I am starting up a company (well currently freelancing) - and was wondering what you guys think is the right way forward. I am developing most sites in php+mysql. Some need ecommerce, some dont. I was wondering what the best solution would be in terms of hosting. Should I buy a dedicated server and put all the clients there? In terms of the code that I write - how can I protect it? Do I give the client copyright over the code or do I retain that? If so how do I tell this to the client without them thinking "oh sh*t he's trying to con us" (happened to a friend of mine in the past with a client). In terms of ecommerce now. If I say to a client i'll build them an ecommerce website - what would be MY options in building it for them? Again should I buy a reseller package? As you can see, I have limited knowledge of the business aspects of a startup (as im more of a design/tech guy!) - so im sure some of these questions are pretty general - but any help would be much appreciated!
Purchase a good reseller web hosting account Define what your target market is and begin to advertise and market your services Use a good accounting software packages to keep track of your customer invoices and record payments received (Good free one) Open up a business bank account Get a PayPal account Get a 800 number to look more professional Have a professional website with your own domain Use professional e-mail (Example: ) Just some off the top of my head
I have had most success working with people I know. I got hooked up with a tech savvy realestate/engineer guy. (Yeah, I know, bizzare niche) ... we ended up doing a JV after he paid me for a few gigs. Protecting code ... I gave up on that for about 90% of it and just started using and promoting open source and charging for my time and support. With ecommerce you have ZenCart and several dozen other open source options ... clients are paying for a solution not a code base... There's an old joke about a guy who hired someone to fix an old boiler. The repairman walked in looked at if for a second and hit it with a hammer. The repairman charged him $10000. THe client said, "That's outrageous all you did was hit it with a hammer!" The repairman said, "Hitting with the hammer was only $1"... "the other $9999 was for knowing exactly where and how hard to hit it." (I remembered that joke with dread when an AC repairman came to my house, hit my compressor and it started right up...) That's kind of the open source business model, You're being paid for your expertise not the code. I'd agree about getting a resellers account. There are dozens. I use hostgator.
You probably don't need a dedi. Instead get a good reseller account and host all your customers there
wOw... Dizmatic and BDazzler you really did enlighten me today. And BDazzler you really inspired me about that joke, I will surely plant that in my head and hope I can make it grow I don't mean to bump this thread but I was just so amaze of the advice you just did gave. If I am djkkenny surely I will be very happy having those advices. And djkkenny for my 2 cents I advice you to get a host gator reseller account for they have good up time and good support. I would say "managed". And also I am very sure that they also have what you need. And if you like some one here in DP, I suggest iWhic for he has a very good reputation here in giving good services related to hosting. And good luck....
Yes you need to have a fully dedicated server specially for your client This will make your service professional
A dedicated server is certainly much better then going with a reseller package. The only issue is signing up enough clients to justify the expense of the dedi. If you only expect to have a handful of clients then your best bet is to go with a reseller. As someone else already said most clients really only care about the end result. They don't care if it comes from an open source script as long as it gives them what they want. If they want a custom script they'll ask for it up front. Then you can charge a premium for it.