How exactly does a reseller account work?

by ckbank
4 replies
Do you charge as much per client as you want? If I am designing the website for the client, does he or she allow me to log in to the hosting account? How does the whole process work? I'm a bit confused, because the client first has to get a domain name. Then I would have to design the website for the client. How does he or she pay for the hosting? What are some things I need to get this started?
#account #reseller #work
  • Profile picture of the author Kingfish85
    Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

    Do you charge as much per client as you want? If I am designing the website for the client, does he or she allow me to log in to the hosting account? How does the whole process work? I'm a bit confused, because the client first has to get a domain name. Then I would have to design the website for the client. How does he or she pay for the hosting? What are some things I need to get this started?
    A reseller account is similar to a standard shared hosting account. The main difference is that you get a stripped down version of WHM (web host manager) where you can manage multiple cPanel accounts. You can create packages to assign those accounts to (space/bandwidth/addon limits etc).

    You'd need a billing system software such as WHMCS that can automatically create an account once the customer has signed up. There are a number of domain registrars that have WHMCS modules to allow a customer to purchase a domain through you. You do need to have a balance at the registrar though in order to make purchases. (typically like $100 deposit.)

    If you're not familiar with reselling hosting or supporting hosting accounts/troubleshooting them, I'd suggest going the affiliate/partner route.

    "you" will be the first line of support for your customers, not your parent hosting company. There are a few hosts to offer end user support, but I wouldn't want a 3rd party dealing with my customers.
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    • Profile picture of the author ckbank
      Originally Posted by Kingfish85 View Post

      A reseller account is similar to a standard shared hosting account. The main difference is that you get a stripped down version of WHM (web host manager) where you can manage multiple cPanel accounts. You can create packages to assign those accounts to (space/bandwidth/addon limits etc).

      You'd need a billing system software such as WHMCS that can automatically create an account once the customer has signed up. There are a number of domain registrars that have WHMCS modules to allow a customer to purchase a domain through you. You do need to have a balance at the registrar though in order to make purchases. (typically like $100 deposit.)

      If you're not familiar with reselling hosting or supporting hosting accounts/troubleshooting them, I'd suggest going the affiliate/partner route.

      "you" will be the first line of support for your customers, not your parent hosting company. There are a few hosts to offer end user support, but I wouldn't want a 3rd party dealing with my customers.
      Well, I want to offer free hosting to clients and I thought about the affiliate route, but a free web hosting would be considered an incentive and I don't think web hosting companies allow incentives. Any thoughts?
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      • Profile picture of the author Kingfish85
        Originally Posted by ckbank View Post

        Well, I want to offer free hosting to clients and I thought about the affiliate route, but a free web hosting would be considered an incentive and I don't think web hosting companies allow incentives. Any thoughts?
        Free hosting as in host your design clients for free, or offer free hosting to anyone who wants to sign up for free hosting. If you're thinking of offering free hosting to just anyone who signs up, I'd highly advise "against" it as 80% of "free hosting" signups are the type you don't want; typically abusers, spammers, scammers & illegal/pirated software.

        Offering free hosting in hopes they'll upgrade is also not a very good model - they'll most likely just jump to another free web host. Quality services & support costs money, and free doesn't cut it. The customers you'll get paying pennies on the dollar will end up costing you more in the long run in support and such since they typically expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. This is from my real experience, not just an opinion.
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        |~| High Performance CloudLinux & LiteSpeed Powered Web Hosting
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        • Profile picture of the author ckbank
          Originally Posted by Kingfish85 View Post

          Free hosting as in host your design clients for free, or offer free hosting to anyone who wants to sign up for free hosting. If you're thinking of offering free hosting to just anyone who signs up, I'd highly advise "against" it as 80% of "free hosting" signups are the type you don't want; typically abusers, spammers, scammers & illegal/pirated software.

          Offering free hosting in hopes they'll upgrade is also not a very good model - they'll most likely just jump to another free web host. Quality services & support costs money, and free doesn't cut it. The customers you'll get paying pennies on the dollar will end up costing you more in the long run in support and such since they typically expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. This is from my real experience, not just an opinion.
          Sorry. I meant to say free web design and affiliate hosting.
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