Reseller vs. "unlimited" Hosting

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Posted by lockon, 04-16-2006, 03:54 PM
Hi, I am a consultant who builds web sites as part of the services I offer to my clients. I currently use a hosting company that is going out of business but I have been using them for more than seven years. A lot has changed in seven years. Basically, my question is: Is there any reason I need a reseller account? It looks to me like the unlimited domain hosting accounts that most hosting providers have will do what I want: -Hosting -PHP and Perl -Email accounts for each domain (e.g. joe@abc.com and bob@xyz.com) I DO NOT sell hosting services per-se - in other words I don't sell my clients 5G space/20GB xfer, etc, etc. I just sell them a finished web site with a couple of email addresses and they never access the server on their own. At least one provider told me that I *have* to buy a reseller account if I'm going to create web sites for other people... but that makes no sense to me because what individual can make use of unlimited domains for themselves?!?! I can see that most reseller accounts provide control panels for each domain and some other features, but I don't think I need those. Thanks Sunil
Posted by nax9, 04-16-2006, 04:27 PM
It depends...in GENERAL, most shared hosting accounts are much more oversold than reseller accounts. Also, you lose abit of "control" with multi-domain hosting (i.e lack of individual control panels), as well, I don't think shared hosting providers give you private nameservers/private label. But, if your clients won't need any control panels, and you think a completely shared hosting account can handle it, then by all means, go for it.
Posted by StackHost, 04-16-2006, 04:44 PM
Either solution will work for your needs. You may want to go with a reseller account, but it is not necessary. Let us know how it goes.
Posted by mjb-is, 04-16-2006, 04:49 PM
Most hosting companies will specify that typical user account is NOT to be used to host 3rd party sites or provide hosting services, but to be used directly by the account owner for their own sites only. They may have a multi-domain user account that CAN be used in this way but check their T&C's first. Even though you are providing hosting of the site as part of your package, do remember that different clients will have vastly different needs. For example, you might have one user using 1Gb diskspace and 40Gb data transfer per month. Would you charge them the same for hosting as another client that only uses 50Mb and 1Gb transfer? A Reseller account gives you much more that just the ability to provide Control Panels to clients. A Reseller normally provides client management tools, such as reports and notifications for diskspace and transfer etc. We have some clients on multi-domain 'Enterprise/Developer' packages that we pitch specifically for those that decide they don't need Reseller plans. In the past we have had them ask about reporting etc and had to explain that this is all part of the client management that comes with a full Reseller plan. You may also have a more web savvy client come back at a later date and ask for direct access to manage their email, databases or FTP etc. With A reseller account you would have contingency to cover that, even if you don't provide the client panel login details by default. IN short, you get a lot more flexibility with a true reseller account over an end user multi-domain account, regardless of whether it's pitched as unlimited domains.
Posted by GigabitONE, 04-16-2006, 05:19 PM
actually reseller account is better you can have a client panel for them to manage their email or account ...
Posted by wonderpoint, 04-17-2006, 04:40 AM
I would recommend you going for a reseller account for two reasons. 1. Reseller accounts offer you more control. You can have separate control panels for each website, suspend/terminate/create accounts without affecting other client accounts. Track each site's usage is an easy manner. 2. Many webhosting companies will not allow you to resell webspace/bandwidth with a shared account.
Posted by Trophimus, 04-17-2006, 09:23 AM
Reseller accounts are mainly used if you plan to start your own web hosting company. For example, if you wanted to offer your design clients, then that would be best for you. You would be able to supply your clients with there very own control panel to manage there websites themselves. An unlimited shared hosting account just allows you a large amount of space for your own website. You can put several domains on it, however you will not have an individual control panel for each website.
Posted by ldcdc, 04-17-2006, 10:09 AM
Thing is, he doesn't need to give them any kind of access to the hosting account, as he's basically acting as a their webmaster. In terms of capabilities it looks to me like a shared hosting account can certainly do the job. All he needs to do is look for a host that doesn't mind the way in which he plans to use the account.
Posted by Duport, 04-17-2006, 10:15 AM
A shared account would have the advantage of backing up just the one account
Posted by lockon, 04-19-2006, 02:59 AM
Thanks everyone. Decided to go with a reseller plan from hostgator. Selected hostgator based on two things: - endorsements here and on other boards - 24x7x365 live support Sunil
Posted by RackFleet, 04-19-2006, 06:03 AM
A reseller account is your best bet. Look into Overselling privledges, not because you can oversell, but because you can use all of the space that you are allocated, and not be held to package limits and such as some hosts will hold you to.
Posted by Swelly, 04-19-2006, 10:57 AM
Sounds great! Hope all goes well, however do keep us updated on your satisfaction with HostGator. Good luck!
Posted by ImageNetworkz, 04-19-2006, 11:00 AM
Most of these companies that offer multiple domain hosting usually develope their own admin control panel and use shared folders for the file structure and trust me.. ive seen lots of them and they all suck! Resellar accounts give you alot more control over each account, i would highly recommend resellar over multi-domain hosting anyday.
Posted by Swelly, 04-19-2006, 11:16 AM
Well the only provider that comes to mind that offers Multiple accounts with their own control panels that ARE NOT resellers, and have "branded" their own panel would be site5. Furthermore, I have heard alot of good things about their hosting platform regarding their multi-site. However, I have heard bad things aswell. Just need to weight out the good and the bad, but that goes without saying....with any host. However yes reseller accounts will have their own control panel aswell, plus you will be in control of that with WHM, if on a cPanel platform.
Posted by Lamaison, 04-20-2006, 03:43 PM
Another thing to consider. Reseller vs. Multi-domain hosting (i.e lack of individual control panels) With Multi-domain hosting you will be limited to only one Private SSL. Which is a problem if you customer are running ecommerce site.
Posted by Jedito, 04-20-2006, 03:57 PM
Not really, you can request to your host to install a SSL on a dedicated IP for an add-on domain, that's pretty easy.
Posted by Lamaison, 04-22-2006, 04:34 PM
Funny, both LunarPages and Hostgator said no, and I check twice with each company.

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