It will be helpful if you could offer some details.

1. If you web app is a shareware then make sure it's well protected(Obfuscated).
If you app uses database connections then make sure that the code is quite sure so no one can inject spam.

2. What you really need is : pro programmers, security experts and of course patience.

3. Most people use paypal but i advice you to give choices like paypal, 2checkout, bitcoin and etc.

4. Useally if you have about 100-200 customers stick to ARVIXE Vps and buy a incapsula subscription(DDos protection) else if you have more get a dedicated server from HIVELOCITY or BLACK LOTUS.

5. Make sure that you keep the pricing low and customer support high.

If you require any more help just PM me.

Great advice.

As stated there are several routes to take.

I'm running two basic setups.

1. Private Server
SoftLayer.com linux server: $299.00
Easy Server Maintenance Management EZSM.com technical support $99.00
cPanel
2CheckOut.com
PayPal.com

On this private server we're running Joomla based template websites, php custom, ColdFusion custom, html custom websites.

EZSM helps to secure the server and slam spam. Well worth the $99 per month to have linux experts on call 24/7.

For 11 years we've collected monthly hosting fee via 2CheckOut.com and PayPal.

2CheckOut.com is used twice as much as PayPal. My guess is these people are mainly photographers who put the hosting fees on their credit cards making it easy to deduct as a business expense (as compared to keeping track of PayPal expenses). PayPal is just another thing for them to worry about - wondering if they have money in their PayPal accounts.

Issue for us is keeping track of two separate money processes - 2CheckOut and PayPal.

PayPal "Instant Payment Notification" (IPN) can be a pain to figure out, but once in place works great. 2CheckOut.com's IPN has trouble with non-php based applications.


2. Heroku

We use heroku for several Rails applications. Basically for free.
Amazon Simple Storage Solutions for image uploading (pennies per month)
Mandrill (MailChimp) for email services (12,000 emails per month free)
PayPal only.

With heroku you can run a simple fully functioning app for under $10 per month.

Should it grow, Heroku will grow with you.

We are only using PayPal as the money processor. Because these clients on Heroku are Internet marketers and affiliates. They receive their commissions via PayPal. Having one payment processor to track and develop for is a much better solution if you can do it.


A word of advice. Purchase

If you can purchase an existing app that does 80% of what you want, then buy it. Get it online and modify it to your customers.

If you try and get an app ready from scratch, it will take a monumental efforts to get it ready and online. Development is not simple - ideas changes - wants chage. And if you have several people making decisions, you are going to have personalities issues to deal with. Money gets sucked into oblivion.

Ready made stuff checkout

Open Source Rails

Joomla.com
Home - Joomla! Extensions Directory


Custom App Advise:

Go with a Rails app (RubyOnRails). It will be much faster to get working and online. Use heroku for your server platform.

Checkout:

RailsCasts.com
RailsTutorial.org

Developers:

Sortfolio.com

PM me if you have further questions. I do not do custom development, so this is not a pitch for work. Just trying to help.

I think you need to talk one-on-one to an app developer before you go any further.

Again try Sortfolio

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