Hi,

I'm looking for any recommendations on hosting providers and how to do billing for reseller accounts. I have a small web development/design company and I'd like to offer web hosting to my clients. It just makes it easier for them and myself, so this is more of a value added service than an income stream.

My goals would be to have it be as simple as humanly possible for myself. I would ideally like my clients not to have to do anything, I will set up all the hosting stuff for them and they will be billed.

For hosting, I need:

- SSH access
- linux/unix with php/mysql
- good uptime etc
- ability to easily register domains for my clients
- billing capabilities?
- < $25 a month for basic basic account with room to grow.

I have checked out hostingzoom/resellerzoom and they look ideal, however the ClientExec software cannot handle recurring billing. I don't want to have to invoice them monthly and have them go pay. All the software that I can use to do recurring billing is way to expensive for a small time guy like me as well...

I'd also like to be able to have something that can invoice them for other things as well (design & development, maintanence, updates, etc) besides just the monthly hosting fee.

Right now I'm tempted to just go with hostingzoom and then use paypal to do invoices and monthly billing. I'd like something more integrated than this, but it doesn't seem like there is much other choice for anyone who is just doing this small scale. Any other options I'm missing?

Hi,debtman7

Have you checked out the offers in here, you might find what you are looking for and if not pm them and ask. Some reseller accounts do come with hosting billing system.

Good luck !

The new ClientExec version will probably be released within a few days and it can handle recurring billing in the sense with PayPal subscriptions. The way it handles it now is better, however, IMHO.

-GSV

Originally posted by elix
The new ClientExec version will probably be released within a few days and it can handle recurring billing in the sense with PayPal subscriptions. The way it handles it now is better, however, IMHO.

-GSV

hi, elix

How is ClientExec working out for you I was thinking of trying it out but never got the time.

Originally posted by productive
hi, elix

How is ClientExec working out for you I was thinking of trying it out but never got the time.
It's working just fine. I just do a daily generation of invoices and customers log into the system and manually pay the invoice. I personally like the simplicity of the program. There is a modification out for it that will be compatible with the new version which allows custom order fields for each package. This is basically the only reason I wanted ModernBill and since ClientExec can do it too, I see no reason for me to use ModernBill. The only drawback I see in ClientExec is the helpdesk which can use a few more features.

HTH

-GSV

Thank you for the good review.

Originally posted by elix It's working just fine. I just do a daily generation of invoices and customers log into the system and manually pay the invoice. I personally like the simplicity of the program. There is a modification out for it that will be compatible with the new version which allows custom order fields for each package. This is basically the only reason I wanted ModernBill and since ClientExec can do it too, I see no reason for me to use ModernBill. The only drawback I see in ClientExec is the helpdesk which can use a few more features.

HTH

-GSV Grab the free version of cerberus helpdesk and intigrate it into Clientexec. You can find the mod in the clientexec forums. This will solve your lack of features in the support desk. :)

Have you considered looking at hsphere as your control panel? It allows for complete automation and includes such items as fully integrated and automated billing as well as helpdesk and domain name registration...

Originally posted by wcws
Grab the free version of cerberus helpdesk and intigrate it into Clientexec. You can find the mod in the clientexec forums. This will solve your lack of features in the support desk. :)
There is a mod for this? Thank you so much for informing me!!

:dgrin:

-GSV

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
Have you considered looking at hsphere as your control panel? It allows for complete automation and includes such items as fully integrated and automated billing as well as helpdesk and domain name registration...

Ummm..... H-Sphere's Support Desk is very lacking (if you can even call it a support desk). Though, the automated billing isn't bad - if it's set up properly, etc which is the key.

H-Sphere's Support Desk is very lacking (if you can even call it a support desk).

The support desk actually works quite well for what it is - but, if youre unsatisfied with it - install cerebrus (which is free or a single email address) and link the support area in hsphere to it (again - all automated).

Though, the automated billing isn't bad - if it's set up properly, etc which is the key.

This is really the key with any billing solution :) - but, having it integrated an automated is really a very nice feature - especially if you dont want to spend your time issuing invoices and collecting payment :)

Greetings:

H-Sphere is awesome.

H-Sphere not only provides complete hosting automation for the hosting provider; but every reseller has complete hosting automation as well.

You have automation from fraud controls, sign up automation, automated provisioning, recurring billing, etc.

As CartikaHosting pointed out, you can plug in Cerberus or other ticket systems (we recommend Cerberus as well).

http://www.hspheretemplates.com/ has a plug in for support selector that using 3rd party ticket systems is a breeze.

Thank you.

Peter,


H-Sphere is awesome.


That's your opinion, and your entitled to it. I personally don't see it as "awesome" though it is a very good and well-made product.


H-Sphere not only provides complete hosting automation for the hosting provider; but every reseller has complete hosting automation as well.


Which entails a very big learning curve initially, do you have the staff on hand to walk through every reseller through the system at least once or twice?


You have automation from fraud controls, sign up automation, automated provisioning, recurring billing, etc.


Assuming that you pay for the additional services seperately (Fraud Control, etc.)


As CartikaHosting pointed out, you can plug in Cerberus or other ticket systems (we recommend Cerberus as well).


If you feel like tinkering for a few days, sure.


http://www.hspheretemplates.com/ has a plug in for support selector that using 3rd party ticket systems is a breeze.


Great - I'll have to look into it.

Greetings Jonathan:

I agree with you that opinions are opinions.

In our ten years of experience as a company, nine on the Net, we've found zero that compare to H-Sphere in terms of complete automation for the pricing.

Fraud prevention is included free. H-Sphere calls it Signup Guard.

Yes, there is a large learning curve.

However, I would rather climb a 10 mile hill at a 90% angle and coast the other 90 miles down hill at a reasonable and safe pace than walk for 100 miles without any rest.

From our perspective, that's H-Sphere. H-Sphere has an extremely steep learning curve but extremely fast payback if one takes the time to learn it.

Many H-Sphere providers with reseller programs have the staff and the educational material to educate their resellers.

Also, compared to any other partial hosting automation platform like Cpanel, Ensim, and Plesk, Positive Software publishes a huge amount of documentation for providers, resellers, and end users. And they are constantly taking feedback from various customers (providers, resesellers, and end users) on improving their documentation.

In any event, H-Sphere is not for everyone. If you are the casual reseller, or if hosting is only a very small portion of your business not growing much at all, or you are so busy with other projects you don’t have the time to learn.

However, if you see the hosting side of your business growing, want to offer Unix and Windows hosting, want complete hosting automation, don’t mind putting in the time to learn, to tinker, and grow, then H-Sphere can be a very good fit (in my opinion).

Thank you.

P.S. http://www.hspheretemplates.com/ along with http://www.hspherepackages.com/ and http://www.hsphereproducts.com/ do have free and reasonable priced options for H-Sphere that can make one's life even more easier.

Which entails a very big learning curve initially, do you have the staff on hand to walk through every reseller through the system at least once or twice?

Yes, we walk all resellers through it once - takes around 15 mins - most dont even need it - however, for those that do request a walkthrough - none have needed a second walk through - it really isnt that complicated

Assuming that you pay for the additional services seperately (Fraud Control, etc.)

No - it has built in fraud control - in addition and separate to what your gateway will provide.

If you feel like tinkering for a few days, sure.


Couldnt be further from the truth - besides - if the host has the 3rd party support module installed on the cluster - the resellers also have access to this.

You can wait until the new clientexec version comes out or go with another billing software like whmautopilot which is fairly affordable.

Peter,

Originally posted by dynamicnet

I agree with you that opinions are opinions.

At least we agree on that :)


In our ten years of experience as a company, nine on the Net, we've found zero that compare to H-Sphere in terms of complete automation for the pricing.


I agree with you there.


Fraud prevention is included free. H-Sphere calls it Signup Guard.


Sure, there's free fraud prevention - but with thieves and whatnot getting smarter and more resourceful, it gets outdated and useless very quickly, neccessitating the need for gateway level authentication. Signup Guard may catch the obvious, but it totally skips by the non-obvious.


Yes, there is a large learning curve.

However, I would rather climb a 10 mile hill at a 90% angle and coast the other 90 miles down hill at a reasonable and safe pace than walk for 100 miles without any rest.

From our perspective, that's H-Sphere. H-Sphere has an extremely steep learning curve but extremely fast payback if one takes the time to learn it.


I agree with you - I would rather do that too. However, people who aren't technical (i.e. the end users) don't see it that way neccessarily, they just want it to "work" and don't care about the backend like we do. For them, cPanel is the easiest thing in the world (regardless of how buggy, etc. it is on the backend).


Many H-Sphere providers with reseller programs have the staff and the educational material to educate their resellers.


Point taken.


Also, compared to any other partial hosting automation platform like Cpanel, Ensim, and Plesk, Positive Software publishes a huge amount of documentation for providers, resellers, and end users. And they are constantly taking feedback from various customers (providers, resesellers, and end users) on improving their documentation.


Completely agreed there. However, to it's credit, cPanel does have a large forum and alot of documentation as well.


In any event, H-Sphere is not for everyone. If you are the casual reseller, or if hosting is only a very small portion of your business not growing much at all, or you are so busy with other projects you don’t have the time to learn.

However, if you see the hosting side of your business growing, want to offer Unix and Windows hosting, want complete hosting automation, don’t mind putting in the time to learn, to tinker, and grow, then H-Sphere can be a very good fit (in my opinion).


I agree that H-Sphere isn't for everyone. However, for alot of people, psoft's licensing scheme doesn't work (in terms of upfront costs). If PSoft were to change that, then H-Sphere would be so much more accessible to people that otherwise wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. Also, I don't see *that* many datacenters offering it standard which means that if you install it on your own and you break it, your SOL (unless you pay for PSoft Support). I don't think thats a situation ANYONE wants to be in.


Thank you.


Your very welcome.

Though, another thing that is probbably preventing people from switching other than the licensing is the fact that there's no "move" tool from cPanel to H-Sphere that works, and works well. I'm sure that once a viable one was made, then people would be flocking to H-Sphere if they could justify the cost.

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
Couldnt be further from the truth - besides - if the host has the 3rd party support module installed on the cluster - the resellers also have access to this.

But what about if you are the cluster owner?

But what about if you are the cluster owner?


wget filename.tgz
tar xfz filename.tgz
cd filename.tgz
make install

restart control panel service

total time = 2 mins

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
wget filename.tgz
tar xfz filename.tgz
cd filename.tgz
make install

restart control panel service

total time = 2 mins

That make install will autoconfigure everything within the control panel, or is there still that left to do after the fact?

Sure, there's free fraud prevention - but with thieves and whatnot getting smarter and more resourceful, it gets outdated and useless very quickly, neccessitating the need for gateway level authentication. Signup Guard may catch the obvious, but it totally skips by the non-obvious.

H-Sphere signup guard catches things that the gateway doesnt.

Besides, if you utilize it as a first level clearance - it really is an excellent solution:

ie) credit card billing country must match signup IP country

these sorts of basic rules prevent all of the most obvious fraud.

We havent utilized a gateway fraud prevention solution in a couple of years - as utilizing the hsphere signup guard in combination with some very basic manual processes eliminates almost 100% of fraud.

That make install will autoconfigure everything within the control panel, or is there still that left to do after the fact?

after the CP service restart - thats it - the cluster owner and resellers can then goto 3rd party options and redirect the helpdesk and knowledge base wherever they like..

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
We havent utilized a gateway fraud prevention solution in a couple of years - as utilizing the hsphere signup guard in combination with some very basic manual processes eliminates almost 100% of fraud.

.... but wasn't that the whole point of H-Sphere Hosting *Automation*?

Originally posted by mripguru
.... but wasn't that the whole point of H-Sphere Hosting *Automation*?

lol - sounds like you are determined to make this difficult.

H-Sphere is complete automation - however, a completely automated, 100% fool proof method of preventing fraud simply doesnt exist.

I would argue that if you used the most upto date fraud prevention solution from a tier 1 gateway provider to sell web hosting - you would lose your merchant account rather quickly - as a result of the amount of chargebacks you would receive from all the fraudulent orders that got through.

Fact of the matter is - if you really want to eliminate fraud (which you must do in order to maintain your ecommerce merchant account) - you need some manual processes - utilizing hsphere dramatically decreases the amount of manual processes.

If you are looking for a solution that will make all the decisions for you, answer your phones, and cook you dinner - hsphere may not be the right solution - but, its a heck of alot closer then anything else available :)

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
[B]H-Sphere is complete automation - however, a completely automated, 100% fool proof method of preventing fraud simply doesnt exist.


Sure it does - don't sell anything :P

Originally posted by mripguru
Sure it does - don't sell anything :P


hadnt thought of that :rolleyes:

Originally posted by CartikaHosting
wget filename.tgz
tar xfz filename.tgz
cd filename.tgz
make install

restart control panel service

total time = 2 mins
Tut-tut.

Someone forgot to clean up after himself :D

Just so you know: That is changing in 2.4.3. With the new package installer tool, it's a little simpler now (yes, even simpler than the above).

Simon

Originally posted by mripguru
Though, another thing that is probbably preventing people from switching other than the licensing is the fact that there's no "move" tool from cPanel to H-Sphere that works, and works well. I'm sure that once a viable one was made, then people would be flocking to H-Sphere if they could justify the cost.

Very intuitive point made here - I think its really tough for established cpanel reseller clients to make the move to an hsphere environment - there are obviously alot of unsatisfied reseller customers out there - but, they countinue to migrate from cpanel to cpanel because of the ease of migration. However, there are a significant amount who require and truely need the associated stability and performance of a clustered environment and bit the bullet - tough choice really..

Having said this - there are alot of quality cpanel environments & providers out there as well - so, at least there are options :)


Originally posted by IHSL
Tut-tut.

Someone forgot to clean up after himself :D


:rolleyes:

Originally posted by dynamicnet
{...} I would rather climb a 10 mile hill at a 90% angle and coast the other 90 miles down hill at a reasonable and safe pace than walk for 100 miles without any rest.

Maybe we should make that our slogan :cartman: