“Choosing the Best Reseller Hosting for WordPress Businesses and Digital Agencies: A Guide”

This manual on identifying an exceptional reseller hosting platform will spare you from spending countless hours conducting thorough research and will provide you with the necessary information on selecting the most suitable reseller hosting provider to collaborate with for your agency.

If you’re a web developer or digital services agency seeking to increase your earnings by offering web hosting to your customers, you have the option to rent a server and manage all the technical aspects on your own, or you can collaborate with a reseller hosting provider who will handle all the hosting difficulties and problems, allowing you to focus on expanding your business.

However, with numerous hosting providers offering reseller hosting options, which one delivers the most optimal platform for your agency? What criteria should you consider when selecting a hosting reseller program? What are the potential drawbacks and obstacles to be wary of when choosing a hosting provider to collaborate with?

This manual will address all of these inquiries. You will gain knowledge on what criteria to consider when selecting a reseller hosting partner for sustained success, comprehend the advantages and disadvantages of various reseller platforms and programs… we will also supply a directory of reseller hosting firms along with hyperlinks to their reseller webpages.

We’ll cover the following areas:

• Common Mistakes to Steer Clear of When Selecting Reseller Hosting Providers
  • 1. Beware of Affiliate Reviews
  • 2. Avoid Reseller Platforms That Won’t Integrate Fully with Your Business
• The Ideal Reseller Hosting Platform
• Reseller Hosting Companies – What To Look For
  • 1. Pricing & Profitability
  • 2. Quality Hosting Products
  • 3. Reseller Hosting and Website Management
  • 4. White Label Branding and Customization
  • 5. Client Portal and Automation
  • 6. Client Billing, Invoicing, and Management
  • 7. Reseller and Client Support
  • 8. Additional Reseller Features
• Best Hosting Reseller Programs

Let’s jump right in…

Common mistakes to steer clear of when selecting reseller hosting providers.

There are many different companies offering reseller hosting to choose from and you will want to partner with the provider that is best suited for your business.

Before embarking on your journey of research, let’s look at two common pitfalls to avoid when choosing a reseller hosting company.

Cautionary Tip #1 – Be cautious of reviews from affiliates.

If you search Google for anything related to reseller hosting, eg:

• best reseller web hosting
• top-rated reseller hosting program
• top reseller hosting company
• etc.,

You’ll find that all of the articles in the organic results section recommending the “best reseller web hosting companies” use affiliate links.

Searching Google may not necessarily lead you to the best reseller hosting company for your business because:

1. Most reseller hosting review articles won’t recommend companies that don’t offer an affiliate program, and
2. The companies these articles recommend as “the best” are often the ones that pay them the highest commission.

When looking for a reseller hosting partner, be aware that many of the articles that appear in Google’s search results are primarily focused on generating affiliate commissions for the publishers.

Pitfall #2 – Avoid Reseller Platforms That Won’t Integrate Fully with Your Business

If you don’t have a strong passion for creating your own reseller hosting and enjoy working with scripts, setting up server applications, solving technical issues, repairing errors, and studying technical manuals, we suggest opting for a provider that offers hosting and all the necessary tools pre-installed, pre-configured, optimized, fully managed, supported, and ready to use for managing your hosting accounts and client websites.

This will allow you to focus more of your time, effort, and resources on growing your agency and scaling your business instead of dealing with technical issues and headaches.

Having someone take care of all the technical aspects of your hosting is great, but there’s still a business side to running a reseller business and there are a myriad of things to figure out, such as:

• What are the hosting plans and packages you plan to offer for sale?
• Which software and tools you’ll use to manage your hosting account and client sites,
• How to integrate client billing and management systems,
• How to provide clients with access and support,
• Strategies for creating profitable pricing models
• How to handle various business legalities (e.g. refunds, site suspensions for non-payment, etc.),
• How to protect your client relationship,
• And so on.

Adhering to these suggestions will assist in reducing numerous issues when operating your reseller enterprise.

• Choose a reseller hosting company with an integrated platform for seamless client management.
• Opt for automation to minimize manual tasks and maximize efficiency. This ensures a smooth client experience, fostering loyalty and long-term relationships.
• Choose a reseller platform that provides automation, integration, and ease of use to operate a successful business with little effort.
• Avoid fragmented platforms, as these will be prone to issues.

So, how can you grow a profitable reseller business without all the hassles and headaches?

The Ideal Reseller Hosting Platform

Imagine having the ultimate dropshipping business where:

• Your supplier won’t charge you until a purchase is made.
• Your provider instantly delivers the product to your client.
• All activities occur on a platform that is completely customized and integrated with your brand.
• Your clients only interact with you, not the provider.
• You get paid instantly upon completing the sale.

Consider the convenience of having a self-service vending machine that offers digital products such as web hosting, domain registration, website templates, and other services. Your customers can access your website at any time, including in the middle of the night, and make purchases without requiring your direct involvement or presence.

Can you really own a fully automated reseller business that runs under your own brand, integrates seamlessly with your business, delivers your clients top-notch products, allows you to focus on acquiring more clients … and makes you money while you sleep?

With the right reseller platform … Yes, you can!

Companies that offer reseller hosting – what to consider when choosing one.

Take a look at the chart below. We’ll use this as your blueprint for choosing the best reseller hosting company for your agency or web development business.

Let’s go over each of the above components to understand how these will benefit your business when fully integrated.

1. Pricing and Profitability

When determining if a particular reseller program will be profitable for you, it’s crucial to consider all the elements that can impact your earnings.

These include:

• Comparing the pricing structures of different hosting providers and analyzing the profit margins offered to resellers.
• Looking for providers that offer competitive pricing without compromising on the quality of their services.
• Finding out if you can set your own pricing on the hosting itself.

You don’t want a glorified affiliate program where all you’re really doing is referring clients to your hosting company and earning a sales commission. You want to be able to set your own pricing and sell the hosting as your own (and on its own).

With WPMU DEV Reseller, for example, you have complete freedom when it comes to pricing. You can purchase hosting (and domains too) at a deep discount, create your own plans, set your own pricing per product, sell hosting on its own under your brand, or bundle it with your services and sell your service packages with hosting included (your client’s hosting will be automatically set up when they purchase your service at the bundled price you have set).

Here are other areas to look at that will impact reseller hosting profitability:

• Investigate potential price reductions or rewards for distributors and evaluate the adaptability of vendors in terms of their pricing approaches.
• Consider factors that can impact your profits if overlooked. Evaluate potential setbacks such as set-up fees, recurring costs, and additional license fees. Hosting management tools like cPanel, WHM/WHMCS, Plesk etc. charge license fees, often on a per user basis. Some companies also charge annual fees for accessing their reseller programs, while others have no cost to join, but you cannot set your own hosting prices and have to purchase add-ons like client billing or white labeling separately, adding to your costs.
• Consider how the reseller model of a particular provider will impact your cash flow when it comes to receiving your share of the sale. For example, with some reseller models you have to wait a month after a sale is made, whereas you get paid instantly with a platform like WPMU DEV Reseller.
• Ensure that the reseller contract you sign guarantees that the relationship stays between you and your customer. If not, your provider may take control of the partnership (suggestion: look into web hosting forums for conversations among resellers regarding control of client accounts). With WPMU DEV’s completely brandable Reseller platform, your clients will be unaware that their websites are hosted with us, allowing you to maintain your connection with them.

2. Quality Hosting Products

It goes without saying that any products you resell to clients should be of the highest quality possible, so choose products from hosting providers with a solid award-winning reputation, a long-standing presence in the industry, and loads of positive customer reviews.

After creating a short-list of the top hosting providers, look for reseller hosting features in their product offerings that include the following:

• Ensure the hosting provider you choose has a strong guarantee for server reliability and uptime, as consistent downtime can harm your clients’ websites, their user experience, and ultimately reflect badly on your business.
• Scalability: Consider whether your provider can accommodate your growth plans and handle increased demands as your reseller business expands.
• Additional features: Consider other features such as domain registrations, backup solutions, security measures, SSL certificates, and email services. These value-added features will greatly enhance the appeal of your hosting packages.

Think about contacting other distributors or experts in the field for suggestions, and take a look at customer feedback on websites such as G2.com, Trustpilot, Reviews.io, Sitejabber, as well as review sections on social media platforms like Facebook and Google.

No doubt you’ll want to research WPMU DEV’s world-class web hosting, as this is the same award-winning suite of hosting products we offer to resellers.

To save you time researching different hosting options, take a look at how WPMU DEV hosting stacks up against other companies.

3. Reseller Hosting and Website Management

So, you have found an excellent and reliable hosting company with top-notch hosting services you can resell.

The following stage involves searching for web hosting management tools that enable you to effortlessly generate hosting plans tailored to your business and oversee your client websites efficiently and seamlessly.

Since the website management process is largely controlled by the control panels used in your reseller platform, use the following questions to help you evaluate the reseller platform:

• Are the management tools simple, easy, and intuitive to use?
• Is there a dashboard within the hosting control panel that offers a quick overview and allows for easy management of all aspects, as well as access to in-depth reports, logs, settings, and more?
• Is the reseller platform well-supported and regularly updated?
• How much input do resellers have on the platform’s development? Can they request new features and improvements?
• Are the client-facing aspects of the management tool available directly through your website, or is it necessary for users to log in using a separate URL?

With the above in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more popular control panel applications available to WordPress hosting resellers for managing web hosting and client websites:

WHM/cPanel/WP Toolkit

WebHost Manager (WHM) and cPanel are commonly preferred by hosting resellers, particularly those that use Linux-based hosting services and manage servers.

WHM is a web-based administrative console. It allows server administrators and resellers to manage various aspects of web hosting, including user account creation, and server-related tasks including server configuration and server maintenance.

WHM provides a graphical interface for server administration and is often used in conjunction with cPanel to manage web hosting services and server resources for multiple websites in a centralized manner.

cPanel offers server and website management tools, ideal for advanced users, and is recognized for its comprehensive features, strong performance, and vast user community.

WP Toolkit is included with cPanel and is a WordPress management interface that allows you to install, configure, and manage WordPress sites, plugins, themes, and more.

As a reseller using this platform, you would manage your hosting account and configure your hosting packages using WHM, use cPanel to manage individual sites and features like email management, and file handling, and use WP Toolkit to perform WordPress management tasks within those sites.

While the pros of using WHM and cPanel include being very popular programs that are widely implemented, very flexible, and have extensive documentation, some of the drawbacks are that these can be hard to set up and configure, and require a lot more hands-on management.

Also, working with these separate applications can be a little overwhelming and confusing for beginners, and their interfaces tend to feel a little cluttered.

Furthermore, WHM relies on cPanel, and cPanel necessitates the payment of licensing fees for each account and server, which can increase your operating expenses (the cost of cPanel licenses is often included in reseller hosting packages).

Plesk

Another well-known control panel for managing web hosting and WordPress sites is Plesk.

Unlike cPanel which runs on Linux, Plesk supports both Windows and Linux servers. However, like cPanel, Plesk also offers features like automated updates, security tools, and WordPress toolkit for efficient website management.

The interface of Plesk is similar to WordPress, with all the features displayed in menus on the left-hand panel.

Like cPanel, the Plesk interface offers customizable modules, so you access those that you use more frequently from the interface’s home page without having to go through layers of menus.

Plesk also lets you view its interface differently depending on how you want to run your reseller business with two options: the Service Provider and the Power User view.

I recommend the Service Provider view for resellers who intend to offer shared hosting services to various clients.

Power User view suits web developers and web designers who create and manage websites for customers who won’t be logging into Plesk. It  removes the ability to manage customer accounts, service plans, and subscriptions, and includes the Tools section, which contains various tools and utilities for managing your account.

If you are just starting out on your reseller journey, you’ll need to consider the cost of using Plesk to manage your clients accounts.

In order to operate as a reseller with Plesk, the Web Host Edition license is required.

As we will see later, many reseller hosting programs run on the above applications.

Open Source Control Panels

For more technical users, using open-source hosting control panels like Webmin, CyberPanel, and others with Linux servers can provide great flexibility and customization options.

Choosing these applications to manage your hosting and client sites has the disadvantage of requiring technical knowledge to integrate and set up the different systems needed for your hosting reselling business.

As stated earlier, we don’t recommend this option unless you really like tinkering with the technical stuff and want to spend time reading loads of documentation to figure out how to make everything work.

Proprietary Control Panels

Here is where we start to get closer to the ultimate dropshipping and automated vending machine model described earlier that will let you run a profitable reseller business with the least amount of technical know-how and hassle involved.

Some hosting providers offer custom control panels with unique features and integrations, tailored to their hosting plans and specific services.

Opting for proprietary control panels to oversee your hosting and client websites offers significant advantages, such as an emphasis on ease of use and reducing the need for technical knowledge, freeing up your time and energy to concentrate on customer service and business expansion.

Additionally, proprietary control panels can offer cost-effective alternatives for smaller reseller businesses without the high licensing fees of general control panels.

For example, WPMU DEV’s Reseller platform eliminates all of the complexities of configuring and managing reseller hosting and websites for your clients as well as the need to pay high licensing fees by combining award-winning hosting plans with a proprietary, intuitive, and user-friendly site management control panel, The Hub, via an all-inclusive and affordable Agency membership, which covers all the licensing costs you need for your reseller business and so much more.

It’s also worth noting that web developers, agencies, and WordPress users consistently rate WPMU DEV’s The Hub as a leading WordPress hosting and site management tool, so WPMU DEV offers not only hosting products of outstanding and award-winning quality, but also the tools to manage your hosting and client sites.

To learn more about the various aspects of your reseller business that The Hub simplifies and streamlines, refer to The Hub documentation.

Now that we have covered the main technical areas to look for when assessing reseller hosting platforms (i.e. quality hosting and hosting management tools), let’s look at what the best platforms should include to help you manage and grow your reseller business.

4. White Label Branding and Customization

White labeling services gives you the opportunity to create and promote your own brand identity in the marketplace.

Ideally, you want to be able to white label and customize the entire reseller platform to match your unique brand and have this all be fully integrated with your business.

Unfortunately, with many reseller platform setups this isn’t possible.

For example, if you are managing your hosting account using Plesk and want to make the control dashboards available to your clients, you can brand the Plesk dashboard with your own logo and make it clickable to point to your company’s website. You can even change the page’s title so your customers see your company name or other relevant text in their browsers’ title bars when they work in the Customer Panel.

cPanel provides comparable customization features, including extra links to your support and documentation pages, as well as the ability to include your logo in webmail and design a favicon.

However, your clients will still need to log into an external URL in order to access these dashboards.

If you want your clients to experience the full benefit of your brand, your reseller hosting platform should include additional brandable components, such as an integrated white labeled client portal, accessible via your own website.

WPMU DEV’s Reseller includes this as the next feature of your reseller platform that we will examine.

5. Client Portal and Automation

If you don’t intend to oversee all aspects of your client’s digital footprint, it’s important for the customer-facing sections of your reseller platform to provide comprehensive white label options for your brand and to seamlessly integrate with your website.

Additionally, you will want the platform to automate as much of the client administration as possible so you can scale your business and grow your client base.

Ideally, your platform would also automate various sales processes so clients could choose to upgrade services within their client portal without requiring your assistance. This increases your revenue with no additional effort on your part.

As previously mentioned, if your reseller platform consists of a combination of third-party components that require your clients to access their information through a separate URL than your website, this could create difficulties due to an uneven user experience.

With a white-label platform like WPMU DEV’s Reseller and The Hub Client plugin, you can create a fully branded professional client portal that your clients can access from your own domain without ever leaving your website.

Furthermore, The Hub Client comes equipped with automatic features designed to increase your earnings, such as website templates, domain registration (coming soon), and additional tools.

Speaking of automation and putting money into your pocket, let’s now turn to the component of your reseller platform that will ensure you get paid for your services.

6. Client Billing, Invoicing, and Management

Up to this point, we have discussed all the technical elements required for your reseller platform, including white label hosting, hosting management, and client portal.

The next step is to figure out how to get paid for supplying your clients with your reseller products and services.

Remember, being a reseller involves:

1. Purchasing goods and services from your vendor.
2. Marking up your cost price to resell these for a profit,
3. Allowing clients to make one-time and/or subscription purchases,
4. Establishing billing and/or recurring payment arrangements.
5. Managing the entire client payment process, including the creation of accounts, suspension of unpaid invoices, subscription cancellations, report generation, etc.

All of these processes can and should be fully automated, including purchasing products at cost price from the supplier only when and if a sale is made and having the markup difference after the sale (i.e. your profit) be automatically transferred to your business and deposited into your bank account.

Numerous software options exist for managing client billing, invoicing, and administration for your reseller enterprise. We will concentrate on two specific instances: a reseller platform assembled from various elements, and a cohesive reseller client billing system.

WHMCS

If your reseller platform is built using separate components like WHM, cPanel (or Plesk), WPToolkit, etc., you may want to consider using WHMCS (Web Host Manager Complete Solution).

WHMCS is a web hosting management and billing software script that includes features designed to automate various aspects of a web hosting reseller business, such as:

• Billing and Invoicing: Automates billing processes, setting up taxes, generating invoices, and managing payment collections.
• Provisioning: Facilitates the setup of hosting packages, domain registration, and management.
• Automation: Streamline the process of setting up, suspending, and terminating hosting accounts through automated workflow tasks.
• Customer Management: Manage customer accounts, support tickets, and client communication.

While WHMCS is the most widely adopted billing automation solution for hosting providers, there are some cons, such as:

• Adding custom branding requires editing server files
• Having to purchase hosting from your supplier independently of selling hosting and collecting client payments.
• Paying software licensing fees (plus optional installation, configuration, and integration fees to ensure a smooth setup), which can make this a costly option for small reseller businesses.

WPMU DEV Clients & Billing

A solution like WPMU DEV’s Automated Clients & Billing offers you everything that a solution like WHMCS offers with additional advantages, such as:

• Integrated client and billing platform: With Clients & Billing, there’s no need to set up a separate component to handle billing management. Clients & Billing lets you manage all aspects of your billing process with Stripe, right from your Hub or Hub Client plugin installed on your own site.
• Sell all products and services: WPMU DEV’s Clients & Billing portal is not limited just to reseller products. You can create and sell any kind of product or service packages to your clients.
• Get discounts on charges: With a WPMU DEV membership, Clients & Billing comes at no additional cost. Moreover, members with a Freelancer or Agency plan have the advantage of not paying any transaction fees, resulting in absolutely no fees at all.

The video below provides an overview of WPMU DEV’s Clients & Billing platform:

7. Expert 24/7 Support for Resellers and Their Clients

Operating a reseller business with your own branding indicates that if your customers solely interact with you, you are ultimately responsible for any issues that may arise, and any faults will be attributed to you.

It’s really important to know, then, that the company you choose to partner with will always and immediately be there to support you at all times, especially if there’s an issue with your clients.

You need excellent reseller and technical support for your business and your clients will need excellent hosting and technical support for their businesses.

When assessing the level of hosting support you will receive as a reseller, it’s crucial to take into account the following aspects:

• Proactive Customer Support: Does the support team anticipate potential challenges and address these before they become issues? Tip: Check real customer reviews for unbiased information in this area (see the list of review sites provided earlier).
• 24/7 Availability: Is customer support available 24/7 to ensure assistance is accessible when needed?
• Does the support for resellers include personalized assistance through multiple channels such as live chat, email, and phone?
• Chatbots for Quick Responses: Does support enhance responsiveness and efficiency with chatbots for quick responses to common queries?
• Community Forums: Are there established community forums where resellers can connect, share experiences, and seek advice from peers?
• Expert Technical Support: Is expert technical support available to resellers for help with complex issues?
• Resources for Self-Help: Does the company offer educational content such as blog articles, instructional guides, tutorials, manuals, and video content to enable resellers to independently find solutions and support?
• Regular Updates and Communication: Are resellers kept informed of industry trends, best practices, system changes, maintenance schedules, and new features through regular updates and clear communication?

Again, it’s worth noting that WPMU DEV’s support is rated by thousands of fanatical members as one of the best available in the WordPress ecosystem, providing 24/7 expert technical assistance for resellers for all web hosting and WordPress-related issues by a live team of trained staff all around the world via live chat, member support forums, email, and an AI-powered assistant specifically trained on our comprehensive documentation.

In terms of providing support to your clients, WPMU DEV also has you covered, with tools like integrated video tutorials and our soon to be launched white label reseller client support (coming real soon!)

8. Additional Reseller Features

Everything we’ve discussed so far should be included and be able to be fully integrated with your business.

But don’t stop at that point.

You are looking for a long-term partner you can trust and rely on to grow your reseller business, so find out what else is included in their reseller program.

For example:

• Does the reseller platform include an exclusive IP address for each hosting account?
• Are you able to incorporate the ability to resell domain names within your platform?
• What about emails, customized website templates, white label premium plugins, and branded reports?

Can you also combine reseller products with your own products and services to create unique packages and bundles for your clients? Or set up different subscription plans to give your clients easier options to purchase from you?

Check their roadmap to see what new features or products are in the pipeline for resellers, and how responsive and open they are to receiving requests for new features and improvements from their members and resellers.

Top Reseller Hosting Programs

Now that you know what to look for in a hosting reseller platform, let’s look at some of the more popular hosting reseller companies and their programs.

WPMU DEV Reseller

The Reseller program offered by WPMU DEV is the perfect solution for digital agencies or web development businesses, offering a comprehensive reseller platform.

• World-class dedicated hosting plans capable of handling sites of any size and purpose, from micro businesses to large enterprises
• Award-winning hosting and site management tools
• Customization and branding with a white label approach.
• Client portal with admin/sales automation that runs on your own domain
• Integrated client billing, invoicing, and management,
• Expert 24/7 support for resellers (and reseller clients too…coming soon!)

The fully integrated reseller platform offered by WPMU DEV not only integrates smoothly with your brand, but also offers an easy and unbeatable pricing model that is sure to increase the profitability of your reseller business.

A reseller license is included at no additional cost with an Agency membership plan. This automatically gives you a 50% discount on all hosting plans, plus additional annual hosting credits which you can apply to any hosting plan (e.g. you can set up 3 x Quantum sites at no cost).

Agency members also benefit from a range of additional inclusions, such as wholesale domain pricing, a suite of premium plugins, directory listing, and a whole lot more.

As a reseller for WPMU DEV, you have the ability to determine your own prices and put together various packages from a selection of reduced-price hosting plans (ranging from 10GB to over 1,600GB), with prices beginning at just $4 per month.

When you make a hosting sale, the full amount of your client’s payment is credited to your Stripe account. The payment method you have set in your profile is then charged for the hosted site, just as if you had created it yourself in your own WPMU DEV account.

So, there’s no waiting a month or so to get paid … just set up your payouts on Stripe and you’re done!

Explore the comprehensive documentation to discover everything that WPMU DEV’s Reseller program has to offer for your agency or web development company.

GoDaddy Reseller

The GoDaddy Reseller program is another very popular reseller hosting program.

The Reseller program offered by GoDaddy comes with a variety of attractive features such as a website creation tool, a suite of interconnected tools that enable you to market domains, hosting, SSL certificates, and more, as well as oversee your clients’ websites and customers through a single dashboard. Additionally, it provides a customizable storefront and devoted teams that are available around the clock to assist your customers via phone or email, and they may even attempt to finalize the sale on your behalf.

However, there are some things to be aware of.

For example, there is a cost to join.

GoDaddy provides two options for reselling their services: the Basic Reseller plan, which allows for a maximum of 25 customers and starts at an annual cost of $107.88, and the Pro Reseller plan, which permits an unlimited number of customers and starts at an annual cost of $179.88. Monthly payment is not available for either plan.

While both programs include a white-label eCommerce storefront, credit card processing, 24/7 support, free GoDaddy software for email marketing, and sales and commission reports, they both charge resellers standard buy rates with Basic Reseller offering up to 20% off the retail price, while the Pro plan offers up to 40% off retail pricing.

Note that site management tools are only included with the Pro Reseller plan.

Regarding personalization options, WordPress hosting reseller packages offer limited choices. All plans utilize shared hosting instead of dedicated hosting, meaning you won’t have the ability to manage the quantity of clients utilizing the same server resources as you.

You can add a markup on top of GoDaddy’s prices (either globally or set a price per product), but you can’t create custom products or combine other services to create a unique package tailored to the needs of your business (and unlike WPMU DEV’s Reseller, GoDaddy customers don’t get premium plugins included with their hosting).

Additionally, reseller storefronts are hosted by default on a GoDaddy URL (secureserver.net). While you can set up your storefront to point to a subdomain on your existing website, GoDaddy limits this feature to certain pages of your storefront for security purposes, so when customers enter secure areas of your storefront, the default URL will display instead of your custom domain.

Remember that GoDaddy processes payments using their own system, and resellers must wait 30 days to receive their sales commissions (for instance, the commission earned in December will be disbursed at the end of January).

SiteGround

SiteGround provides 3 reseller hosting plans ranging from 20GB to 40GB+ disk space, starting from $4.99/month (first invoice only with prepaid purchases of a 12-month hosting plan).

SiteGround utilizes Google Cloud servers for their hosting services and provides custom-built tools, Site Tools and Client Area, for managing your hosting account and client sites.

A chat with their sales team confirmed that SiteGround currently does not have an option for billing or an alternative to WHMCS, so as a reseller, you would manage your client websites from the main user area but handle the billing manually from your end.

Note that for white label hosting, you will need to opt for their GoGeek plan at $7.99/month, or Cloud plan, starting from $100/month. Configurable hosting packages are only available with the Cloud plan.

Hostinger

If you want to become a reseller of Hostinger’s hosting services, you will need to join their affiliate program and utilize their specialized tools Pro Panel and hPanel to oversee your hosting account and the websites of your clients. Pro Panel is designed for managing hosting and clients, while hPanel is a simplified version of cPanel for handling client websites.

With Hostinger’s reseller hosting you can sell shared, cloud, or VPS hosting, but you cannot set your own hosting prices, as it operates on a commission-based model, so the pricing structure of your reseller hosting plans is fixed and pays you a 20% commission for first-time purchases and 10% commission for user upgrades, renewals, or purchases of different plans.

Hostinger’s reseller setup is also not as integrated as WPMU DEV’s fully white-labeled platform where your client perceives to be only dealing with you.

If you have increased the price of Hostinger’s hosting and included it with your services as part of Hostinger’s reseller program, you will need to buy it for your client or send them a shopping cart with the reseller hosting plan for them to pay. However, your client will then buy the hosting at the price listed on Hostinger’s website.

InstaWP

The InstaWP reseller model is based on setting up WordPress sites for clients using a template and then migrating the sites to one of their hosting partners or to any other hosting provider.

The complete Website As A Service (WaaS) package is currently in the testing phase. At the moment, it enables users to design templates and set their own prices for selling them.

However, InstaWP doesn’t have their own hosting, so their reseller model is commission based depending on which of their hosting partners you purchase from. They will take a percentage of the sale and pay you your commission at the end of the month.

WPUltimo

WP Ultimo is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create a WordPress multisite network and offer a white-label, multi-website hosting solution to your clients.

The WP Ultimo reseller model enables web developers to become hosting providers and offer website creation, hosting, and domain reseller services to their clients by emulating self-managed Website as a Service (WaaS) platforms on WordPress similar to Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress.com.

While WP Ultimo is a versatile solution for WaaS, it runs on WordPress Multisite (unlike WPMU DEV’s single-site solution, where every site is built and hosted on its own dedicated virtual server and individual IP), which is harder to manage (as one of the largest multisite hosts on the planet, we know the challenges of managing sites on this platform).

Other Reseller Programs

The following are some popular hosting companies that offer reseller hosting programs with pre-installed management software like cPanel, Plesk, WHM, WHMCS, etc. They don’t include components like premium plugins or a client portal like our white labeled Hub.

Note: Prices shown below may reflect promotional/discount pricing and vary from the actual prices charged by the hosting companies on their website.

InMotion

InMotion reseller features include:

• Hosting Products: 4 reseller plans (80GB SSD – 300GB NVMe SSD)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: WHMCS
• Starting Price: $6.99/month

A2 Hosting

Features of A2 Hosting for resellers include:

• Hosting Products: 4 reseller plans (60GB SSD/NVMe SSD – 250GB SSD/NVMe SSD)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: WHMCS or Blesta
• Starting Price: $15.99/month.

HostGator

HostGator reseller features include:

• Hosting Products: 3 reseller plans (60GB – 140GB)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: WHMCS
• Initial Cost: $19.95 per month (for the initial month only)

InterServer

InterServer reseller features include:

• Hosting Products: 5 reseller plans (80GB – 280GB)
• Hosting Management: DirectAdmin
• Client Billing: Install via a script (e.g. WHMCS, Blesta, HostBill, etc.)
• Starting Price: $19.95/month

AccuWeb

AccuWeb reseller features include:

• Hosting Products: various plans (10GB – 200GB)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: Not included. You will need to set up your own.
• Starting Price: $11.99/month (with annual purchase)

Hostwinds

Features included in Hostwinds’ reseller program are:

• Hosting Products: 3 shared hosting reseller plans (unlimited space)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: Not included with Reseller
• Starting Price: $5.24/month (first billing cycle only, then $6.99/mo)

ResellerClub

ResellerClub reseller features include:

• Hosting Products: 4 reseller plans (40GB – 200GB)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: can purchase WHMCS as an add-on
• Starting Price: $16.99/month (with 3-year purchase, otherwise $23.99/mo)

HostPapa

Features offered by HostPapa for resellers include:

• Hosting Products: 5 reseller plans (50GB – 250GB)
• Hosting Management: cPanel/WHM
• Client Billing: WHMCS included for up to 250 clients.
• Starting Price: $30.99/month

Expand Your Reseller Business Without Increasing Your Stress Levels

Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has given you all the information you need to find the ideal reseller hosting company and platform for your WordPress and web services agency or web development business to partner with for long-term success.

We’ve covered the pitfalls to avoid, looked at everything the ideal reseller hosting platform should provide you with, and even included a list of the top reseller hosting companies you can check out to save time with your research.

I agree that the perfect reseller hosting platform for my business should include the following:

1. Provide a fully managed hosting service so you don’t waste time worrying about the technical issues of hosting and managing servers,
2. Be seamlessly integrated with your agency or web development business so it runs completely under your own brand on your domain,
3. Include everything from superior-quality web hosting plans where you can set your own pricing and easy hosting and site management tools to client billing and invoicing, a white label branded client portal, 24×7 expert support for resellers and their clients, and other additional services you can resell (e.g. domains),
4. Provide you with the ability to tailor, automate, adapt, and expand your business effortlessly and without any problems.
5. Provide you with maximum profit potential (e.g. ability to buy services at deeply discounted or even wholesale prices and mark these up without restrictions),

Then we guarantee you won’t find a better reseller hosting solution to partner with than WPMU DEV’s Reseller.

WPMU DEV Reseller is the culmination of years of effort by a global team comprised of hundreds of dedicated staff members, all united by a single common purpose: to develop and support the best all-in-one fully integrated, automated, white-label WordPress platform available anywhere that agencies and web developers can resell as their own to grow and scale their business to unlimited heights.

Take our reseller platform for a 30-day risk free test drive, do your due diligence, and see for yourself why we are not just tooting our own horn.

Running a profitable reseller hosting business can be challenging and filled with headaches and complications, but with WPMU DEV’s Reseller, it doesn’t have to be.

Integrate reseller hosting with your business today.

Selecting the ideal reseller hosting option for WordPress enterprises and digital agencies is essential for the triumph of your online business. Reseller hosting permits you to acquire hosting services from a provider and resell them to your customers, enabling you to design custom hosting packages and determine your own pricing. With a plethora of choices available, selecting the appropriate one for your business can be daunting. This guide will explore the crucial elements to consider when choosing a reseller hosting provider for your WordPress enterprise or digital agency.

1. Consistency and Availability
The consistency and availability of your hosting provider are vital for your business’s success. Your customers anticipate constant website availability, and any interruptions can lead to revenue loss and reputational damage. Opt for a provider that guarantees 99.9% uptime and has a history of fulfilling that promise.

2. Growth Potential
As your business expands, you will require scalable hosting resources to handle increased traffic and demand. Select a reseller hosting provider that offers adaptable plans and permits effortless resource upgrades as needed.

3. Client Assistance
As a reseller of hosting services, you become the primary contact for your clients’ technical issues. It’s crucial to choose a provider with outstanding client support, ensuring swift resolution of any problems. Choose a provider with 24/7 support via various channels such as phone, email, and live chat.

4. Brand Customization
Brand customization permits you to label the hosting services as your own, enabling you to cultivate your brand and gain your clients’ trust. Select a provider that provides brand customization options, allowing you to personalize the control panel, billing system, and other hosting service aspects with your branding.

5. WordPress Compatibility
Since you are specifically seeking reseller hosting for WordPress enterprises and digital agencies, selecting a provider optimized for WordPress is important. Look for a provider that offers one-click WordPress installation, automatic updates, and other WordPress-centric features.

6. Security Measures
Security is paramount for any online business, and selecting a reseller hosting provider that prioritizes security is crucial. Opt for a provider that offers SSL certificates, regular backups, and additional security measures to safeguard your clients’ websites against threats.

7. Cost Consideration
Lastly, evaluate the pricing of the reseller hosting plans. While competitive pricing is important, don’t compromise quality for cost. Seek a provider that delivers a balance of features and pricing, allowing you to provide your clients with a high-quality hosting service at a reasonable rate.

In summary, selecting the optimal reseller hosting for WordPress enterprises and digital agencies involves careful consideration of factors such as consistency, growth potential, client assistance, brand customization, WordPress compatibility, security measures, and cost consideration. By researching and comparing various providers, you can discover the perfect reseller hosting solution for your business requirements.