Let's
build a web hosting business on a shoestring

Design
product packages.
Ok,
now we need to figure out what hosting packages we can sell
from our reseller hosting package. This is kind of important
as it will be the part where we decide how much money to make.
The
important thing upfront: As a newcomer to the hosting business
we will have to work with lower prices in the beginning if we
target the Internet for customers. If you are going after the
local market you can work with normal (or higher prices) right
away. Local customers tend to compare less and rather pay a little
more but deal with the local 'guy'. Which way you can go depends
on where you live. If you live in a rural area with not many
businesses and possible clients around you will need to look
on the Internet for clients. If you live in a medium to large
metropolitan area you can try the local route.
Overselling:
It's a known industry fact - most customers will never use all
their resources. It is safe to assume that the clients will maybe
use 75% of the resources purchased. For you as the webhost this
means that you can sell more resources than what you actually
have. Be sure that your webhost allows you to upgrade your own
package if you reach the limits.
Packages:
It is always good to offer at least 3 different packages for
the client to choose from. Variety helps to attract clients. Internet
Prices (liberal approach):
Assuming
you buy a reseller package with 2 GB disk space and 20 GB traffic
allowance (bandwidth). By using overselling you could sell the
following packages and barely run into the risk of reaching your
limits at all.
Package
"A" with 50 megs disk space + 3 GB Bandwidth - $3.99
Package "B" with 100 megs disk space + 5 GB Bandwidth - $6.99
Package "C" with 250 megs disk space + 8 GB Bandwidth - $8.99
Example
A: Let's assume you sell 20 Packages "A". This would give you
an income before
cost ($35.00) of $79.80 or a net profit of $44.80. Not bad, isn't
it!?Now let's add 20% overselling to this approach. That means
you make an additional $15.96 on top of the $79.80 (= $95.76).
Example
B: Let's assume you sell 10 Packages "A" and 10 Packages "B".
This would give you an income before cost ($35.00) of $109.80
or a net profit of $74.80. Not bad, isn't it!?Now let's add only
10% overselling to this approach. That means you make an additional
$10.98 on top of the $109.80 (= $120.78).
So,
you can play the numbers game and also keep an eye on the resource
usage of your clients. In most case you will
be able to add additional 20% on top of the estimates here. We
have been able to receive income of almost $250.00 of a single
reseller account ($35.00) and our clients used only a fraction
of their resources.
Important:
Once you have aquired about 30-40 clients you should raise your
prices for all new customers. You are here to make money, right?!
Raise the prices slowly and clients should still sign up. A dollar
per quarter might be a good aproach.
Local
Prices:
Assuming
you buy a reseller package with 2 GB disk space and 20 GB traffic
allowance (bandwidth). By using overselling you could sell the
following packages and barely run into the risk of reaching your
limits at all.
Package "A" with
25 megs disk space + 2 GB Bandwidth - $9.99
Package "B" with 100 megs disk space + 5 GB Bandwidth - $16.99
Package "C" with 250 megs disk space + 8 GB Bandwidth - $21.99
Example
A: Let's assume you sell 20 Packages "A". This would
give you an income before cost ($35.00) of $199.80 or a net
profit of $164.80. Not bad, isn't it!?Now let's add 20% overselling
to
this approach. That means you make an additional $39.96 on top
of the $79.80 (= $239.76).
Now
look at this margin. The best thing is - other local providers
charge even twice as much as the prices listed here and still
find clients.
The
only problem with the higher prices is that it takes a little
longer to get the clients.But in the long run the higher prices
will carry you much further. A good strategy is to find clients
with low prices first and then change the strategy. Or you can
operate 2 websites - one for Internet clients with lower prices
and a marketing strategy for the Internet. The second site has
higher prices and you operate on a marketing strategy locally.
Cost
associated with this step (max): $0.00 per month
Money
spend so far (one time): $9.87
Money spend so far (recurring): $35.00
Continue
to Step 9
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