Hosting / Domain Help

[emmadesigns]

I am currently in the process of planning to go self employed and I plan on offering hosting via Reselling Hosting. However I could do with a few tips on this and Domain Registering as its always been a sticky topic for me. If i offer hosting would i need to register the domain for the client as well? And since it would be from my own account i assume the client would pay me monthly? I have heard of of web designers just doing everything from one initial payment but don’t they loose money from the yearly/monthly fees?

[Dave L]

I'd say it depends on what you want to offer and how flexible you want to be: there are lots of entirely valid ways to set up and bill for this sort of arrangement, I'd have thought.

[emmadesigns]

I want to be flexible but not loose money Ideally i would like to say to a client that I would sort out the domain and hosting for them but i am not sure how that gets paid for. Do they pay me monthly or yearly? Or is it a one off payment from them and i continue paying for the hosting and domains after? Or do i do it the simple way and offer hosting but they register and pay for their own domain? It would be good knowing what others do on this.

[Corrosive]

I want to be flexible but not loose money Ideally i would like to say to a client that I would sort out the domain and hosting for them but i am not sure how that gets paid for. Do they pay me monthly or yearly? Or is it a one off payment from them and i continue paying for the hosting and domains after? Or do i do it the simple way and offer hosting but they register and pay for their own domain? It would be good knowing what others do on this.

We provide hosting and then invoice for domains and hosting on a yearly basis.

[djb]

We provide hosting and then invoice for domains and hosting on a yearly basis.

Yep, same here.

[byronc]

i also resell but its really so I can manage a site for a client and offer an inclusive package.

ie i offer or one or two years free hosting and sometimes the domain as part of the web dev/design package.

luckliy I have a developer background so am ok with fiddling with servers and databases etc etc.

i prefer the client to buy their own domain though as they are so cheap and that way they can mange that themselves.

[Tony Hardy]

I'm using Vidahost, I buy all my clients domains/webspace etc through my account then they have an awesome 'push' service, that lets me push the site to my client.

Pretty nifty.

[emmadesigns]

Thank you for your replies. Its always so tricky when your starting on your own for the first time. I don’t think ill offer domain names just yet but I am a little stuck as to what to to in terms of hosting. I would like to offer hosting via reseller hosting but its a lot of money to spend before you have a client base. However not offering hosting doesn't look as attractive. What is the best thing to do when starting out? I am currently on 123 Reg (which i love) and they have recommended Web hosting reseller | Hosting reseller | Resellers

[emmadesigns]

I'm using Vidahost, I buy all my clients domains/webspace etc through my account then they have an awesome 'push' service, that lets me push the site to my client.

Pretty nifty.

Vidahost looks like a good starting point. Although 25 accounts is low it give me space to get started rather then pay for unlimited before the wheels are turning.

[djb]

Hi Emma

Not sure if you’ve set yourself up yet but thought I’d be a bit cheeky and put a referral code on here for Vidahosting. The code DJBHOSTING will get you 10% off (and will get me a couple of quid), but this is actually quite a neat thing they do. You can set up an affiliate account and then give out these codes to any clients who insist on setting up their own webspace. The client gets a discount and you still get a little cut of the proceeds without any of the hassle of setting up their hosting. Win win!