Re: [cobalt-users] Starting a web hosting company.

["Steve Bassi" <steve@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shaun T. Erickson" <ste@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 11:45 PM
Subject: [cobalt-users] Starting a web hosting company.


> I would like to start my own web hosting company.
See a doctor and get a years supply of valium, customers drive you NUTZ!!

> It would be something
> I do in addition to my regular day job, with the hope that eventually it
> would grow to replace that day job.
Servicing customers takes a lot of time, will you have time while working to
attend to customers, who seem to want you 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

> I'm wondering about the feasibility of starting with one RaQ 550 on a
> 1.1Mbit SDSL line, and then adding more RaQs and bandwidth as needed.
> The initial low priced offering would be geared at personal web sites.
I would never sell on price these days, there is too much competition.
I would sell on service and reliability and never cheaply.

> How would I advertise/find customers?
Personally, I would find a local niche market, where you can offer a unique
solution for their needs and a high service level. This could be say lawyers
in your area.

Then promote your services to them directly by mail, advertising in their
trade publication and telephone marketing.

That is target a customer and go after them.

> What else should I be asking that I'm not?
If I am offering a webhosting service to people, is one unit sufficient ?
What happens when it goes down ?

>Is what I propose feasible and at all realistic?
Its like any business you start. You need a proper business plan, setting
out what your product is, what you aim to achieve and how you are going to
achieve it.

According to what you have posted, then I would say the answer is, no it is
not feasable selling low cost hosting using 1 server.

I know a few hundred people that have tried this and given up after spending
the money and have been left with a nice RAQ as a toy.

Web hosting in my opinion is a spin off benefit, to web design, domain
registration and other mail products , its just something that sometimes
brings in a little extra.

My advice would be to use the skills you have, that you use in your day job
and offer those as a consultant, and try and build up a client base in your
spare time, evenings and weekends.

Sys Admins can usually get a good hourly rate and is more likely to give you
greater success than web hosting.

Lol .. you did ask for all opinions.


Rgds

Bassi