lower price and then resell it to your customers at the "normal" price (or even at your price, it depends on the host).

So I one way, the first option means that you will need to pay for your account even if you don't have a customer; the web host doesn't care how you do manage your web space. The second option is less "dangerous", as you pay when you have customers. But you don't have the freedom to do what you want, you have to offer the plans already setup by others.

Hope this helps.

Wismie... Excellent post and explanation. I was going to post a tutorial earlier but that darn telephone keeps ringing. Now no need - you explained it better than I would have. ;)

soyuz... Welcome to the forum. :D

Thanks :D

Thanks for the explanation and the welcome greeting :D

Ok what is "bulk hosting" and why do you only list those two obvious advertisement. Venturesonline also does colocated / and managed dedicated servers so I don't know why they are even different.

I voted for individual accounts because I'm a small time reseller. I use it as an added service for my web designs.

Maybe some day when I gain vast amount of knowledge, then and only then, would I use a bulk account.

I've learned a lot from WHT, but have a long way still.

Originally posted by batcavenet
Ok what is "bulk hosting" and why do you only list those two obvious advertisement. Venturesonline also does colocated / and managed dedicated servers so I don't know why they are even different.

I listed those two because those are two that people here know well, and I was talking about reseller plans, not dedicated servers or colocation. I'm not affiliated with any one of them. I was just wondering what type of reseller plan people would prefer if I were to offer reseller plans.

There is also a new type of reseller plan which is available from hosts using the HSphere control panel. The reseller does make up their own plans - no predefined ones at all and sets their own prices. And with most HSphere hosts, they place no limits on the amount of resources a reseller can sell.

How are the resellers charged? It can be a combination of ways - Flat rate for a set amount of resources which can be resold; by the resource only, where you know if you sell a 100 mb plan w/ 3 GB of transfer, and mail boxes, etc...you know exactly how much you are charged for each resource so you know what that account will cost you; yet another way is a combination of the 2 above.

This is a hybrid of the two in this poll and it offers great flexibility to the host and the reseller. Yes, I'm biased because I use it and love it.

Originally posted by Dunthank
There is also a new type of reseller plan which is available from hosts using the HSphere control panel. The reseller does make up their own plans - no predefined ones at all and sets their own prices. And with most HSphere hosts, they place no limits on the amount of resources a reseller can sell.

How are the resellers charged? It can be a combination of ways - Flat rate for a set amount of resources which can be resold; by the resource only, where you know if you sell a 100 mb plan w/ 3 GB of transfer, and mail boxes, etc...you know exactly how much you are charged for each resource so you know what that account will cost you; yet another way is a combination of the 2 above.

This is a hybrid of the two in this poll and it offers great flexibility to the host and the reseller. Yes, I'm biased because I use it and love it.

We are switching to a hybrid type reseller plan this week...though a little different from what you offer. I did not know anyone else offered anything similar. What's funny?....We named it "Hybrid" because its a hybrid of "bulk" and "per account". LOL How long have you offered your reseller model?

-Lamar

We've been doing this for 2 months now and have had a very good response. But it isn't easy explaining it to potentials. For many it is their first foray into reselling and they are familiar with the bulk and the plan reselling methods that are a subject of this thread. Even as you explain it to them, they generally try to make it fit one of these two models.

Interesting concept. :)