Advice Needed for Starting a Hosting Service

What do I need?

[phparion]

hi
i own a web development company now i want to start hosting services too but i am fairly newbie to this thats why please guide me how can i start hosting services? is it better to buy my own servers (UML) or to use Resellers plans? how much would it cost if i start my own hosting company? what would i need for this? do i have to create all the control panel and scripts normally avaliable from hosts or i can find them readymade somewhere specially if i can get a GPL control panel for clients..

thanks in advance

[kenearl]

I'm just starting out in web developnent and have a friend with a reseller account who handles my site hosting for my customers. My next step is getting my own reseller account, I think that would be best for you--it should come with a ready to use master control panel, for creating your customers' accounts. You can offer your customers their own CP if desired.
Having your own server is a big responsibility, you practically need to go to school to learn how to keep it running and deal with problems quickly when they arise.
With a reseller account, someone else is handling that part.

[abbeyvet]

My advice would be this. Start out with a reseller account at the best provider you can find, preferably one who also does dedicated servers. See how that goes secure in the knowledge that if it goes well you can upgrade within the same company.

Unless you want to be a full time server admin, make sure you are getting an account/server with a control panel and all other essential stuff preinstalled and that you have good, knowledgeable 24/7 telephone support. It is one thing to skimp on these things if you are just hosting your own sites, if you are hosting other people's and are not up to speed on server admin you owe it to them to have good support in place.

That will not necessarily be the cheapest way to do it, but you will sleep easy at night and when something goes wrong will not have a client screaming at you on the phone while you wait ... and wait ... and wait for an email from tech support.

[Leosghost]

If you are going to resell also look at how many sites are hosted off of the server that you are keeping your reselling account on ..and what each site is actually doing ..that way you wont get caught on a server that has hundreds of sites on it or sites that are running hacker boards /IRC and /or warez etc ( fastest way to get your servers trashed /owned by groups ) who usualy know more about server admin than your tech support and have more time to spend issuing challenges to "take down my site/server" ..

This can be very embarassing to someone selling hosting accounts ;)..as can using servers who have other customers using massive CPU ressources or who that think cron jobs can be started every 5 minutes ..or that guest books are cute on 2 year old versions of apache ..

Check also in case the servers are on blacklists for spam ..

[phparion]

hmm, nice discussion, however what should i conclude?

1 - reseller OR
2 - own machines

?

[kenearl]

If you don't have experience with administering a server at the top level, then you should go with a reseller account. If you do have experience, a Virtual Private Server would be a lot cheaper than a "real" dedicated server, and work just as well if you get the right plan.

[digitalbrain]

There are many companies offerering bulk webspace and bandwidth for cheap at wholesale rates .
Buy it , design some nice frontpage, a good payment gateway and a 24 hours customer support will get you the best.
Many hosts have bought such and have started plans as low as $0.5 per month for 20mb websites for unlimited traffic and unltd email