Potential Reseller

[ChemSix]

First off I'd like to say I am very amazed at the amount of Positive reviews HostGator has received across the web. I've been lurking now for just over two weeks, researching, hitting up hundreds of websites including HG hosted sites and reseller sites, to get a feel for the level of service which everyone speaks so highly of.

Having paid for web hosting the past 10 years I have encountered all kinds of terrible hosts, even a Scammer certifiable by the FBI No Less. And been screwed countless times by all sorts of unscrupulous companies. lol..

Anyway,

I'm interested in obtaining a Reseller Package, after reading the forums here for over 8 hours straight (Bit of OCD) I have learned many things which I did not know. Therefore I'm interested in knowing what all I need upfront?

I've read posts talking about dedicated IP's, ASP add ons, SSL etc As a Reseller what are the essential services / products I need in addition to what I receive?

I'm not looking to be a huge host or anything but rather start out offering friends / site visitors an alternative to signing up for affiliate links. Any current Resellers or staff members know what I need to obtain to start off on the right foot?

I've read about obtaining Merchant Accounts but from my research those tend to become too much of a hassle and aren't really worth the time or money starting out.

Thanks in advance

[gwyneth]

With about 10 forum categories not visible until you sign up with HG, there's a lot more info in the reseller categories.

HG has a 45-day money back guarantee, so one option would be getting your reseller account and perusing the reseller stuff.

It's hard to say what you might need; the reseller accounts come with your choice of several management/billing packages.

At the same time, it helps to have reasonable expectations--periodically the forum (which I should stress is a peer support forum, not HG support) encounters someone who is shocked and disappointed that a reseller account plus two weeks plus no work doesn't equal a zillion bucks in the bank.

Essentially, an HG reseller account allows the accountholder to create multiple cPanel accounts with his/her share of the server. What you get out of it depends a lot on what you put into it.

[eLIANT]

If you're trying to learn what minimal additional services you must purchase to become a Reseller, the answer is "none."

However, you will have to:
- create new accounts manually,
- send out bills manually (or use something like Quickbooks), and
- track nonpayments and suspend accounts manually.

That's how I do it. But I don't want to sell to anyone I don't know and for whom I am not providing site development services. So new customers come in slow enough that I don't need the automation.

[ChemSix]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

With about 10 forum categories not visible until you sign up with HG, there's a lot more info in the reseller categories.

HG has a 45-day money back guarantee, so one option would be getting your reseller account and perusing the reseller stuff.

No Offense, but I'm not paying to create an account just to access additional reading material which may or may not sway me into Staying a member. This has to be a joke? LOL

It's hard to say what you might need; the reseller accounts come with your choice of several management/billing packages.

At the same time, it helps to have reasonable expectations--periodically the forum (which I should stress is a peer support forum, not HG support) encounters someone who is shocked and disappointed that a reseller account plus two weeks plus no work doesn't equal a zillion bucks in the bank.

Essentially, an HG reseller account allows the accountholder to create multiple cPanel accounts with his/her share of the server. What you get out of it depends a lot on what you put into it.

I understand this won't be a cake walk and in fact look forward to establishing a "Web Host Business". I LOVE challenges, however on the reseller page, I'm given the impression that what is stated, is exactly all I need to set up automation for taking orders on my site.

After painfully reading dozens of posts which had nothing to do with what I typed in the "Search" field. And clicking on too many links, I come to find out I need to setup a Payment processor, in addition a "Internet Gateway", among other things.

I came to "Peer Support" because I figured those who have been through the motions would be BEST to know what all I needed in order to accept payments and use what HG gives me properly. I guess not.


Essentially, HG is a Nintendo Game Console, and I must go through x Number of Middleman to obtain the Controller,Game,and other accessories just to properly USE it. Correct?

[striddy]

Originally Posted by ChemSix

... I'm interested in knowing what all I need upfront?

Hostgator reseller and dedicated server accounts contain hosting disk space and bandwidth, along with the other items advertised on their sales pages. As eLIANT posted, this is all you need to be able to offer such a product to a customer of yours.

How you choose to run or start running a business is something you should consult your business adviser / accountant / lawyer for assistance with to ensure you comply with your countries laws, taxes, etc.

A reseller or dedicated hosting account should be viewed as any other product you sell in your business. It may or may not be the only product that you sell, that's up to you.

Offering web hosting products for sale is totally different to affiliate links. Having affiliate links you essentially get paid for doing nothing other than initially signing up as an affiliate and displaying a link on a website / blog.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I've read about obtaining Merchant Accounts but from my research those tend to become too much of a hassle and aren't really worth the time or money starting out.

If getting a merchant account is "too much of a hassle", I wouldn't bother trying to be a reseller, nor bother starting a business at all. Stick with the affiliate links. Getting a merchant account is the least of your problems.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

No Offense, but I'm not paying to create an account just to access additional reading material which may or may not sway me into Staying a member. This has to be a joke?

Gwyneth simply meant that if you choose to get an account here, there is more information available. She wasn't suggesting you get an account so that you can get access to the forum.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I LOVE challenges, however on the reseller page, I'm given the impression that what is stated, is exactly all I need to set up automation for taking orders on my site.

It is. But if you mean can I purchase a HG hosting account and setup everything to be automatic so I can sit back and pocket the millions, then you are mistaken. You can automate to a point, but you are still running a business.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I came to "Peer Support" because I figured those who have been through the motions would be BEST to know what all I needed in order to accept payments and use what HG gives me properly. I guess not.

This is the third reply to your thread. Gwyneth, eLIANT and I have made some suggestions. What have we not answered?

Originally Posted by ChemSix

Essentially, HG is a Nintendo Game Console, and I must go through x Number of Middleman to obtain the Controller,Game,and other accessories just to properly USE it. Correct?

No, you running your business is the "console" and HG is one of the plugins or ancilliary products so that you have something to sell your customers.

[eLIANT]

Originally Posted by ChemSix

This has to be a joke?

These forums contain year's of conversations, questions/answers, issues. That information has value. Some is only of value to HG customers, but most of it has value to anyone using Linux/cPanel/WHM. Why should HostGator make that valuable information available to anyone but their own customers?

And why would we forum members want to address anything other than presales questions with someone who is not a HG customer?

No! It's not a joke.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I'm given the impression that what is stated, is exactly all I need to set up automation for taking orders on my site.

HG's Reseller Hosting page states,

We give you all the tools and support needed to have you up and running in just a few minutes time. All of our reseller hosting plans allow you to create unlimited web sites under your own packages, prices, and brand.

And this

All reseller accounts include WHMCS or WHMautopilot billing system to fully automate your billing needs.

So you can create accounts and automate the billing. Nowhere is there a claim that HG will automate your PAYMENT PROCESSING.

It's not a complete turn-key setup.

WHM is the software that creates accounts.
WHMCS or WHMAutopilot are your choices for billing - they interface with WHM to create accounts and begin the ongoing billing process.
*BUT* HG offers nothing to process your clients payments:
- if the send you a check, you have to record that manually in WHMCS;
- if they pay using PayPal, you'll need a PayPal account;
- if they pay by credit card, you'l need a CC processor (which is where the merchant account comes in)
- an SSL Certificate is not required, but many people will not priovide payment info over a nonsecure site.

Let me save you some time - if you want to become another one of the thousands of web hosting resellers who offer your customers nothing but cheap hosting, don't bother. You can't compete on price.

Perhaps if you give us an idea of what services you will be providing, we might be able to give some better guidance.

[ChemSix]

Thank you all for responding, especially eLiant.

Originally I just wanted to provide my clients with safe,secure and simple web hosting since a variety of them have shown an interest in my providing such service. I'm first and foremost an Security Consultant although I also repair computers and write guides / tutorials for members of my online community teaching them how to do pretty cool things.

I now, believe HG will not be able to suit me, because it appears HG is just all about the $$$ and I'm not. So thanks for your responses and sorry if I came across a bit strong there, but I only wanted a solution to my clients irk.

I just maxed out both my MasterCard and my VisaCard on purchasing high end performance Dell Servers, and will just setup my own host and provide my customers with FREE HOSTING. Money is of no object to me, only providing my clients with a non BS service and product they will truly appreciate,a reward for believing in me. My accountant will not like me on Monday, but thats ok.

I don't play games, and on this note good luck all I'm gone :P

[striddy]

How bizarre

[Chimpie]

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I just maxed out both my MasterCard and my VisaCard on purchasing high end performance Dell Servers, and will just setup my own host and provide my customers with FREE HOSTING. Money is of no object to me, only providing my clients with a non BS service and product they will truly appreciate,a reward for believing in me. My accountant will not like me on Monday, but thats ok.

I don't play games, and on this note good luck all I'm gone :P

You could have offered your customers free hosting as well and hosted them on HG's servers. http://www.chimpie.com/smilies/confused2.gif

Instead you spent (probably) thousands of dollars (IMO) needlessly. Yes, you're accountant will probably not like you.

[gwyneth]

I would like to explain to future readers of this thread that I was not suggesting the OP sign up just to read the other forum categories, but that after s/he signed up, there would be a lot more information about specific aspects of being an HG reseller.

If, with that info and the ability to post specific questions of his/her own, s/he would be able, effectively, to do a 45-day tryout to see if being a reseller would work out.

While my meaning was clear to Striddy and eLIANT, both HG and forum vets, I just want to ensure disambiguity for other prospects.

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I just maxed out both my MasterCard and my VisaCard on purchasing high end performance Dell Servers, and will just setup my own host and provide my customers with FREE HOSTING. Money is of no object to me, only providing my clients with a non BS service and product they will truly appreciate,a reward for believing in me. My accountant will not like me on Monday, but thats ok.

This is one for the lore.

Originally Posted by striddy

How bizarre

David, I don't know why your comment has made me laugh so much, but so far it's been a double dog-waker!

[skeetr]

Originally Posted by ChemSix

I just maxed out both my MasterCard and my VisaCard on purchasing high end performance Dell Servers, and will just setup my own host and provide my customers with FREE HOSTING. Money is of no object to me, only providing my clients with a non BS service and product they will truly appreciate,a reward for believing in me. My accountant will not like me on Monday, but thats ok.

I don't play games, and on this note good luck all I'm gone :P

Wonder where he is going to get all the bandwidth for those servers and all his customers who arent paying for the service.

I know for a fact that you need more than just a broadband connection and the price for T1 or T3 is pretty hefty. Co-location is always the preferred method when you own your own servers, but here in WA the cheapest I found was $1500 a month.

The only other oddity in this persons posts was that if money is no object, then why did he have to max 2 credit cards in order to get what he wanted?

Just sounds like he is playing a game.

Gwyneth, I dont see anything wrong with what you posted. No need for clarifications IMO.

[GatorChrisN]

There are a lot of colo options out there starting at about 150 bucks or so, but the issue is finding a place that will colo but also manage and provide support. Most colo providers assume you can fully admin your linux/server2k3/8 OS server and will not provide help since it's not their hardware. I really wouldn't recommend colocation to someone new to the hosting industry, but it can be a great learning experience for sure.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by skeetr

The only other oddity in this persons posts was that if money is no object, then why did he have to max 2 credit cards in order to get what he wanted?

skeetr, you've inverted the order (or the cause and effect)--his credit cards were maxed because money was no object.

Originally Posted by skeetr

Gwyneth, I dont see anything wrong with what you posted. No need for clarifications IMO.

Thanks, skeetr, and give that adorable son of yours a peace sign from me.

[skeetr]

Originally Posted by GatorChrisN

but the issue is finding a place that will colo but also manage and provide support.

So I WAS looking for the right service when I was getting those higher quotes then. I knew I couldnt and didnt want to manage the server on my own. Then I found hg and now I know that even when I need to go to a dedicated server, I dont need to worry about where my server is going to be.

I should also mention to future thread readers that HostGator staff _always_ has a username that starts with Gator, and their Avatar Icon will always be our logo with the word Staff underneath it.

[skeetr]

Originally Posted by GatorThomas

I should also mention to future thread readers that HostGator staff _always_ has a username that starts with Gator, and their Avatar Icon will always be our logo with the word Staff underneath it.

I am sorry Thomas....I have to ask.....why was this necessary in this post? With a staff member posting this, then it tells me that you think that peer support has failed in some way and that HG's reputation or name may have been hurt by something that has been said in this thread.

I have read and re-read this thread and in my opinion (quantify it as you like) there was nothing that could have been construed as harmful.

Just asking....not wanting to create a debate.