As a web developer or designer, you have likely come across the phrase ‘reseller hosting’ in your line of work. When you complete your client’s project, their typical next step is to seek out a hosting provider, whether this is a reseller plan or otherwise. What exactly is reseller hosting, and how can you get into this sort of business? We will be discussing the steps involved and the various pros and cons of this intriguing industry.
Reseller Hosting Explained
Web hosting is essential for every site that is live on the internet. A website needs a place to store all its files, which is where the hosting provider comes in. The host provides the server space and resources such as bandwidth and storage space. When a visitor types the domain name of your site into a browser, the files will transmit onto their computer. This allows the visitor to access all the content on your website.
Reseller hosting is when you have a hosting plan with a provider, but then you divide up the server space and resources into smaller packages. Then you rent out these hosting packages to your clients. Another version of reseller hosting is when you simply rent out bandwidth or disk space without an official package.
How to Get Started – Choose Hosting Plan
To get started with a reseller hosting business, you will need to narrow down which plan will work for you. One of the things you should do is to make sure you use the #1 best hosting for resellers. This includes looking for features such as the following:
- cPanel – You will be responsible for monitoring several different hosting accounts, depending on how many clients you have. Having access to a control panel for your hosting accounts will make simple tasks much easier. You can change passwords or add and delete email addresses without having to contact your provider.
- High uptime – Your clients will be relying on you to provide them with a reliable service. If their website is going down too frequently, this will cause them to leave you for a new provider. Check out the uptime offered in the hosting plan that you are considering. An uptime of at least 99.90% is the minimum requirement, but ideally, try to find one that offers 99.99%.
- White label hosting – Some hosting plans allow you to put your customized label on the service so that clients recognize you as being the original provider. This is what people refer to as white-label hosting. Having your customized brand will promote your own business, rather than simply using a big-name provider’s name.
Pros of Reseller Hosting
One of the major pros of getting into reseller hosting is that it has low start-up costs. You are not responsible for buying the computer technology or high-powered servers, as your provider will have those for you. The only major cost that you will have to consider is the price of the hosting plan. You won’t necessarily be choosing the cheapest one, as you need to make sure the plan has enough features and space to satisfy your clients.
Another pro is that if you already work in the field of web design or development, you have a good understanding of the software and terminology. It will be easy for you to incorporate a reseller business, as you can just add it to the services you already provide. Your web development clients will be happy to see that you offer to host as well, as they can get all the services they need in one place.
Cons of Reseller Hosting
A con of reseller hosting is that your service is dependant on your original provider. If you choose a provider who isn’t reliable, you might find that your clients’ websites are frequently going down. In this case, the client is going to lose faith in you and may decide to leave.
Another con is that you are entirely responsible for the customer service aspect. If the server goes down, you are the middleman between the provider and your clients. You need to report the issue to the provider and then report back to your clients with frequent updates. You will also need to be on hand in case your client has questions about anything. If you gave them a 24/7 guarantee, then you will always need to respond quickly, including on holidays and at night.
Final Word
Reseller hosting is a great way to earn some extra income. If you already have the general knowledge of the field, you will not have much trouble expanding your business to incorporate reseller hosting. Keep in mind that there are low barriers to entry into the field, but it can be difficult to maintain a consistently high rate of performance once you are in.