Hello, I've been planning this out for a very long time, and I think now is the time to ask some questions. I've always been interested in Servers, webhosting, stuff like that, and now I think I want to start a web hosting company. I've been going over some things for about two years, and I think I can do it now. Everything is planned out, and I know I probably won't be as big as HostGator, or even Dreamhost (eek!), but is it possible? An 18 year old starting a webhosting company?

Let's start with the questions:

I need a business license, right?

What Control Panel should I choose?

Should I start out small and just buy a reseller account?

Will I get any customers with all of the other companies taking over?




I look like an idiot, don't I? :P

You might check out this thread here:

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=613577

Let's start with the questions:

I need a business license, right?

What Control Panel should I choose?

Should I start out small and just buy a reseller account?

Will I get any customers with all of the other companies taking over?


Whether you need a business license or not is really going to be dictated by the municipality you reside in. I would suggest starting with a call to your city clerk, or local chamber of commerce for this information.

There are a million control panels out there... They all have their advantages and good/bad points.. I have found typically that cPanel offers the best over all value for the money. I have also found it to be the most popular among consumers.

My suggestion would be yes, start out with a reseller account and work your way up from there. Once you get a bit larger, get your own dedicated server. From there, you could colo your own boxes in a data center, and finally some day, build your own data center.

Yes, you will get customers, assuming you offer value, good service, and a wide range of services. There are more than enough customers to go around.

Good luck!

What Control Panel should I choose?

Should I start out small and just buy a reseller account?

Will I get any customers with all of the other companies taking over?


A few years ago I asked myself the same questions. Out of sheer interest, I set up a Linux server at home on an old computer with about 92 MB RAM and 57 GB Harddisk.

I ran myself 5 homepages plus I had already some homepage customers which I hosted at this point at some other webhosts. So I could switch them over to my server which was connected to the internet by a ADSL 700/100 and a fixed IP address.

The connections were quite slow but everybody was happy. At that time I worked with the panel "webadmin", a great peace of admin software.

Then I realised, that I had no quiet minute anymore. I was always on alert, if everything was running fine. After a couple power breaks I decided to rent a dedicated server at a Server farm here in Switzerland with redundant power supply, air conditioned rooms and fast internet backbones.

Meanwhile I got more customers out of my "real world" connections, but I still was alerted all the time, whether my customers could get their emails and so on.

And even though my system was quite tight, one bad day a hacker found a hole in the wall and put some spam throwing code on my box. Suddenly I was hit my thousands of brasil replys of non existing mail accounts.

After this torment I switched again to a rather more managed virtual dedicated server and I'm happy now. I don't install any system software anymore by myself. And usually everything is running well.

Today I'm working with plesk admin panel which is much more limited than webmin, but takes a lot of openness from me. ;)

Whether you find customers or not is a matter of finding a niche market for yourselves. But first try to get as many clients out of your social network and mouth to mouth propaganda.

I hope it will help you on your way of decision.

- martin

Yes it is possible, but don't look at it as an easy business, treat is just like any business you would start, plan everything in a solid business plan, take your time and it should work. Web hosting is hard work at any hours of the day. Grow slowly but surely and add resources as you grow. If you don't know how to do something don't be shy to ask, and learn from more experienced people. Thats the key.

I dont want to offend anyone but I have found that in WHT this kind of questions more often raised by ppl in age group of 15 to 18. Just check last 10-15 post and you will understand what I mean.

Anyways I will advice you to start with a reseller account from some reliable host and when your business grows up then go for dedicated server.

It's definitely doable, but as others have described above, its easy to get in over your head. I'd have a plan in case your business blows up, i.e. what are you going to do if you get too much business, etc. Where are you going to get support, new employees, etc.

It's sometimes difficult for young people to do this part of the business due to financial reasons (credit scores), as well as simple inexperience.

I'm in another type of business on the side that is dominated by an older demographic, and I get the drift sometimes that people think I don't know what I'm doing just because I'm younger than them. Sometimes you won't be taken seriously, so be ready for that. I'm not by any means saying you're not serious, but make sure you put across the image that you mean business.

Also, don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and you will. Good luck!

Don't worry about your age. Youth (or seniority!) haven't stopped successful people.

Your main issues will be the issues faced by all new businesses, and especially people new to business: keep costs low, and work to find customers. They won't just come to you in the beginning. Do these two things, and the rest will follow. :)

Hello, I've been planning this out for a very long time, and I think now is the time to ask some questions. I've always been interested in Servers, webhosting, stuff like that, and now I think I want to start a web hosting company. I've been going over some things for about two years, and I think I can do it now. Everything is planned out, and I know I probably won't be as big as HostGator, or even Dreamhost (eek!), but is it possible? An 18 year old starting a webhosting company?

Let's start with the questions:

I need a business license, right?

What Control Panel should I choose?

Should I start out small and just buy a reseller account?

Will I get any customers with all of the other companies taking over?




I look like an idiot, don't I? :P

Hi!
Well no ediots here I hope :)
Any way it will take a fairly long time for you to make it in any online business
This is the way I started out Caution should be used
I bought 2 servers of of Ebay Get the Cheapest and best you can afford without blowing all your money you'll need that later.
I went with Cpanel Main reason its the most popular and a CentOS (linux flavor seems to be the most secure with cpanel anyway. I did this because I wanted to be in Full Control over my servers and didnt want to get a dedicated server

Design a web site that you like and put it online or at least get it ready

Setup your Connection Call around and get the most for the least may want to try getting a Fract T1 line to start off with or you can go a cheaper route and get a DSL line these will cost in the range of $70/Mo that you will probably have to keep for at least 1yr but can upgrade if Ness. as for a T1 if you need faster speeds you can call them and ask them to open it up a full blown T1 1.5MB Up and Down and a FREE router/Install, will run you about $425/Mo with 256 IP addresses this is from Covad and I am doing this now. just depends on how much money you want to invest into this to start off with. the T1 will take around 3-4 weeks to install.


I got the DNS Only Version(FREE from Cpanel) and have a PIII 900MHZ running my DNS (this is good since you dont Have a vast ammount of customers yet you can allways upgrade in the future.

My other server is a Dual PIII 1.4GHZ that has a 300GB HD and 2G Ram which is plenty for starters. and can run over 150 Clients. This Server runs Cpanel at a low monthly cost. get this from a Partner from Cpanel you can get them at less than $50/Mo. Do not buy direct from Cpanel they cost too much there get it from a Cpanel Partner.

ok now we have our servers running. or at least the OS after you install the OS of your Choice install Cpanel on them. its pretty easy to do. Now that Cpanel is running Configure them by logging onto it.

Next Clients
Do Not get clients by advertising on Google adwords its pretty much like burning your money.
The best way that I found that works for clients is advertise your site on forums like this one.
Also I found a company that places you on Googles Top 10 and Yes it is Legit and does work IM me for the link I do not have it handy right now. but anyway I signed up with them for $100 and I have gotten over 400 visits from this campaign (Real People)
Dont get suckered into get hits for $19.95 and we'll send you 10000 visitors

when I ran with my DSL line I had no complaints about speed at all
which was 512K.

So if you go with 1 Cpanel Lic plus a 512K dsl (look at the upstream) 3MB/512K
were looking at about $125/Mo. You may also want to think about a billing program as well There is 1 out there that does a great job and runs for $169 on time or $13.95/Mo Think of it as a hobbie. I spent more that that on RC Airplanes when I was into them. So now were at less than $150 I have also added Installitron that runs at $5/Mo or $100 one time. cost and there are a lot of people that will want either Fantasico or Installitron.

Treat your Clients right, Tell them the truth, Dont lie or try to blow them off
I now have 2 DNS Servers 3 production servers and 2 dedicated servers

It is up to you Yes there are ups and downs to picking between a reseller and a server of your own. If you run a server of your own you will have FULL controll over it as for a reseller you will have all the resources of your Host but private label under your own Name

Your own Server
You own it
Total control over it
Can make your own policies
set your own prices plans limits etc
If something breaks you may not know how to correct the problem
and may have to hire some one

Reseller Account
Your limited to what you can do
your limited to the software your host runs
your reseller plan may not allow copetitive plans pricing
Adding features can soon become more costly than your own server

Well there are a lot more but you can get a reseller account for about $12/Mo
If you do not have any extra $$ you may want to go this route

I hope this helps :)

Actually despite the numerous posts seeming to.. overcomplicate things, perhaps (?) it's actually really easy to start a web host.

Resellers are available for $25 / month, and the first person you host will most likely already begin you as a profit.

cPanel is easy to use and intuitive, Plesk is much more bare-bones, and H-Sphere is robust for the more savvy administrator.

It's really not hard at all, and quite easy to make a profit, but it's more of a question of how much you want to get out of it, because you'll need a lot of volume to off-set the low pricing of hosting.