Hi everybody,

I have always been thinking of starting a small business on the internet. I think the best thing (for me) is to start hosting sites. I'm currently a university student and I think I can get a good number of customers from the university. I started looking for a hosting company to get a dedicated server and I found the best one to be http://www.fastservers.net.

The problem is that I don't know how to start ? I need billing method to bill credit card, a software to help me in money issues and help tickets script. What do you suggest ?

Thanx alot for everyone in advance.

Regards

I would suggest first reading everything you can on these forums for about 3 weeks. There is a LOT you need to do to get involved, and it can't be setup overnight. How much do you know about adminstering a dedicated server? Do you know any linux? Or how hosting works on the inside?

That would be your first goal, is to get a linux book or two, and make sure you can fix something if a problem arises, and know how to do some basic things without a control panel incase you are put in that situation.

Then, you can begin looking at getting more information regarding software you will need. But either way, plan on a couple grand to get started out with a dedicated server and not a reseller plan.

Thanks JeremyV for replying.

The I know about linux alot. I had a begginers course and I'm now ok with it. I had experience in WHM and Cpanel. About the dedicated server I know alot. I can fix many problems that may occur. I had a website before but I closed it.

What do you think ? Is that enough ?

Regards

you know about DNS, apache, sendmail ?

Also there is a lot more to add to your list than just howto bill the customer :)

I know all of that stuff... What I need now is billing customers and manage them.

Regards

Ok phpmanager should do your management
(we made our own in vb)

As for billing you need a merchant account such as 2checkout, paysystems or hostcharge (amongst others)

and if your really good you can make the whole lot work together to get payment/management/accoutn setup all working together.

There are too many web hosts, select a different field :D

You are right intraweb. But the problem is that I need to open a business and this is the only field that I can go in. If you have any better Idea then just tell me.

Regards

Get server(s) >> Build site >> Hook up credit card links with someone like Paysystems.com >> promote your business >> retire in 3mths. :buck: :D

How is this the only feild you can get into? If you have enough skill to be a webhost, then you have enough to be a linux administrator (or you should, if you don't then you should re-think some things) and its not hard finding a job as a linux admin.

also you could go into doing network design since most people who are effienct with linux know windows as well. You can do basic network design for people in your area..theres a job market.

My next thing is, if you don't know what you need to be a webhost, then why be one? Did Ronald Mcdonald start making hamburgers without knowing anything about them?