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Reseller guide

How to start a web hosting business

Updated Hostnali team

All reseller guides

In short

Pick who you will serve, register a brand and domain, start on a reseller plan, create two or three packages, set up WHMCS for billing and payments, then win your first clients from people you already know. You can launch in a week without buying servers.

Step 1: choose who you serve

Hosting is easier to sell to a group you understand: churches and schools, real-estate agents, restaurants, your web design clients. A clear niche makes your website, prices and marketing simpler.

Step 2: brand and domain

  • Pick a short name and register the domain.
  • Register the business (business registration and tax number) so you can issue invoices and open a business account.
  • Make a simple logo: it goes on your website, invoices and cPanel.

Step 3: choose your reseller plan

Start with the smallest plan that fits your first 10–20 clients; you can upgrade without moving anyone. See choosing a reseller plan and the reseller plans (from $20.98 a month).

Step 4: set up your brand on the server

  • Private nameservers: ns1 and ns2.yourbrand.com.
  • Your logo in cPanel.
  • Details in white-label branding.

Step 5: create packages

Two or three packages are enough to start. See creating hosting packages and pricing your hosting plans.

Step 6: billing and payments

Use WHMCS so orders, invoices, reminders and suspensions run themselves (billing with WHMCS). Hostnali reseller plans include a free WHMCS licence (discounted on Budget Reseller). Let clients pay by card, bank transfer and mobile money such as M-Pesa (our M-Pesa module for WHMCS).

Step 7: sell domains too

Most hosting clients need a domain. Offer domains through a domain reseller account (ask our team); see selling domains.

Step 8: your first clients

  • Start with people you know: past web design clients, friends’ businesses, your community.
  • Offer to move their sites for free.
  • Ask happy clients for referrals.

More in growing your hosting business.

What it costs to start

A reseller plan, a domain, and your time. No servers, no data centre and no technical staff: we handle the infrastructure, 24/7.

Start your hosting business with Hostnali

White-label reseller hosting with WHM, cPanel for every client and 24/7 support behind you.