Thread: Any retired Entrepreneurs in web design business

I guess that's no then

What if there was ... what is your question? The "Fastlane" models lie in hosting vs web design. I started at a web designer and learned quick that it was still a trade of time for $$ ... hosting is a leveraged, numbers game with residuals.

I was and still do projects while I focus on a more of a web app venture. I'm not sure I understand your question?

Originally Posted by PhxMJ

What if there was ... what is your question? The "Fastlane" models lie in hosting vs web design. I started at a web designer and learned quick that it was still a trade of time for $$ ... hosting is a leveraged, numbers game with residuals.

I see now, my question is 'how can I run a better system or improve my small business'?
Come to think of it, would you focus more on hosting?

MJ replied to your question - "fastlane" model lie in hosting.

In hosting business machines work for you. You can have 1mm clients who pay you $10/mo. = $10mm/mo.

Web design is doomed to work per hour, in other words, you can't design 1mm projects per mo. If you want more business you got to have more people. By hosting you need more servers - and they are easier to maintain

One good fastlane tip:

10 businesses that make $100/mo. aren't better than one tha makes $1k/mo.

When you're working on both sides - both sides suffer.

Thanks, your a champion! Ok, I still have a long way to go. At the moment I have a reseller account of a hosting company. Do you reckon I should invest into a server as a long term if I manage to come up with the money?

I would like to know more if possible, the only issue I have is when my clients make so many phone calls to me on how to use the cpanel, etc lol.

Any solutions?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by buckmajor

Thanks, your a champion! Ok, I still have a long way to go. At the moment I have a reseller account of a hosting company. Do you reckon I should invest into a server as a long term if I manage to come up with the money?

I would like to know more if possible, the only issue I have is when my clients make so many phone calls to me on how to use the cpanel, etc lol.

Any solutions?

Thanks.

Yep:
cPanel User Guide

Also don't waste time/money with reseller accounts. If you have the money spend $100-$150/month on a decent dedicated server co-located somewhere and make sure its fully managed. Will save you lots of stress and money, as opposed to try and transfer tons of client from a reseller account to a real server.

I see very clearly now. Thanks atohosting, I will look for a server and see what I is on offer. The link you provided was very helpful.

Thank goodness I only 5 clients in my reseller account, I hope it shouldn't be that much of a hassle??

New plan to work on now lol.

Any tips on how to buy/hire a server?

Nice website you got there though.

Thanks heaps.

Atohosting, did you create your own video tutorials on how to use Cpanel? I need something similar so it is a lot more easier for my clients to undestand.

No I bought my video tutorials on demowolf.com.

As for the server, go to webhostingtalk.com and look for good used server.

I would recommend a Dual Core/2gig ram minimum/dual hard drives with a raid set up for backups/redundancy. Make sure you get a fully managed set up, with co-location.

I know a few starting at $120-$130/month, pm if you are interested.

Thanks apto, I checked out that video site, it is something for me to consider. I don't have the funds yet, so will need to plan it out properly.

CHEERS

I found out more about the Dedicated Server and VPS. How is Colocation hosting different from the others? Anyone using either one for hosting: link? Let alone, there is a linux and windows to decide. What do you recommend and how would you offer unlimited space, bandwidth, email accounts, etc, for an expensive server? Do you have to buy more servers? Are most hosting companies running off a dedicated server and offering unlimited space when they don't have unlimited? That is an expensive way to use or have I misunderstood the process? How does it work?

Thanks

This doesn't relate to your question, but something that you may ask about next - a billing solution. For that, look into whmcs.

Originally Posted by kwerner

This doesn't relate to your question, but something that you may ask about next - a billing solution. For that, look into whmcs.

lol..yea sowi, I got sidetracked as soon as I realized

"hosting is a leveraged, numbers game with residuals"

I manage to install WHMCS, just going to try it out now. As for the hosting services, this might be a little complicated. Will dig deeper to find a more easier solution and how it all ties in.

Ok, so let me preface this answer with the designation of being retired "from" a design company of my own -not retired in general, simply done with design.


At this point in the growth of your company, you have to pick a route to take: be a reseller & set your prices and market like hell in order to not have to deal with the phone calls (and there will be many -this will only increase as you grow)... This also takes care of your billing questions as they are handled with the reseller shopping cart & it's redundant billing features.

*** OR ***

Buy rack space somewhere (co-locate), set your own prices, handle your own calls & make a higher margin. Research the co-loc company's up-time, backup procedures and redundancy measures before you sign up. Yes, it matters. Was there a hail storm in Buffalo? Oh, it knocked out power to your co-loc service provider & they had no backup generators? Now your clients are calling YOU and you can't do a damn thing but apologize and lose clients. What if the co-loc site burns down? Did the have the data mirrored in Toronto? Or LA? Great, you & your clients are covered. Are they running off a T1 line or 3 OC3 lines? Or a DSL connection out of some kids basement? *shudder* It makes a difference when your site suddenly gets 4 million visitors because a silly video you posted went viral. And don't just call around, GO THERE AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF. Yes, I'm being serious. Anyone can lie on the phone or make themselves look big online -just ask MJ This is one scenario where your livelihood may depend on your due diligence. If you're planning to be big in the future, do your homework and planning as if you were big now. It will only save you headaches down the road.

Just from the questions you're asking and what appears to be your level of experience, I would suggest reselling to start off with. Once you've researched how the big boys in the hosting world do things, you can figure out how to manage just as effectively and then do it better (nothing quite like being a client to see the pitfalls & shortcomings to be improved upon yourself).

This business has some fierce competition & is highly technical. That being said, there is always room for someone to do things better and take a chunk of the market share. But you've got to know what you're doing & know it well. Good luck and keep us posted!

Great advice, thanks! Is the aim for hosting is to go from a Reseller account to VPS/Dedicated servers?

Originally Posted by buckmajor

Is the aim for hosting is to go from a Reseller account to VPS/Dedicated servers?

I don't know, is it? This is your gig, Buck

Originally Posted by buckmajor

Great advice, thanks! Is the aim for hosting is to go from a Reseller account to VPS/Dedicated servers?

Biggest piece of advice I can give you, after being in the web hosting world for 5 years is...do not compete on price. You are not going to compete again Godaddy/Yahoo/HostGator/Site5/LunarPages/1&1/etc. You will need to find a niche or die.