For successfully being able to run a good reseller web hosting company, you need to have a sound knowledge of the science of computers, besides patience in abundance. After the innovation of the Control Panel, many people may think that a sound technical knowledge is no more the necessity, as the Control Panel makes the job of getting a pre-built server, and thus hosting a site, very easy. But things are a bit complex. Though you can get a dedicated server on lease and after having a good knowledge of Control Panel, you actually can commence hosting of sites, but always keep in mind that certain limitations are associated with the Control Panel.

To develop a flourishing long-term web-hosting corporation, keep in mind the following ten tips:

Step 1: Select a platform which you wish to use

You can consider using UNIX over Windows since the former is an open source program and thus cheaper, apart from having a stable environment for web hosting. Though most of the programs can run on both of these, ASP, MS-SQL, .NET, etc. are supported only by Windows. If you aren't sure about which host you want to use, you can select a web host that would offer both the operating systems under a single plan.

Step 2: Decide on the Control Panel of your choice

Control Panels differ from the easy ones that are extremely accessible and have essential characteristics together with the organizational ones and also the multifaceted ones for example the H-Sphere System.

Step 3: Choose the reseller-hosting contributor

For starting a web hosting company, this decision assumes a very significant importance. Keep in mind that your web hosting company will command equal status as your preferred reseller hosting company. Customers never assume that companies offering cheap packages are better. Some important areas where the company should score include:

* Customer support: Ensure that the company has round-the-clock telephone support for the customers. If not, they should have a good email support with quick response to queries. These factors will give the customers a fair idea of how the company will be able to help them when they need them.

* Control Panel and the platform: Make sure that your Control Panel has many features which you can use.

* Flexibility and features: Make sure that the initial cost that you charge to the customers includes enough bandwidth, not only for them to begin smoothly, but even be sufficient when their business expands.

* Reputation of the company: A good company always has customer forum where prospective customers can check out the forum and talk to other members about what their experience with the company has been like.

* Experience of the company in this field: Obviously, the longer the company has been in the field of providing web hosting services, the better it is.

Step 4: Get your hosting plans set up and decide on matters of price

Though you might want to offer a host of plans to the customers, don't overload them with too many of them to select from. For starters, offering three to five plans would be sufficient. Also have a close look at the competitors and keep a check on what they are up to. You can also try finding a niche of the customers that is still left unsatisfied. It is fine enough if you oversell your resources if you can make up for it by charging the individuals with services like web stats, domain registrations, IP addresses, etc.

Step 5: Get a business website developed

Make sure to keep your website as simple as possible, and also ensure that it is user-friendly. Customers always look for something which they want, so make sure that you satisfy their needs. So it would be a better option not to waste time on telling the prospective customers about you. Rather, you can use the space to tell them how you will be able to solve their needs with affordable price and good service. You might want to use as little words as possible, but make sure that the main page has a minimum of 500 words. This would be very crucial for getting results in search engines. You can either design a website by yourself, or hire the services of a professional.

Step 6: Get the site ready for e-Commerce

You shall have to get an SSl certificate, apart from a payment gateway and a merchant account to be able to accept payments online. These are some e-commerce features which you should equip your site with.

Step 7: Give your clients a good backup system

Getting the backup of your clients is essential as far as web-hosting plans are concerned. You can get either a policy or a Control Panel with a ready helpdesk, like H-Sphere. For starters you can use these service system that you will be producing, but after that it's your choice. You can have a column of Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ's] that will solve some preliminary troubles of the clients. Ensure an efficient email system and a fast phone backing to solve the clients' problems in a short time.

Step 8: Preparing the expenses of the customers

You will need a billing software with a merchant gateway for this purpose, principally the one which integrates with your Control Panel like the H-Sphere. A few examples are:

* H-Sphere: IT includes a full-fledged billing system which gives you full control over all resources and enables you to plan prices which you would like to charge from the customers.

* PayPal: This system is a moderately easier one that is well matched with many Control Panels.

* Authorize Net: This is a flexible gateway system that is compatible with all major credit card providers and also with most Control Panels.

Step 9: Prepare an email for greetings

Make a welcome greeting email a compulsion for the clients. In that email, you should take in the following points:

* full detail of the plan the customer has selected

* the registrar and the DNS changes

* a username along with a temporary password

* a direct link to the Control Panel

* links to the important areas like customer support, FAQ's, etc.

Step 10: Promoting your website

Promoting a website is an expensive matter and eats up a great amount of time but it is very essential as high-quality advertising will make sure that clients come to the site continually. Remember that website promotion is not a temporary matter done once, but it is a continuous process. Some details you have to keep in mind are:

* attracting search engine results

* affiliate programs and paid advertising

* newsletters

These tips are the very fundamental ones and are exemplary not comprehensive. Making a web-hosting site is demanding, but not unattainable if you are dedicated to the matter. Several fresh businesses are forthcoming every day but it has not yet reached the level of completeness, as efficient corporations are still absent. Keep in mind the customer demands and then of course, unconfirmed reports can do a lot! Bear in mind, the client is the master!