The Ins and Outs of Reseller Web Hosting

Articles on Hosting | Topics: hosting, web, host

by Joaquin Ingram

Web hosting can be a difficult thing to get into. Not only do you have to have a solid base of knowledge, but you also need to shoulder a large portion of money just to get started. Like any business, web hosting requires a large investment. It doesn't have to be like this though. That's where reseller web hosting comes into play. No long will you have to pony up $10 000 just to get started – you'll be able to get started almost immediately, and with a comparatively small investment.

Who are reseller web hosts, and what do they do? Resellers are independent web hosting providers who sell someone else's resources as their own. Essentially, what they do is they team up with a much larger web server provider, and pay just to use that server. They then are free to rent out space on that server to whoever needs it. Each reseller gets his or her own admin control panel. This allows them all the power they need to create a unique experience. They can modify hosting plans; provide all sorts of customer support, as well as the other more mundane administrative tasks.

What are some of the advantages of being a reseller? To start with, reseller's are able to create multiple domains to host. The main difference between a server owner and a reseller are the maintenance costs. The server owner has to plan for security patches, and worry about uptime, while the reseller simply has to provide customer service. Essentially the reseller will not need to deal with any of the hardware they are selling space on – that's the job of the server provider. This unique distinction allows resellers to concentrate their efforts on selling and marketing their services, rather than worrying about the behind the scenes aspects of web hosting. Resellers are able to set their own pricing plan, so the chances to make money in this field are almost unlimited – if you provide solid customer service, of course. Most resellers are able to do this, thanks to all the time they don't have to worry about hardware performance.

Historical Quote

With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.

—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

If those are the things a reseller is not responsible for, then what are they responsible for? To start with, resellers are responsible for any general support to their customers. If the customer has a problem with something that is unrelated to the hardware, then it is the reseller's responsibility to fix that problem, or risk losing the customer. Secondly, the reseller is responsible for creating the different types of hosting plans. This gives the reseller a lot more options rather than the monthly plan, as they can truly create anything they can imagine. However, resellers are also responsible for their billing. If a customer isn't paying when they should be, then it is the reseller's job to take care of the situation. Resellers are also responsible for marketing their services, as the server owner will not do that for them. The better the reseller is at marketing and providing customer service, the more money they're going to make. The server owner handles any type of hardware problem that comes up.

How in the world does something like reseller web hosting work? Essentially the reseller is renting a server from the server owner, and then renting it out to the customer. The customer is rarely aware that they are being resold, and usually doesn't even know that the person they're purchasing web space from doesn't own their own server. Because of this, reseller web hosting can be slightly more expensive to the end user. However, because of the higher price, there are some advantages for the end user. The first of these advantages is the fact that the customer is likely to get support a lot quicker. This is because the reseller doesn't deal with the hardware issues, so the customer will have the reseller's undivided attention. As soon as a problem comes up, the customer will have a solution. However, one of the main drawbacks is the fact that if there is a hardware problem, the reseller will be unable to fix it. If the company that the reseller is renting web space from goes belly up, so does the reseller. There may be a low investment involved on behalf of the reseller, but there is still plenty of risk. Unlike being a server owner, when you're a reseller you are not in complete control of your destiny.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "The Ins and Outs of Reseller Web Hosting" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by WebDesignConferencing.com.

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