Buying domain/hosting for clients?

Papa Lazarou · June 10th, 2008, 07:29 AM

Despite coding my own HTML for 10 years, I'm still fairly new to the business side of things.

Basically, if you offer your services as a web developer/builder, would you normally have to arrange the domain/host, or do clients often have that already sorted?

I would guess most clients are starting from scratch, and require you to arrange the domain/host? If so, what's the best way of buying a domain/host for your clients?

I have my own domain/host for my own site, but never had to do it for other people!

Aso · June 10th, 2008, 08:46 AM

I always offer to purchase 'on behalf' of the client (especially if they're not too good with technology

) but leave the billing and transaction to be dealt with directly between them and the hosting company.

That way they get a no-fuss setup, without having to know anything about bandwith and gigabytes, but are clear that the hosting is nothing to do with me - if the site goes down, they understand I'm not responsible!

Having said that, if you deal with a fair few clients, you could purchase a reseller package - that way you could offer your clients better rates and you might even make a little extra too!

Of course, if you do this, you must be prepared to accept that your client will hold you responsible for any hosting issues, even if the server is 5000 miles away!

Papa Lazarou · June 10th, 2008, 10:11 AM

Thanks. Your set-up seems the best scenario for the web developer!

Any tips or recommendations for hosts? Who to avoid?

WESH-UK · June 10th, 2008, 07:12 PM

We get lots of developers and designers who use our shared hosting like aso does, and were always happy to look after both them and you as a designer.

Reselling can be stressful though because you are left to deal with every single question they have, and your also expected to learn the in's and outs too, as many reselling companies dont want to have to explain to you how to setu email accounts or teach you about DNS, which to be fair, is the entire point of offering a reseller account is that you dont ask the host anything, unless something goes wrong (Hence why its cheaper)

All our kit is based in London as you are, and if your customers need any help, they can telephone us :-)

Papa Lazarou · June 11th, 2008, 04:03 AM

Thanks Wesh, I'll keep your details!