If you are considering opening a web hosting company, and you are confused about how to begin weighing your options, then this article is for you. The decision to start a web hosting company can definitely pay off for you as there are thousands of web sites starting up each day, and each of those sites requires a web host. If you already provide web site design, and are looking at branching off, or if you are starting the business from scratch, these basic questions should give you a solid foundation to begin your more detailed business plan.
Among the first decisions to make is a choice of platform. If you are somewhat familiar with basic web hosting or if you have a personal web page, you may be familiar with single page hosting. The more complicated a web site gets, the greater the need for application development platforms. These platforms include PHP, Java, ColdFusion and others. If you are familiar with any of these platforms, you should probably go with what you are familiar with. If you are not familiar, you should spend a little time reviewing the pros and cons associated with each platform before you decide to start any of them.
What are the best control panels to offer? Web sites are becoming increasingly complicated, and if you are to succeed in this business, you need to offer cutting edge control panels. These control panels allow the customer to manage the web hosting services you provide them in a single place. There are literally dozens of control panels available to you, and you should spend some time reviewing some of them before making your decision. Many web sites offer detailed comparisons on each control panel and offer user forums where people can offer reviews and stories on how control panels have worked for them.
Should I choose a re-seller? In the beginning, you may want to look into a re-seller. This type of company uses your web space and bandwidth with their existing clients. This type of arrangement may allow you to seek out customers while not wasting your available bandwidth and drive space during the time you are starting up your company.
How should I price my services? This question is far more complicated than you might realize. In fact, large companies employ scores of people whose whole job it is to set price points for their products. The easiest answer to this question? Cheat. Review the pricing on other web hosting companies and figure out if you can meet or beat those prices. Given the fact that you will be breaking into a highly competitive market, you only option may be to underbid established companies. Offer introductory rates and calculate your overhead to ensure you will not lose money by taking on a client.
These questions should help you gather the basic knowledge you need to make an informed decision on whether or not you should start a web hosting business. Once you have figured out the answers to these questions you will be in a much better position to get your company up and running.