I like to know about a reselling hosting provider who allows customers to give free accounts to their clients.

I want to give my clients free web hosting as bonus for my product purchase.

If any of you has any experience in this regard, please reply.

Thanks in advance

Sunu

P.S: I do know that some of them (reselling hosting companies) don't allow such.

In your case, you aren't technically giving it for free, you are offering it as bundled product. I don't think your host will have any problem with that, you'll need to ask them though.

There shouldnt be any problem with that, after all if you have a reseller account with them they have no way of telling you how much you should or shouldnt be charging for your packages.

I believe most hosts will allow you to offer free hosting accounts to your clients, friends... However they will not allow you to start a free public hosting service.

There shouldnt be any problem with that, after all if you have a reseller account with them they have no way of telling you how much you should or shouldnt be charging for your packages.

But when I had a chat with a pre-sales rep at webhostingbuzz, he replied that it is not allowed.

But when I had a chat with a pre-sales rep at webhostingbuzz, he replied that it is not allowed.

I think they may be thinking you were planning on doing a free hosting service depending on how you worded it. If you're selling a product then I'd consider the hosting as part of the product. Problem solved it's no longer a free service.

But when I had a chat with a pre-sales rep at webhostingbuzz, he replied that it is not allowed.

I cant speak for them, but they cant dictate what you use your reseller account for. However, they can dictate the resources you are allowed to use. It depends on how many accounts you expect to be creating on the reseller account if you intend to create hundreds of accounts then you will soon find yourself without the account. However if you want say 50 -100 accounts then you shouldnt have a problem.

Thank you all for your responses.

It depends on how many accounts you expect to be creating on the reseller account if you intend to create hundreds of accounts then you will soon find yourself without the account. However if you want say 50 -100 accounts then you shouldnt have a problem.

Yes, I might need lots of accounts but with small config (30-50 mb disksp and 300-500 mb bandwidth). My budget is around $30-40/month now and when required I will upgrade or go for vps/dedicated.


And why should I find myself without the account? I am not getting you...

And why should I find myself without the account? I am not getting you...Some hosts will frown at resellers putting hundreds of end user accounts on their server. It's just one of those things that can happen...

And why should I find myself without the account? I am not getting you...

I think lewcy meant that your host may decide to cancel your account thus you will find yourself without a hosting account.

As long as you stay within the resources you are allowed I dont see why a host would have a huge issue. I would check their tos and maybe contact them first.

Thank you all for your responses.

Yes, I might need lots of accounts but with small config (30-50 mb disksp and 300-500 mb bandwidth). My budget is around $30-40/month now and when required I will upgrade or go for vps/dedicated.

And why should I find myself without the account? I am not getting you...

If your budget is that much you should look at a vps to begin with, that way you can put as many accounts on as you dare!

I think lewcy meant that your host may decide to cancel your account thus you will find yourself without a hosting account.

That is what i meant, It wont happen over night because you will probably be adding these accounts gradually. However it will get to the point where the host will say enough is enough and ask that you upgrade to a vps and if you dont they will suspend your account.

As long as you stay within the resources you are allowed I dont see why a host would have a huge issue. I would check their tos and maybe contact them first.

The reason a host is going to have an issue with tons of accounts is each account added needs stats run each day, backups made and anything else required. Even if an account is doing nothing many tasks are still performed on it increasing CPU usage.

I contacted innohosting (forum) and their response is also negative.

I am now coming to dead end...

I would just check the forum's offers section.. Contact the host ask them.. How many accounts do you plan on hosting... Maybe a vps or a dedicated server is better if its a huge amount of accounts.

I cant speak for them, but they cant dictate what you use your reseller account for. However, they can dictate the resources you are allowed to use. It depends on how many accounts you expect to be creating on the reseller account if you intend to create hundreds of accounts then you will soon find yourself without the account. However if you want say 50 -100 accounts then you shouldnt have a problem.

Yes they can. It is their servers. A hosting account does not give you the right to do what you want with the server.

As long as you stay within the resources you are allowed I dont see why a host would have a huge issue. I would check their tos and maybe contact them first.

The problem goes much deeper than just resource usage. We don't allow free web hosting accounts because their is no decent fraud prevention being done. You get spammers signing up, getting the server on a blacklist and then you will have the host complaining as well as all others on that server.

Free webhosting accounts should be done on a dedicated platform.

Yes they can. It is their servers. A hosting account does not give you the right to do what you want with the server.


Obviously, however it isnt up to them to decide how much a reseller client should be charging their customers.

We don't allow free web hosting accounts because their is no decent fraud prevention being done. You get spammers signing up, getting the server on a blacklist and then you will have the host complaining as well as all others on that server.

Free webhosting accounts should be done on a dedicated platform.

That is your decision, on a reseller account you cant prevent a client giving away their resources to whoever they wish at whatever price. Fraud is irrelevant as it isnt through your billing system. If you allow spammers to be on your server long enough, whether they be your direct client or one of your resellers clients, to get blacklisted then you need to look at your server setup/management.

Obviously, however it isnt up to them to decide how much a reseller client should be charging their customers.

I know, it's not what is being debated? The debate is selling for free, not regulating prices ;)


That is your decision, on a reseller account you cant prevent a client giving away their resources to whoever they wish at whatever price.


Read above. The topic is about selling for free.


Fraud is irrelevant as it isnt through your billing system.


No actually, as a host yourself, I'm surprised you dismiss the risks of fraud so easily and the underlying problems. A common reason a fraud order occurrs is to spam. People running a legitimate business aren't going to use fraudulent details because the business will be at risk.


If you allow spammers to be on your server long enough, whether they be your direct client or one of your resellers clients,

Takes all of 1 minute to get a server blacklisted. A spammer isn't going to wait 3 months before finally deciding to do something. They'll do it there and then before the victim finds out their card was use fraudulently.

Well, if you had thoroughly read what I said, my comment was specific to free accounts and associated problems. I didn't mention anything regarding what price is to be charged if they are charging the customer.

to get blacklisted then you need to look at your server setup/management.

There is nothing stopping your server being blacklisted. Even if spam isn't sent out, if someone marks the email as spam as an easy way to delete it, or simply forgot they signed up to a mailing, then the server will get blacklisted even though the mail is legitimate. Nothing to do with server management and server set up. :rolleyes:

I agree with the reseller can set their own prices. We never intervene when the reseller is setting prices, and quite frankly it's non of our business.. But the implications of selling for free need to be taken more seriously as it seems you aren't grasping the associated risks.

Thank you all once again...

I have now started checking out VPS options as well.

Along the way I found vistapages where they allow free accounts like I mentioned through the reseller. I had a chat with a sales rep and he said no problem. Also when the time comes you can upgrade or shift to their vps/dedicated.

But when searched for their reviews, I found lots of negative stuff. Does anyone has any experience with them?

But the implications of selling for free need to be taken more seriously as it seems you aren't grasping the associated risks.

But I am not actually selling for free.. they are buying a product from me and this web hosting is a lure for them to buy my product.

Ok,I do grasp the associated risks you have mentioned..

I know, it's not what is being debated? The debate is selling for free, not regulating prices ;)



Read above. The topic is about selling for free.



No actually, as a host yourself, I'm surprised you dismiss the risks of fraud so easily and the underlying problems. A common reason a fraud order occurrs is to spam. People running a legitimate business aren't going to use fraudulent details because the business will be at risk.



Takes all of 1 minute to get a server blacklisted. A spammer isn't going to wait 3 months before finally deciding to do something. They'll do it there and then before the victim finds out their card was use fraudulently.

Well, if you had thoroughly read what I said, my comment was specific to free accounts and associated problems. I didn't mention anything regarding what price is to be charged if they are charging the customer.



There is nothing stopping your server being blacklisted. Even if spam isn't sent out, if someone marks the email as spam as an easy way to delete it, or simply forgot they signed up to a mailing, then the server will get blacklisted even though the mail is legitimate. Nothing to do with server management and server set up. :rolleyes:

I agree with the reseller can set their own prices. We never intervene when the reseller is setting prices, and quite frankly it's non of our business.. But the implications of selling for free need to be taken more seriously as it seems you aren't grasping the associated risks.


We are clearly on two completely different wavelengths here! We ran a free hosting service for a short (very short) while so are well aware of the benefits as well as the problems.

The root of this is that if jo blogs goes along to a host and signs up for a reseller account it is up to them whether they then set up free accounts or charge for the accounts, the reseller provider has no control over it. The only real control the reseller provider has is to limit the physical number of accounts that reseller can create before being asked to upgrade.

The root of this is that if jo blogs goes along to a host and signs up for a reseller account it is up to them whether they then set up free accounts or charge for the accounts, the reseller provider has no control over it. The only real control the reseller provider has is to limit the physical number of accounts that reseller can create before being asked to upgrade.

Not true. Providers as demonstrated here do control it and can control it. If the customer is not happy, they are free to move onto another provider. But we as a host have an obligation to our customers, and aren't willng to risk the integrity of the servers.

Not true. Providers as demonstrated here do control it and can control it. If the customer is not happy, they are free to move onto another provider. But we as a host have an obligation to our customers, and aren't willng to risk the integrity of the servers.

I agree, every step has to be taken to ensure server integrity. However you cant keep track of the actions of every reseller determining whether they have been paid for the accounts they are setting up or not, it is impossible!

Yes, if you ask first "can i use a reseller account to host 'free' accounts" then of course you will be turned down.

This doesnt really have anything to do with free or not, it is if/when will a host suspend a reseller account, how many accounts can be set up.

But I am not actually selling for free.. they are buying a product from me and this web hosting is a lure for them to buy my product.

Ok,I do grasp the associated risks you have mentioned..
In pre-sales, you should explain exactly what you're proposing to any suppliers you're interested in using. Even if they don't allow you to run a free hosting service (many don't, and with good reason) they may have no problem at all with your business model.

I'm afraid Rameen is right as free accounts are a magnet for fraud.

However, if you are selling a product which requires reasonable expense (over $100) and you demonstrate that any orders for said product are going through fraud checking. Then I think the risk is no more or less than any other resellers who actually just sell the hosting.

My 2 cents.

I'm afraid Rameen is right as free accounts are a magnet for fraud.


This is true in case you are giving the hosting accounts to strangers. If you are offering hosting to your friends, family, or local clients, I don't see how you will attract more fraudsters or spammers, even if you are offering the package for free.

I cant speak for them, but they cant dictate what you use your reseller account for. However, they can dictate the resources you are allowed to use. It depends on how many accounts you expect to be creating on the reseller account if you intend to create hundreds of accounts then you will soon find yourself without the account. However if you want say 50 -100 accounts then you shouldnt have a problem.

I represent WebHostingBuzz here. We absolutely can and do dictate how our servers can be used. Typically, free hosting accounts attract all the undesirables... fraud, spammers, phishing sites etc. This is why this is prohibited.

What is the platform Linux/Windows and also what is control panel you need?

What is the platform Linux/Windows and also what is control panel you need?

I need linux and cpanel/whm control panel. But now I am in search of good vps providers.

Any reselling hosting provider who allows free accountsMaybe you can find some answers from free hosting providers themselves. You can find some at forums like freewebspace.net/forums and freewht.com

Hi..

maybe i am misunderstanding something. For example, i buy a reseller account, and i sell account, people pay me for those.

But, if i want to host one or two personal sites for myself, obviously i wont "pay to myself" for those. Will i be abel to do that?

yes. What they're trying to prevent is you opening up a "free hosting" site.

major fraud problems among others. you're welcome to give yourself, family, and friends hosting at no cost.

yes. What they're trying to prevent is you opening up a "free hosting" site.

major fraud problems among others. you're welcome to give yourself, family, and friends hosting at no cost.

Oh ok. So, i can host one or two sites of myself... but i CAN NOT let anyone register for free.

Thanks