"reseller Hosting" -- Not Worth It!

When looking at web hosts, you often find that they offer "reseller hosting." This comes from both small and large hosts, and claims to offer the chance for you to run your own web host. It looks great from the outside, too: your own site, your own client management, etc. while allowing the real host to handle support and billing. But when it comes to the cost, it's ridiculous.

 

If you go to a site that offers this type of hosting, compare their reseller package to their cheapest. In most cases (nearly all) their cheapest normal package offers more than reseller does. And yet costs 1/10 the price. In other words, instead of people buying their hosting from you they can simply go to, for example, godaddy and get their hosting at a fraction of the cost, with more features and no middle-man.

 

The entire thing both confuses and annoys me. Why offer the ability to "own your own web host" if the costs make it so ridiculous you won't ever make anything, and will in the majority of cases lose money?

If you are a web designer and have a client which needs Hosting, *voila*, they can get Hosting from you... and you profit by providing the service.

If you are a web designer and have a client which needs Hosting, *voila*, they can get Hosting from you... and you profit by providing the service.

Ah, I hadn't thought of it from that perspective. That actually explains a lot! I was thinking more along the lines of starting up your own site to offer hosting and such, which is already competitive as it is. But if it's more of an attachment to a service you're providing, I can see where the benefit comes from.

Thanks!