Need Input On Business Decision

3 replies
So, I have been pondering the idea of merging the rent-a-site model with web design and creating a hybrid model that would work like this :

Client pays a setup fee to have their website designed.

I buy a domain and host their completely designed site on the domain that I own.

I then charge the client monthly to host their site on that domain.

Should the client decide they want to stop paying monthly residuals, I will take their site down and send them the files, keeping the domain for myself and replacing it with another business (similar to the domain name ie 'plumber city').

The reason I have thought about this is that it encourages the site owner to stick with me, due to the fact that they have to go to the trouble of setting up a new domain and hosting for themselves and then hire someone to redo all the SEO.

All things considered, what do you guys believe the implications of this will be? Any big warning signs that come up?
#business #decision #input
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Sounds fair to me.

    Though your average business owner will NOT understand "sending them the files"...they think the website is what they see on the screen and that's it. No clue that there's a database behind it and it's transferable to another domain.

    So "You got some 'splaining to do!"
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    • Profile picture of the author rhj12345
      Not sure what your setup fee is, but I do the rent a site model with some clients. What you will find is your doing a complete website for the cost of a setup fee. And then they tell you pound sand.

      What I do is build the site for free, then they rent if from me every month. If they want the domain to own including the site and design they owe me $3000. Every year they wait it goes up by 10%.

      Every client I have done this with is still renting every month. This is what I want, I like the residual money, because most of them have gone to paying me to do AdWords also, including some offline direct marketing. I also do IT work so I have contacts to do that as well.

      Don't give anything away, your time is worth the money they pay.

      Hope this helps.

      Rob Jones
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    I agree with rhj12345. Sounds easier then hiding a policy in a contract, which is the only way I see a client agreeing to retain the content but not domain. Could be that I have had a few tell me to "pound sand" and am beach shy now!
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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