Web Hosting Talk : Advertising Forums : Web Hosting Related Offers & Requests : Other Web Hosting Related Offers : In military, may have to sell, can you comment on amount?

[CalledUp]

Hi,
I run a small hosting service with about 100 clients. I am also a Reservist in the military and I may be going on active service for up to a year.

In order to continue good service to my clients and leave all in good shape for my wife and daughter, I will either have to sell or get someone to manage the biz. Since it's small, a manager seems unlikely unless I grow it quickly to get more income.

This is all uncertain, so I am not selling right way. What I really need to see some comments, Can you please help me by suggesting what I could get for this business? Please note I am not open to bids yet, I need more info first.

***Figures are close approximates***

100 clients. $1100 month average income between monthly and annual payments. Average client pays 5 to 10 month.

Full Client Exec license comes with this.

2CO account. Most clients are not on this but use credit cards, I'm switching to a merchant account. Some use PayPal.

2 x P4-2.8 servers at theplanet running Redhat/cpanel, cost is about 325 for both. It's possible to put all existing clients on one server with beefed up RAM

Both servers have shared SSL certs. I have a reseller account for Geotrust SSL certificates, only one sold so far but it's a new service.

Enom $6.95 account with 50 domains and a few sub-resellers. This account is one under the ETP.

If I do decide to sell, it will be as a package not in pieces. Or is that wise? Many thanks for your comments.

[Lubby]

I would say the value is in the $10,000 range. Give or take a few thousand. Depending on the amount of support needed I think you could probably find someone to run it for a while. You may not get any profit from it during that time but it will be there when you get back. Hope this helps.

[metrichost]

i REALLY suggest you keep it and hire a manager. Even if you give him all but $100 per month, at least you will still have the company when you get back from duty. I doubt you really want to sell, so please consider keeping it.

[ad-man]

Metric is right. Just because your life is changing, doesn't mean you should give up your company. Find someone to manage your company, or have a web consultant come in and make your business "run itself" so to speak.

I have worked with so many people who go the drastic route, and sell their company and anywhere from 6 months to a year later have to start over fresh.

If you would like some help in finding a candidate, please im me on aim at: x7bren

Take care and god bless you for defending our country.

[CPW-Carl]

It would be tricky finding somebody to manage your business on an internet forum. I've been treading the mine fields of this ad forum for a little while now, and the majority of potential sales I have enquired about don't pass basic due dilligence checks.

Although, *if* you could find somebody, you may have to pass up on most of the revenue while you are away, but hopefully the business would still be intact when you came back.

Alternately, you could sell, keep the money aside while you are gone, earn a bit of interest, and try to buy back some customers when you return.

Both have pluses and minuses, I don't envy your position.

[Shannara]

Well you did say you have a wife and kid(s). Is your wife versed in your business? If she is, could she not run it or keep it afloat while you are gone?

Worked on my end

[drwhiz]

It is a very sticky situation indeed. Caught between your passion and your duty. Depending on the model of the business, automation level, Nett profit and revenue ratio, i could suggest that the business could easily fetch from 10k onwards. I won't put a max cap on it as i won't want to dampen the offers coming in, if you chose to sell that is.

But i have to agree with most posters that you can get someone to manage it meanwhile as you have a decent model running. However, if the interim chap screws it up, and is in a mess when you take it back, you have a lot of making up to do and you won't have much in your hands too. If it was sold, you still have the principal amount in hand and can purchase other companies with your spare cash.

Hope my 2 cents worth helps, and if you do really consider selling, do sell them all in one piece for the well being of your clients.

God bless.

[Corey Bryant]

I agree with Metric. If you can keep it - do it. Every little bit will help. Does your wife get involved in it? Maybe she should while you are gone - it will help keep her mind off of everything.

I served during Desert Storm myself. I knew a lot of people that wished they would have done things differently. And I bet you have a great relationship with your clients? So they will more than likely understand & support you.

[CalledUp]

Thanks everyone. I'll consider what y'all are saying. Those of you who have PM'd, I can't seem to reply for some reason yet. When I can finally get into the PM seciton I'll get back to you.

[CPW-Carl]

You have to have more than 5 (or is it 10?) posts before you can PM.

[metrichost]

I sent you a PM, I dont think you can reply till you have a certain amount of post, so please reply to my email.

support@metrichost.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

[Kerry Jones]

I would be interesting in maintaining your company while your away. If you wish to contact my aim is EGN Kerry or if you have msn its kerry.jones [at] kjhosting.com ( replace [at] with "@"). I would like to know some other details.

[Rewdog]

Companies seem to be selling for 3/4ths a year's income if you were looking to sell. Getting someone to run things while you're gone is probably the most ideal situation, but I'd look to personal friends that you can get in touch with in real life rather than some strangers on this forum.

[Corey Bryant]

Whatever you do - be very careful. Unfortunately, there are peple who might want to try to take advantage of your situation.

(I am not saying anyone who posted something here - but if you can "keep it in the family" and feel secure in doing so, do it.)

[hamptech Mike]

Amen to that god willing if I get deployed to go which is very possible I have no idea who I would be able to rely on. His wife may be like mine not very computer savy at all.