Well.. I am starting my hosting business as I said in my very first post. After reading some of the posts here, I ended up staying up all night! What a great site this is!

Anyways, I don't think I am happy with my current host. I signed up for a Pro account with them so I can resell their packages at price marked by me. You know, like they charge me 14.95 for one account and I sell it for 22.95.. blah blah blah..

But there has been some thinking going on in my head. First, they don't setup accounts that would come from me (I don't have any yet) asap. I have to capture my order first and then send them a form, they set it up and then I send the info to the client... It makes no sense!!!!!!!! And they are almost never there anyways if I wanted to call them! The only thing that really keeps me there is that they have package with 30GB monthly transfer but I really don't know if thats even that important...

They only provide Unix accounts and I want MS also
They don't give me SSL and I want that also
They don't provide me with annonymous billing for my clients and I want that!
Their support blows
Their service is pretty reliable...

Other than that.. I was seriously thinking about going with someone else. Maybe getting Dedicated Server and reselling that space??? What do you guys think? I am one man opperation. I think I have pretty much everything covered. I got Merchant Account, 1-800 number, I can build websites, I think pretty much thats what I need in order to start it up right?

Now my question is...do you guys know of any good, maybe budget, reliable, anonymous companies that can provide me with good reseller service. I want to have my own brand but on the same token don't really want to spend arm and a leg a month for a server. Maybe some of you provide reseller accounts??????

Any help would be appreciated...

Oh yeah btw...how do you go by getting your own data center????how much start up money do I need???

Thanks!

Is this post serious or a late April fool? No offence, but some of the points you make are stupid.

How do you propose they setup the account without you giving them the information?

Many hosts, understandably, only want to provide one type of hosting.

See if they will install your own SSL cert for you, if you buy one.

Come on! They provide you with hosting, not a billing solution.

For a small, basic datacenter, you'd probably be looking at around the $150 - 250k mark.

No no no!!! Don't get me wrong..

Here is the deal with the setting up new accounts...


1. I get a client to submit their application via my site
2. Once I get an application I have to go to my hosts form and fill it out
3. I submit the application to them and wait for them to set up an account

note: This is not done automatically. So basically when there is noone in the office, my customer waits, and I wait when they get in the office and set up the account.
4. Once they set it up they send me an email with all the info
5. I then send the email to the client.

See.. the thing is that I spoke with Saturn Hosting person and talked to them about it and their system automatically sets up an account without any person! I get the client, I go to my admin control panel, fill in the info and script automatically shoots me back with all the info! Now thats awesome! I don't have to wait for them to be set up by a live person like my current host does!


So to add another question... which reseller company would you recommend?????

I intend to sign on with Integra Hosting (http://www.integrahosting.com).

They use the HSphere control panel and everything is basically automated - signups, billing, invoicing, and account setup :D.

That's one reason I've decided to go with them, nearly everything's automated, I don't have to focus 24/7 on handling billing and account setup b/c I'm still in school.

And they let you create your own custom plans. I signed up for a 7 day trial account with them and loved it. I cancelled but I will reorder when support for 2CO and RevEcom is integrated with their billing.

Check 'em out. (http://www.integrahosting.net/reseller/reseller.html) :)

Hi Ducati,

From what I can tell from your post, you want:

1. To work with a host that offers you the ability to set-up your resold accounts in real-time from within a control panel. You don't want to have to wait for your hosting provider to manually set-up the plans you order.

2. Your hosting provider to anonymously bill your customers

The first requirement is pretty easy becuase their are many hosts who offer this. I can recommend Eclipse Hosting http://www.eclipsehosting.com , they will also provide you with excellent customer support and have very resonanbly priced plans.

The second requirement is unfortunately not something you are likely to be able to find. The nature of reselling is that the hosting provider bills you, and you bill your customers. This is one of the reasons you get a reseller discount; you service your customers by providing billing and technical support to them.

I hope this is helpful :)