I'm thinking of starting a web hosting business with my own equipment. Starting with one server, and working my way up. I would like to run this from home, I am wondering what I would need. So far I think I need: A High Quality Server (I'll build it) Static IP Address Fast Internet (How fast?) cPanel/WHM Website & Advertising Payment Processor Firewall So far the investment to get it started will be about 2 grand. I personally think it would be a great investment to make. Any words from the wise? Thanks!
You need to start thingking of. 1. resseler services. or 2. VPS/dedicated. For above that you said its good. But actually its just back to what you need. Every bussiness need money to invest @ the first. But for me, i would be thing for VPS/Dedicated @ first. Thats all must be from a good company. I hope its usefull for you.
if your new to Webhosting, you might be better off renting a nice VPS with Cpanel/WHM. will save you alot of hassle if your new to this, also if you get your own dedicated box. you will need to know how to load software on it and fix any problems that could arise, and since your using Cpanel, you iwll be using Linux. so you iwll need to know a good understanding of that too. just my advise and "words of the wise" best of luck!
You will need vps or dedicated server and billing management system script same whmcs or clientexec and nice design.
Thanks! I'm very computer literate and have used Linux operating systems frequently. The issue with renting a VPS is they cost more than it seems possible to get a profit from.
Not to say its impossible to host it at your home. But in customer point of view,they will not go with such company due to several reason mainly due to limited bandwidth issue and security issue.
Personally since I'm certified in network and computer administration I can't really see a security issue with me hosting the server =p Anyway, with hostgator as an example. You get 24GB for $25. For a decent price of $5 a month for 5GB... you wouldn't even break even.
You need alot of guts to get that started. Hosting is a brutal business with companies undercutting each other on price almost daily. It's hard for a new comer to compete with all the big companies such as Hostgator as so on who have litreally hundreds of thousands of clients and can afford to make money on the mass number where you are going to have to charge alot more to break even. On top of that they'll have full time staff answering support and affiliate managers making sure they're selling their accounts. If you want to compete with that Kudos, but make sure you have a very specific niche and go out there marketing strong!
It is all about providing something no one else does, and providing it (and everything else) at a high quality.
It's cheaper, professional and better to go for cheap reseller web hosting which provides WHMCS. It's to complicated to install it at your home.
One thing I would never do... never host it in your own house. Find a facility close to you that you can colocate at or go abroad and do remote stuff with a KVM over IP line. Oh and don't forget a SSL certificate. You want your client's info secure.
If you want to keep expenses down at the beginning your best bet would be to buy a Reseller account from a reliable host or a vps server. When the time is right, make the switch. Please don't offer unlimited packages, too many hosts think It = $$$
Yes as Stroh mentioned about SSL, make a point of adding SSL to your billing system. I am sure Godaddy are selling SSL Certs @ $8/9 Assure your clients that there data is safe
You will need lot more than what you think and have listed here. Redundant power spply Redundant Connectivity (BGP) Lots of IPs Redundant Cooling Firewall/Routers/Racks/Raised Flooring Backup System Support Staff And what not Those million dollar data centers are not there just for nothing. If you calculate the investment involved in setting up the whole facility just for one server, you will see it is better to rent a server from a reputed DC or colo your server with them. Technically you may be sound as you said, but running a business needs lot more than that. Visit http://www.webhostingtalk.com and see what is going around in the hosting world.
collocate. one of the funniest things I see is some web hosting providers that offer dedicated hosting, but the people that host them offer cheaper prices.
The things you will need to invest in if just starting off is finding a reliable hosting company. Buy a Reseller Account or VPS Get a nice website designed Stuff like Redundant power supply's are really good to have but you are starting off.... You want to keep a budget. BGP Connectivity is provided by the Transit (don't really need to worry unless you are buying a rack or colocating your server)
I will try out a reseller account as suggested by everyone. Thanks for the advice guys! I'll start at reseller, work my way up to VPS and go on from there. Thanks!
Congratulations, that's a wise decision. Try to get a reseller account that allows overselling. That way you will be able to sell more than what you have.