reseller recommendations for a small-time designer/developer?

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Posted by theoldtimes, 08-24-2009, 07:01 PM
Hi everybody, Like the title suggests, Im an independent designer and developer dealing with only a few clients at a time. Ive noticed with recent clients that they often use slow or unreliable hosting, or they are overpaying/paying for features they dont use. More importantly, if clients dont know much or cant give me information about their site, or if customer support is slow to respond for administrative issues, it takes away from my time. So ive been considering offering my clients hosting as well. Im looking to get some suggestions for fast and reliable hosts with reseller packages, and i'd like to hear some experiences from those in similar situations. I feel like this may not be worth the trouble. My clients usually dont need lots of space or bandwidth. Most sites are static. The rest are simply mysql + php. again, just want speed and reliability. Clients usually already have a domain with their current host, so I would also like to be able to sell or renew domains. I expect to start small, so i have an initial budget of about $20 a mo. Some have suggested that really cheap reseller packages from companies that oversell and/or offer 'unlimited' plans for cheap might be okay since im dealing with only a few clients. The idea being that i can upgrade or switch in the future if the situation arises. Is this really a good way to go? Im not an expert when it comes to administration, so im hoping to find someone who can provide end-user support. This also brings about the question: how practical is this? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Posted by bdnero, 08-24-2009, 07:07 PM
You may check JPC reseller hosting plan- http://www.jaguarpc.com/reseller-hosting/ It will cost $19.97/ month
Posted by rv_irl, 08-24-2009, 07:28 PM
No, that isn't a good way to go. You want to create a solid foundation right from the start. Since hosting will be as part of the service you are providing, unexpected downtime for your client would ultimately affect the reputation of your entire business, not just the hosting side. Start with a reliable provider from the get go, you'll then be able to concentrate on boosting your sales and marketing your product rather than host hopping or worrying if you're site is up or down. Regardless of how small or big the client, nobody likes downtime. So don't compromise quality, under any circumstance.. The saying "You get what you pay for" is particularly true in the hosting industry. This depends who you decide to go with that delivers end user support. Many companies now offer end user support without actually properly considering the future implications or even taking it seriously. Many don't even have a suitable infrastructure to deliver the support properly. Remember, with end user support, the hosting company will be acting under your brand, so the image they project and the quality of their service will have a direct impact on your reputation. You would want an established host with an excellent track record to back it up. Good luck on your search and let us know how you get on
Posted by GORF, 08-24-2009, 08:12 PM
Check out Hostdime They own/run the data center - they are not a reseller of a reseller.... 24/7 tech support by phone I have been using them for over 5 years and have 2 reseller accounts with them.
Posted by Moxie Maxwell, 08-24-2009, 08:15 PM
Rameen, good call on the Foundation from the start and make sure they have good support. I typically look to see if they have phone number also, just in case something goes wrong. 1 way to interview hosting companies is to submit a new support ticket or send them an email to see how fast they respond
Posted by HostDime, 08-24-2009, 08:17 PM
We appreciate your trust and business!
Posted by Collabora, 08-24-2009, 08:31 PM
Are these existing clients? If you are managing their hosting and including hosting with design fees maybe just a multi-domain plan will suffice?
Posted by ItsJustHosting, 08-24-2009, 10:07 PM
I think it's a great idea. As a designer your clients will end up needing hosting, and if you sell it to them they will likely go with you to avoid the confusion and because they trust you. But this does require a good solid foundation, as transferring resellers is not always easy. If you want more personal support, you are better off looking at the small-medium sized companies, rather than the super-big ones. Many such companies would be happy to work with you. You may also want to try their support and service for a month or so before beginning to resell their hosting to your clients, just to make sure their service and support is up to where you need it.
Posted by miguelash, 08-24-2009, 10:51 PM
I'm in a very similar situation and I've used iPower's reseller program . They have different plans (a bigger offer for resellers than what they offer when buying directly from them), so you can offer several options to your customers. They also have good customer service and I don't have any complain. I host 10 websites with static webpages and some of them have dynamic content. One of them is used for the daily operation of my client and he has no complains so far. Hope this helps. Mike
Posted by D3acon, 08-25-2009, 12:10 PM
Does anyone have experience of 3ix reseller hosting? They offer at least pretty fair pricing.
Posted by domaincart, 08-25-2009, 02:24 PM
Surpasshosting can be one of the best choices for you. Their plans start from $20/month. Their support response time is about 30 minutes in average. The uptime of the servers are good. I recommend them as your budget.
Posted by Dave W, 08-25-2009, 02:58 PM
What you might want to do is partner with a host so that you dont have to deal with the issues of running a hosting business.
Posted by trustedurl.com, 08-25-2009, 03:25 PM
Hi Sounds like a reasonable setup; do you have a maintenance contract with your clients? If so, you might want to make the hosting part of it. What exactly do you perceive to be "the trouble"? Alternatively, why not partner with a good host or refer your clients to them. I would suggest you talk to other designers, see what they are doing. Think about this: if it's unlimited, what would you upgrade to? I would go with a company that offers realistic pricing and good performance; unlimited diskspace isn't realistic. There are a few reseller packages that offer this; but, why not simply use an affiliate program and buy the shared hosting for your clients?
Posted by zaindhanani, 08-26-2009, 12:38 AM
Hello, I'm doing a similar thing. I went with HostGator's 25/mo plan. Host Gator provides excellend support IMO, check them out. Thanks, Zain Dhanani
Posted by 10gbus, 08-26-2009, 12:40 AM
Hostgator provides reseller hosting, but your budget seems low.
Posted by primeworldhosts, 08-26-2009, 12:49 PM
Try Innohosting or Host Gator..
Posted by RedoNet, 09-01-2009, 12:24 AM
Hi, It would be better if you choose the reseller hosting package from the company which can provide: 24x7 Live Chat Support to you & your clients. domain reseller account by which you can register & renew domains. You didnt provide the desired location from where you required reseller hosting package?