I am to looking to start an online database of hints and tips about starting your own webhosting biz.

If you could please post some tips and hints here or zip me over an email to email@hostingqa.com

Thanks,
Joe

Get your Domain Name.
How and where to get your domain name.
* Register you domain.
* Another domain can be useful for testing.
Are you going to Resell or have your own server.
This section covers the pros and cons of both.
* If you are not familiar with Linux/Windows server Reselling might be best to start.
* Whatever you decide to do be sure to take a close look at the company.
* Do not just go by price; find one who has been around a while.
Are you going to want to offer you customers domain names?
* There are many domain reseller plans available, most have a sizeable upfront fee to get started.
* You might be able to get a deal from your host.

Do you need a Business License and other legal issues.
* You should check to see if you need a business license.
* Should you form a legal company? (Inc, LLC, LLP, DBA)
* TOS, AUP, & Hosting Agreements (get advice)


How to get Paid?
* You need to see if your host offers any service, a few do.
* There are several ways to accept payment, you can get a Merchant account or you can use one of the many third party services.
For more information read Getting Paid


Learn to how to use your control panels.
* Test everything, get use to how thing work and why.
* A second domain for testing comes in handy.


Build your own Support Website.
* Take the time to build a support web site for your customers. You can learn a lot your-self by reading the information and testing as you go.
* Check to see if you can use the information from your reseller host or the company you got the server from, most do not mind.



What hosting plans are you going to offer.
* It does not matter if you have you own server or just reselling you have to make reasonable plans.
* Do some research at established hosts websites, look closely at what they are offering and then figure out what you can offer.


Build your own Company Website.
* Build it.
* Test it.
* Check it for Meta tags.
* Submit it to search engines.
* Advertise.
* Give a few free accounts away to test 3 -12 months.


Now that you have clients you must provide support and properly bill them. You first customers are extremely important, at least 50% of all new hosting clients come from referrals. From my experience poor support is the number one reason for leaving a host, don't let it happen to you.

Thanks for the input, is there anything else someone can input? Something that wouldn't be obvious at all. Something that no one would think of. Any experiences people can learn from.

Thanks,
Joe

- Make sure you have enough cash to keep in business for at least the first year as you will not make an instant profit.

- $ 10 is NOT enough to start a hosting company :D

No doubt this statement will be followed by countless of stories from those who did start out with $ 10 and are now king of hosting. More power to you! ;)

- Be prepared to give up a large portion of your life. How will you handle your vacations? Your weekend trips? Think about this and prepare a plan.

And above all put in big bold bright letters on the top of your site:

WEBHOSTING IS NOT JUST RENTING SERVER SPACE, PUTTING CLIENTS ON IT AND SIT BACK AND WATCH YOUR MILLIONS COME ROLLING IN

I too was once such a misguided spirit. Divine intervention punished me for my ignorance in ways I couldn't have imagined :bawling:

I too was once such a misguided spirit. Divine intervention punished me for my ignorance in ways I couldn't have imagined

Man I too feel the power :eek:

Sam

- $ 10 is NOT enough to start a hosting company

I started mine with OPM