cPanel Reseller Site Hosting

An article by Linux VPS Hosting

The cPanel reseller web hosting mode of operating functions by slicing cPanel-based web server(s) into predefined reseller plans, which are later peddled as individual reseller plans. Every single cPanel-based reseller web hosting plan is managed by the WebHost Manager (WHM) admin user interface. WebHost Manager is the place where the reseller creates the shared web hosting accounts traded on behalf of his own brand. Here are the common procedures an ordinary cPanel-based web space hosting reseller must go through:

1. Select a billing/invoicing gateway

So as to accept payments from their customers, the resellers need to add a billing software system connected with the cPanel/WHM module. The most famous 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 kind of an invoicing platform (PayPal, WorldPay, 2CheckOut, etc.). Without the merchant account, the reseller will not be able to gather any credit/debit card payments from his webspace hosting clients. This merchant account needs to be set up inside the chosen invoice system by the fervent reseller.

3. Establish a domain name reseller account

If you are going to offer domain registration and transfer solutions to your customers, you have to open a domain reseller account with some domain name registrar and to connect it inside the invoicing gateway.

4. Set up the shared webspace hosting accounts

The cPanel-based reseller site hosting business operating model permits the reseller to resell shared hosting accounts only. Utilizing the WHM device, the wholesale web space hosting supplies have to be segmented into smaller accounts.

5. Set the price tags for the shared web page hosting packages

Now is the time for the reseller to set the prices for the offered shared website hosting plans. While performing this, it's good to pay good heed to the circumstance that inside the invoice software (which is distinct from cPanel and WebHost Manager, i.e. a 3rd login place for the reseller so far and second for the clients) 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 devoted cPanel website hosting customers too. cPanel has approximately 150 sections inside (the client must pick up swiftly), but does not include any Billing or Invoice Manager. Can you imagine that?

6. Select 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, DNS record alterations, etc. So, this payment gateway is also providing a place for the fervent cPanel web page hosting customers where they can perform some (still, not all) of the aforementioned fundamental domain name administration and manipulation procedures. So, now is the time for the reseller to choose which Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are going to be promoted and to choose their corresponding registration, transfer and renewal prices.

7. Include a client support platform

Another thing that lacks in the customer interface provided by cPanel is a customer support section (a client support system). On the basis of the payment processor the reseller has picked already, a customer support system is either available or not. If it is not added, the reseller has to find a client support platform and to install it somewhere. Somehow the shared website hosting clients should be informed of its existence.

8. Link the order wizard with the web site

Finally, now is the time for the reseller hosting website itself. There the shared webspace hosting plans and domains can be bought by the potential customers. The entire site must perform in perfect coordination with the billing system. This suggests, within the site, the order wizards and the order pages must be connected properly.

Let's summarize the login locations available with the cPanel hosting reseller plans. There are at least two and maximum 4 places to log in to, which can be very uncomfortable for the resellers and chiefly for the clients.

For the reseller the login places are:

(1) cPanel (for the reseller web site); (2) WebHost Manager; (3) the payment software system; (4) the support platform (this is if the billing gateway does not already comprise it - some do, others don't).

Login places for the eager cPanel web page hosting customers:

(1) cPanel; (2) the invoice software; (3) ultimately the customer support ticket platform.