-
Step 1
Research backbone web-hosting providers online. Backbone providers are the large companies that own and manage web servers. Visit Tophosts for a list of backbone providers. Look at their hosting packages, including price and space allocations, server speed, reliability, how long they have been in business and value-added features like telephone customer support. Stay away from providers that don’t offer a 99 percent up-time guarantee. (See Resources for additional information.)
-
Step 2
Visit web-hosting forums like Web Hosting Talk and Web Hosting Chat. Read the reviews and comments posted by other web host providers. Be wary of excessive praise of any company: Employees of that company could have posted these to drum up business. (See Resources for additional information.)
-
Step 3
Select a few web host providers and test their customer support. You will have a great need for their support department when you start your web-hosting business. Call their toll-free number and send them email messages to test their response efficiency. Narrow down your choice. Ask for websites they currently host and visit those websites to determine their server loading speed.
-
Step 4
Sign up for a reseller account with the web host provider of your choice. If funding is a nonissue, sign up for a Co-Location or Virtual Private Server (VPS), or Dedicated Server account. You get better speed and quality of service for your clients with VPS hosting packages than with reseller packages. Dedicated Server packages are best, but they are more expensive and require you to provide your server management. Note the username and password from your provider; you need them to access your account. Sign up to accept credit-card payments or register with credit card aggregators like PayPal that charge no monthly fees. This could save you a bundle. (See Resources for additional information.)
-
Step 5
Build a website for your web-hosting business. Your web host provider may have free template packages; you merely plug in your business information to create a website. You can also hire a professional web developer to build a site for you.
-
Step 6
With your website up, tell everyone about your business. Post information in web hosting forums and chat rooms to announce your new business. Sign up new customers.
