cPanel Reseller Web Site Hosting

The cPanel hosting reseller mode of operating works by segmenting cPanel-based web hosting server(s) into predefined reseller plans, which are afterwards traded as individual reseller plans. Each single cPanel-based reseller web site hosting plan is administered by the WebHost Manager (WHM) administration GUI. WebHost Manager is the location where the reseller creates the shared web hosting accounts traded on behalf of his own brand. Here are the common procedures an ordinary cPanel web space hosting reseller must undergo:

1. Pick a billing/invoicing software platform

So as to collect payments from their customers, the resellers need to obtain an invoicing software platform linked to the cPanel/WHM software. The most popular invoicing platforms for cPanel and WHM are ModernBill, WHMCS, ClientExec and AWBS.

2. Open a merchant account

A merchant account for credit/debit card transactions is required. Preferably issued by a bank (Bank of America, HSBC, Barclays, etc.) or some type of a billing processor (PayPal, WorldPay, 2CheckOut, etc.). Without the merchant account, the reseller could not accept any credit/debit card payments from his hosting customers. This merchant account must be created inside the chosen invoice platform by the keen reseller.

3. Create a domain reseller account

If you are about to offer domain registration and transfer services to your customers, you need to open a domain reseller account with a certain domain name registrar and to link it inside the billing gateway.

4. Set up the shared web site hosting plans

The cPanel-based reseller web site hosting business mode of operating permits the reseller to offer shared hosting accounts only. Availing of the WebHost Manager GUI, the wholesale web hosting resources need to be severed into smaller packages.

5. Choose the prices for the shared web page hosting accounts

Now is the time for the reseller to select the price tags for the promoted shared web site hosting accounts. While accomplishing this, it's good to pay good heed to the fact that inside the billing software (which is distinct from cPanel and WebHost Manager, in other words a third login place for the reseller so far and 2nd for the clients) the clients will be able to have a glimpse at their invoices (due or paid) and the earlier payments made, i.e. this is the Billing Manager for the devoted cPanel hosting customers too. cPanel has about 150 sections inside (the customer must pick up quickly), but does not offer any Billing or Invoice Manager. Can you imagine that?

6. Choose the prices for the domains

The user interface offered by cPanel also does not support very important domain name operations, such as registrations, transfers, renewals, parking, DNS registrations, Domain Name System record alterations, etc. So, this billing software platform is also offering a place for the avid cPanel web space hosting clients where they can execute some (still, not all) of the abovementioned essential domain name administration and handling operations. So, now is the time for the reseller to choose which Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are going to be marketed and to set their respective registration, transfer and renewal price tags.

7. Add a client support platform

Another thing that is absent in the customer interface provided by cPanel is a technical support section (a customer support platform). Based on the invoice software system the reseller has selected already, a technical support system is either available or not. If it is not present, the reseller has to find a customer support platform and to install it somewhere. Somehow the shared website hosting clients should be informed of its existence.

8. Connect the order wizard with the website

Finally, now is the time for the reseller hosting website itself. There the shared web page hosting packages and domain names can be purchased by the potential clients. The entire web site must perform in perfect correspondence with the payment system. This suggests, within the site, the order wizards and the order pages need to be linked properly.

Let's summarize the login places present with the cPanel site hosting reseller accounts. There are minimum two and maximum 4 places to log in to, which can be very disconcerting for the resellers and notably for the customers.

(1) cPanel (for the reseller web site); (2) WHM; (3) the invoicing software system; (4) the support system (this is in the case that the invoice gateway does not already include it - some do, others don't).

Login locations for the keen cPanel web hosting clients:

(1) cPanel; (2) the invoicing software system; (3) eventually the customer support trouble ticket system.