cPanel-based Reseller Webspace Hosting

The cPanel reseller hosting operating model functions by segmenting cPanel-based hosting server(s) into predefined reseller plans, which are afterwards traded as individual reseller plans. Each and every single cPanel reseller web site hosting plan is powered by the WebHost Manager (WHM) administration user interface. WHM is the location where the reseller sets up the shared web hosting plans promoted on behalf of his own brand. Here are the common procedures an ordinary cPanel website hosting reseller has to go through:

1. Pick a billing/invoicing gateway

So as to collect payments from their customers, the resellers must obtain a billing software system linked with the cPanel/WHM module. The most popular billing software systems for cPanel and WHM are ModernBill, WHMCS, ClientExec and AWBS.

2. Create a merchant account

A merchant account for credit/debit card payments is needed. Preferably issued by a bank (Bank of America, HSBC, Barclays, etc.) or some sort of an invoicing processor (PayPal, WorldPay, 2CheckOut, etc.). Without the merchant account, the reseller will not be able to accept any credit/debit card payments from his web space hosting clients. This merchant account has to be set up inside the desired payment system by the passionate reseller.

3. Open a domain name reseller account

If you are going to offer domain name registration and transfer solutions to your clients, you have to set up a domain reseller account with a certain domain registrar and to connect it inside the invoicing platform.

4. Create the shared web site hosting plans

The cPanel-based reseller webspace hosting business mode of operating permits the reseller to promote shared hosting accounts only. Using the WHM GUI, the wholesale web hosting resources have to be segmented into smaller accounts.

5. Set the price tags for the shared webspace hosting accounts

Now is the time for the reseller to choose the prices for the offered shared website hosting accounts. While accomplishing this, it's advisable to pay good attention to the circumstance that inside the invoicing platform (which is independent from cPanel and WebHost Manager, in other words a third login place for the reseller so far and 2nd for the customers) the customers will be able to take a gaze at their invoices (due or paid) and the earlier payments made, i.e. this is the Billing Manager for the eager cPanel hosting customers as well. cPanel has approximately 150 sections inside (the customer must learn quickly), but does not include any Billing or Invoice Manager. Can you imagine that?

6. Choose the prices for the domain names

The user interface provided by cPanel also does not support very crucial domain operations, such as registrations, transfers, renewals, parking, DNS registrations, Domain Name System record changes, etc. So, this billing software platform is also providing a location for the ardent cPanel web hosting customers where they can execute some (still, not all) of the aforementioned key domain name management and manipulation operations. So, now is the time for the reseller to decide which Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are going to be marketed and to choose their corresponding registration, transfer and renewal price tags.

7. Include a technical support platform

Another thing that is missing in the user interface offered by cPanel is a client support section (a trouble ticket system). Based on the billing system the reseller has chosen already, a technical support platform is either present or not. If it is not added, the reseller has to find a ticket platform and to install it somewhere. Somehow the shared website hosting clients should be aware of its presence.

8. Connect the order wizard with the site

At last, now is the time for the reseller hosting website itself. There the shared web page hosting accounts and domains can be bought by the prospective clients. The entire site must work in perfect synchronicity with the invoicing software platform. This suggests, within the website, the order wizards and the order pages have to be connected appropriately.

Let's summarize the login locations available with the cPanel-based website hosting reseller accounts. There are minimum two and maximum 4 locations to log in to, which can be very perplexing for the resellers and particularly for the customers.

For the reseller the login locations are:

(1) cPanel (for the reseller website); (2) WebHost Manager; (3) the invoice software system; (4) the client support system (this is in the event that the payment software system does not already comprise it - some do, others don't).

Login places for the fervent cPanel hosting customers:

(1) cPanel; (2) the invoicing system; (3) possibly the customer support trouble ticket platform.