Are there any advantages to being underage (younger than 18) as a web hosting company owner? The only advantage I can think up is that many kids/young adults don't need the money like adults do (adults are trying to make livings, or at least most are).

BTW, I define adult as someone of illegal age.

my exerience with a younger partner in the company was that he constantlydrove me to question my assumptions. he had great drive and potential, but there were also two adult partners. as for solely underaged owners, thats just wrong. at the end of the day theres no legal contracts. i dont doubt the drive and ability, just the legal aspects.

Originally posted by smidwap
BTW, I define adult as someone of illegal age. [/B]

And just what age would be considered "illegal"? :rolleyes:

lololol excellent , i missed that.

Originally posted by parawing742


And just what age would be considered "illegal"? :rolleyes:
An age in which you can sign legal documents....and maybe drink :stickout: (but that is 21, and I'm basically talking about 18+ year olds).

EDIT: Whoopsies, misread your post.

lol

"illegal" age? I do think you know what I am talking about when I refer to legal age. :D

One thing about kids - they do grow up.

Originally posted by DotComster
One thing about kids - they do grow up.
All physically, most mentally. ;)

The only advantage I can think of is that if they scam someone they have a slightly better chance of getting away with it. :D

There are many more disadvantages in a minor operating a hosting business (or business in general).

The only advantage I can think up is that many kids/young adults don't need the money like adults do ...

Actually, that raises a potential *disadvantage* for the rest of the (older) Web hosts in the industry: any host that's not all that interested in earning a livable profit out of its business -- just a little extra cash -- can undercut competitors' prices big-time, which can hurt other hosts trying to make a real go of things. I've seen a similar effect in other service businesses with easy entry for the not-so-serious: Website design, writing and editing, etc.

However, I also believe this disadvantage is usually short-lived for most "real" business operators, though it's still a pain to deal with. Many hosting customers who opt for cheap above all else soon discover they get what they pay for, and move on to another service provider. And those that don't, well, they don't tend to be very serious about building a real Web presence or online business, and often disappear over time.

I'd be interested in hearing anyone else's take on this -- your thoughts?

Originally posted by ebigroup
Actually, that raises a potential *disadvantage* for the rest of the (older) Web hosts in the industry: any host that's not all that interested in earning a livable profit out of its business -- just a little extra cash -- can undercut competitors' prices big-time, which can hurt other hosts trying to make a real go of things. I've seen a similar effect in other service businesses with easy entry for the not-so-serious: Website design, writing and editing, etc.

....

I'd be interested in hearing anyone else's take on this -- your thoughts?
Exactly. However, that was one of the reason's WHT was made-to TRY and filter out the bad hosts (or warn people of the possible problems with web hosts). :D

Well i can think of one disadvantage of having older host owners. If the owner has a family, and something happens(wife going into labour, someone taking ill, kid falling of bike and breaking arm etc...) then you can be sure thats going to take priority over their work.

Originally posted by SplashHost.com
Well i can think of one disadvantage of having older host owners. If the owner has a family, and something happens(wife going into labour, someone taking ill, kid falling of bike and breaking arm etc...) then you can be sure thats going to take priority over their work.
Well, most disadvantages of an older web host owner are the same or similar for a younger host. And your example is like that: Kid/Young adult has other committments (family issues, school, etc).

You also have to take into account that with younger hosts there is probably a greater chance that your hosting account will be sold on to another webhost so you will no longer be a customer of the person you decided to sign up with.

With most adult hosts they are more in the mind set of setting up a perminant shop and are more intune to the long term commitment involved (true it doesn't always work out but the intent is there from the start). With younger hosts you more often than not see "I'm selling because I'm going to school in the fall and don't have the time". There is probably a greater chance that the younger host would lose interest in their business a lot faster and it would be neglected or sold. I don't want to sound like I'm putting younger hosts down at all but the different in maturity/judgement/commitment/responsibility is a lot different between a 15/16 year old person and a 30-40 year old person.

After reading all the replies the first thought that immediately came to mind was "Cyberwings." :(

Well, we've done a great job of thinking up disadvantages to being a kid/young adult and adult host, but I haven't seen any advantages yet to having a kid/young adult (except for maybe my idea). Maybe there aren't any? :eek: (C'mon, there's got to be at least one. :confused: :D .)

Advantages: You start early. :) It is also possible that you will find it easier to adapt and focus on what you're doing. If you are married with 3 kids, you may not have as much time to dedicate yourself to the business.

Originally posted by rey
Advantages: You start early. :) It is also possible that you will find it easier to adapt and focus on what you're doing. If you are married with 3 kids, you may not have as much time to dedicate yourself to the business.
I would think it would be easier to have 3 kids and run a web hosting business then have school. Then again, I've never had kids so I wouldn't know. :stickout:

Not every young adult has school, college, or uni.

<< points to self..

Bill Gates is not a uni grad either :)

Well, I'm mostly talking high schoolers and maybe a few middle schoolers. Most people are of partially-legal age (18+) when they enter college.

Ooh, high schoolers? Like 17 or younger? I guess, the advantage of running a company is experience. May be bumpy at first or the first few months/years, but experience adds up in time.

The other advantage is that parental influence in financial situation. Some parents will support their child to be a businessman. But again, I don't know about their schedule. If the business grow large, supporting clients might be an issue.

Professionalism, patience and wisdom are some things that reflect one's age, although not in every case. But again, there are some kids that are more professional than some adults too :)

its perfectly possible to do uni and run a business. admitted i have two great partners, first in ben and lazz and now sean and lazz, but i managed uni a full time job and running a company.
university gives you some great insights if you know how to get the most from it. its not 100% required but its a great advantage.

<< trying to justify doing a 2nd degree.

Well, it is one thing to run a web hosting business in college, another to run one in high school or middle school. In college, you usually older and have more legal rights than high school or middle school students.

There are a few exceptionally gifted minors (17 and under) that have the knowledge to run a successful hosting business, but the legal age/document issues can be a problem.

The larger problem I feel are the minors who THINK they are knowledgable enough, but end up costing people wasted money and time.

An example as such (off-topic, I know) Kobe Bryant went into the NBA straight out of HS. Now there are kids who THINK they can do the same, but then get a rude awakening.

The only advantage (for the exception) is experience, but the disadvatages out weigh the advantages greatly.

...just my thoughts.

I think someone already mentioned this but, for most of us here, web hosting is how we survive. Kids don't need to worry about the costs for housing, food, clothing, etc, so they can provide their services for a cheaper price.

Agreed - I am 17. While I do not pay for my own house, I still have pricing which would support me when I do. Why? Because one day I will need to move out, and at least then I wont be loosing a heap of clients and going thru tough times when I need to bump the pricing up.

I can thank jim @ clookhost for pointing this out to me and pointing me in the right direction. He is a great bloke :)

Im a university student, and for the most part, I think running a web hosting buiss would be easier(time wise) in high school, but I dont think its a good idea. I think there are quite a few disadvantages(im mainly talking about high school):

1. You dont know what your missing. Wasteing 2+ years of your high school life to do web hosting 98 times out of a 100 is NOT worth it.
2. Many simply dont have the hands on experience to do it(of couse this is a little different if you are a reseller) I think most would agree that too many people get servers and dont know what to do. I hate to say this, but I am suprised at some questions I see webhosts asking here.
3. I think students may belive that if they get a big enough company, they wont have to go to collage. Its simply not true.


I have been there. I did this for over 2.5 years. I thought the same thing. At times it was fun, but to be honest I have never been happier since I stopped. I sleep well at night, slowly starting to get out more(I honestly forgot how to deal with people around school). I get to go away on weekends, enjoy vacations. Honestly, even if I came out of it with 60k dollars, I still dont belive it would be worth it. I put a lot on the line and barely got out of school alive.

true it takes a hell of a lot of sweat blood and tears at times to do the best by your clients. not everybody is in the position to deliver that.

But if you have good service and good optimization settings on your servers, there shouldnt be to many problems.

Which makes things easier :)

indeed. i have a few aussie clients in your age range and their tanacity and drive is great. i like a can do attitude, i like to see in others what i see in myself but i know i also balance it with good judgement. personally, if the kids are committed then the only problem i have is the legal side. apart from that if they can concentrate on their studies as well then they do have plus points.

Advantages?


I work at McDonalds. I work at Burger King. I am now manager in training at Wendys. I OWN A HOSTING COMPANY. :D





But honestly, I don't think you can generalize this into any situation. People are individuals and should be treated so. I have time for a company...For some odd reason through my 4 honors classes I only come up with 15 minutes or so of homework each night...Just imagine the trouble I could be into without having a company to tend after...Drugs, Vandalism (which I was aquited of, so :angry: ), things like that. But again, it isn't a thing which you can stereotype...People are different.

I am Australian to :)

My dad is the legal/signed owner of the business.. I just run the show :D :stickout:

I don't see any advantage at all to being a webhost. Personally I would expect it to cause difficulties for the most part.

Yes, a webhost looking for "pocket change" doesn't need to charge much at all. However, you have to look at what performance they will deliver. If the webhost is only looking for money to walk around with, I see the hosting company as having a very finite existance.

I know when I was 15,16,17, I would have been ecstatic to get hold of $100 or $200 to stick in my pocket.

These days (car payments, rent, insurance, heat, etc) that hundred bucks doesnt stretch nearly as far :bawling:

But then again, if you (as a webmaster being hosted) are paying my RENT, putting FOOD ON MY TABLE I have a lot more to lose than someone who just wants the new "eminem" CD from the mall, or a new pair of sneakers or something.

Plus....well if this mythical teen webhost grows older and his financial needs change (as always happens) either he will put the business even further on the back burner for a paying job, or change the prices, which would eliminate any advantage. He might even close down.


This also assumes taxes, contracts, technical knowledge, business knowledge, etc are all done correctly and the whole operation isnt running off a cable modem somewheres in the back bedroom

Maybe the perfect (if there is such a thing) is a hosting company with some youger people running part of support and design and adds, and some older staff who run things like budget and such, as well as support and so on. Best of both worlds :)

lol faculty im a whinging pomm my self but if you wanna have a chat on msn or aim anytime pm me :) always nice to chat to hosts.