Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Selling hosting...

[techar]

I would like to know what the process is for selling hosting...

do i get hosting then sell it, or do i just get my own server and then sell it...keeping in mind, that i do not really have the technical expertise...

i want to start locally in my country then expand later on...

any advice guys...thanks

[xnet]

if you have no tech experience, the best option would probably be to start as a reseller.

[techar]

thanks....

so i sign up as a reseller plan...how much profit is in it....

its good for a start too....

[perpetual]

profit depends on your markup/margin, your effort and how well you sell yourself. Later, when you get your first few customers, it will depend also on your service, reliability and ability to build and sustain a good reputation. simple really

[avara]

There are many factors and costs assosiated with running a web hosting business, and unless you are prepared to dedicated a large chunk of your life to it, I would not recommend doing it. To start off with: research, research and research.

After that, it's important to write a business plan. Even if you're going to simply resell accounts, a business plan is vital as it will give you an overview over how you will run your business.

And bear in mind that costs include: servers, employees/your own time, credit card processing and fraud related costs, hardware upgrades, advertising, and so on. This is not a get rich quick scheme (like a lot of people seem to think)...

[xnet]

agreed... I originally thought of opening a hosting company in september .. but I realized that I needed to research a lot more and work on my business plan.

I hope to open sometime next week after working on it for almost the past month.

If you decide to become a reseller, I wish all the luck to you

[Relyc]

Planning is definatley key to survival as a host, we had the groudwork clearly layed out before we launched and so far it's been going good.

[Martie]

TOTALLY agree with avara
Go for a nice reseller plan first and build up to your own server.
This way if you are not happy in the business you are not out too much overhead costs...
good luck

[techar]

thanks guys...

u guys are rite, i wanna do a lotta research, a lotta reading...then search for a lotta good reselling plans...then arrange some money, do a breif business plan...i dont work on business plans, as it is only there for an overview, and most likely sticking to my business plan will mean i will be restricted, i am someone who doesnt wait around to change something, if change is needed, i bring it in real quick..so i will make a breif business plan...arrange funding...i have some people who can help me out...then make a website, do the billing process...and mainly concentrate on marketing rather than support...i know u guys must be sayin, is this guy crazy...well if microsoft didnt concentrate on marketing and sales, then they would be no where...

ofcourse i will provide support to the best of my ability, but without marketing and good sales plan, forget about support cuz i wont even have customers...

thanks guys...any replies to this post....or anything else i have to add before starting a hosting business....