Need advice from anybody that hosts their own site

[smb3]

So I'm finally going to take a stab at hosting my own site, but at the same time I am interested in experienced people's war stories. My intention is twofold:

* To overcome this internal fear I have for failing at something/ doing something that seems worthless. Sometimes I think things are going to fail, alot, so I want to get myself out of this cycle and take more risks.
* To make some monies, I think this is probably obvious

I'm not expecting much or to actually make anything out of it, and if anything I would probably need to come up with 50 or so ideas to make something work . What I would like to hear about:

* How many ideas did you have to try to make something profitable? Would prefer website owners, but app makers can also chip in
* Did your website ideas eventually lead to other avenues of business? E.g. started with a website, now a consulting firm making server side apps.
* A business tip/hint for someone doing this for the first time. Even if it's something obvious like "choose the right hoster/dont use XYZ" or something like that

But yeah, I'm keen to hear from your guys' experience . Hopefully I can learn something and apply it to real life

 

[gfmalan]

Good Afternoon,

I'm not so sure what you really ask, but here it goes...

Just to host your own site is easy, and I can't see where you would make money from hosting your own site alone, although you would gain experience out of it. It is normally easier to make use of a hosting company. To make money from hosting, or any related business is a numbers game. It would seem that you can quickly make some re-occuring income, and soon retire, but then reality hits.

You need to think about the environment you are going to run your new hosting business from. You need a place that is secure, have redundant power, temperature controlled, redundant internet connections and the list goes on.
Then you need hardware, and not one server, at least 3, one a perimeter machine, and 2 back-end machines that is each others backup.
In this "cloud" business, the customers data is so important. If you loose one clients data, you can start planning how you are closing your business.

To setup the backend isn't difficult, and even not that expensive, but then what would make your business different from all the other guys out there? A company like Afrihost gives you a nice control panel, there you can provision services on the fly, and they have a good set of products. Then Hetzner is one of the most effective companies I dealt with in the last 15 years. So what are you going to offer to make it worth your while?!

I don't want to put you off of creating your own business in the "cloud", but that is the things to remember when doing your business plan.

To make a profitable business, you need thousands of clients, and to get there is something else. You need to get funding or have some money to develop all the tools you need. I found out the hard way that we are not talking few thousand for development, the number quickly goes over 100k for a basic requirement.

Seems you always need cash to put down hardware and development, then you need to sell allot to get your money back, when you need more hardware, you have to first put down more money, and the the selling and income would follow.

This is the negatives I think, but if you spot a gap in the market, and you can fill that... Then your a made man. If you have a optimistic outlook on life, then you would see allot of opportunities. I see them daily, but to get the funding is a bit difficult. You need to surround yourself with people that has money, and look for places to invest.

Make yourself a "template" business plan, then as the opportunities knock, fill in the basics, and very quickly you would see if it will work or not. Later on you would just by reviewing the facts get a sense if this opportunity would work or not.

When you see a working opportunity, then go full out for it, even if you fail, stand up, believe in yourself, and do it again.

Talk is cheap, and I'm trying for the last 20years, I'm still here, I have a roof over my head, and clients thats coming with me for years (some from the beginning).

Get someone that you trust, and use him/her as a soundboard.

After the financials works, I always sit and think, who would be my clients, how would they know about me, what can I do to give a service that they need, and don't want to cancel (a bit like DSTV). If I only think it would work for a few people, then I know a Cloud business would fail, but if every second small company would need your services, then your are sorted.

Hope you spot a great opportunity and make millions!
All the best.

 

[gfmalan]

Another option would be to partner with someone that has the hardware, and idea, but can't write some software, and make that a complete product. Then split profits...

 

[koeksGHT]

Another option would be to partner with someone that has the hardware, and idea, but can't write some software, and make that a complete product. Then split profits...

Just get a $5 cloud server from DigitalOcean($10 ref link) put Ubuntu on and go.

 

[gfmalan]

Just get a $5 cloud server from DigitalOcean($10 ref link) put Ubuntu on and go.

From his other posts it seems he is a developer. I think he is looking at trying something outside his comfort zone. That's why I've suggested parterning with someone that has a idea and hardware, and then he can write whats needed to make it a slick solution.

Yes these cheap hosting can work, but when they don't and you run other people's websites and services, then they look at you for answers and not the overseas guys.

I used Host1plus, if things goes wrong, like a link to or a SAN itself fail then you are not in a position to get your clients up quickly

 

[koeksGHT]

From his other posts it seems he is a developer. I think he is looking at trying something outside his comfort zone. That's why I've suggested parterning with someone that has a idea and hardware, and then he can write whats needed to make it a slick solution.

Yes these cheap hosting can work, but when they don't and you run other people's websites and services, then they look at you for answers and not the overseas guys.

I used Host1plus, if things goes wrong, like a link to or a SAN itself fail then you are not in a position to get your clients up quickly

You need better plans if you can go down such as colocation backups/hot site. Perhaps he should start smaller as reseller?

 

[smb3]

From his other posts it seems he is a developer. I think he is looking at trying something outside his comfort zone. That's why I've suggested parterning with someone that has a idea and hardware, and then he can write whats needed to make it a slick solution.

Yes these cheap hosting can work, but when they don't and you run other people's websites and services, then they look at you for answers and not the overseas guys.

I used Host1plus, if things goes wrong, like a link to or a SAN itself fail then you are not in a position to get your clients up quickly

Thanks gfmalan. Your first post was exactly the kind of response I wanted.

Just to clear things up, yes I am a developer and was looking at "developing a website myself, monetizing it and hosting it somewhere" part of things first, then learning from that onwards. Like the first thing I learned is for me to ask my questions properly .

Didn't think of the hardware side until you mentioned it, which started triggering ideas in my head.

Also, I won't forget this gem you mentioned

When you see a working opportunity, then go full out for it, even if you fail, stand up, believe in yourself, and do it again.

 

[gfmalan]

Are you going to make this a full or part time project?

I have a few ideas for website/database combos, and you can charge re-occuring amounts for it. If you can integrate hardware with the solutions or using API to services, then you're sorted

 

[Thor]

Are you going to make this a full or part time project?

I have a few ideas for website/database combos, and you can charge re-occuring amounts for it. If you can integrate hardware with the solutions or using API to services, then you're sorted

I'm always up for some brainstorming/idea bouncing

 

[rward]

So I'm finally going to take a stab at hosting my own site

If that is the question then yeah - doing your own hosting isn't too hard, digital ocean, linode, etc, etc.
You would need some *nix skills but most of the stuff you can google, plus most of the hosting providers have guides like: https://www.linode.com/docs/


If (and this is what I'm thinking) you're looking to start a website/app to make some money off it, then that's a bit of a different question.

If you're looking at doing dev work then try networking and finding a contact that has too much work that you can help them out with. Pick up the slack and maybe more comes from it, aim to get a retainer.

Treat your own projects as a separate client, so you schedule time for them, track time, etc.


If you're looking to start an agency then you need clients, you need staff, offices, etc.

If you're wanting to create an app then market research, see if there is an actual need for it. You wouldn't go by an expensive painting without knowing who the artist is, if it's worthwhile, etc.

In all these cases, do a business plan.

 

[gfmalan]

I'm always up for some brainstorming/idea bouncing

Hi Thor,

I'll draft a few ideas and then we can talk