Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Running a Web Hosting Business : starting a new business

[marco911a]

i am willing to start a web hosting business but i don't know which to choose to start with reseller account or a dedicated server and if dedicated which to choose linux or windows( which the market demands more)???

help

[Ehaanaes]

It all depends on how fast you will grow and how much you are willing to invest into your company.
If you are expecting to grow real fast and you want to offer reseller plans yourself you should go for a dedicated. If you will start very small and do not have a lot of money to invest you should begin with a reseller plan. It all comes down to your plans.

And linux-servers are my reccomendation.

[johnder]

How many clients do you have waiting for the launch of your web hosting service?

Getting into the web hosting business with a reseller account is a lot more affordable, and usually less risky. It definitely has an advantage in your monthly cashflow, and you do not have to spend much upfront. Furthermore, with a dedicated server, you will have to consider management expenses (server admin., etc.) or manage it yourself, whereas a reseller account does not have that added burden.


JP

[DediZoneSales]

What you choose all depends on your budget, Target audience,

Try to offer/differ from the rest of the competition, find a niche market/service and proceed from there

Goodluck

[netpet]

I recommend starting with a reseller account and using unix OS. When you have a few customers, you can move to a dedicated server.

[WHRKit]

Start with a reseller account and offer hosting to friends and family. That will give you a good idea of how things could look like. Linux is a good platform to start on. Lots of software available for you to use when starting a business.

[VER-Mo]

I'd also recommend starting of with a reseller account, then as soon as you've reached a to a certain size, moving to a dedicated server. That is, unless you are starting off with a really big budget, and have the expertise required to take care of a dedicated server.

As for the Linux or Windows question, both can be profitable. If you are willing to take the time out to market to a niche you can find many users out there who want Windows Hosting, and are willing to pay up to 25-30% more than they would normally pay to be hosted on a linux box.
But here's an idea, since reseller accounts are so cheap, why dont you get BOTH a linux reseller account, and a windows reseller account. This way you can cater to both markets.

[joshuayip]

I would recommend you start with a reseller account. This account will enable you to learn more about taking care of your customers and servers, before the real dedicated server lands on your lap. There are more technical things which you have to be familiar with before jumping into a high maintenance server.

Just 2 cents

Joshua

[123x]

Yeah starts with a reseller account always try to find real good provider that is reputable and has a long history with web hosting.

[Brand X]

IMHO
Start small and go big.
Most companies will let you upgrade instantly, but some will charge you a one time fee for downgrading.

[ORiN]

I would recommend starting small since the market is so saturated. It is better to test the market before spending money on a dedicated server.

[poolking]

I don't think he'll be replying to this thread as his account appears to be disabled.