cPanel-based Reseller Web Hosting
The cPanel reseller hosting mode of operating works by chopping cPanel web server(s) into predefined reseller accounts, which are afterwards traded as individual reseller packages. Each and every single cPanel-based reseller website hosting package is managed by the WebHost Manager (WHM) administration user interface. WHM is the location where the reseller sets up the shared web hosting accounts marketed under his own brand. Here are the usual procedures a regular cPanel-based webspace hosting reseller has to go through:
1. Choose a billing/invoicing gateway
In order to accept money from their customers, the resellers must add an invoicing platform connected to the cPanel/WHM platform. The most famous 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 sort of a payment system (PayPal, WorldPay, 2CheckOut, etc.). Without the merchant account, the reseller cannot collect any credit/debit card payments from his hosting clients. This merchant account needs to be established inside the chosen invoice system by the eager reseller.
3. Open a domain name reseller account
If you are going to offer domain registration and transfer services to your clients, you have to open a domain reseller account with a certain domain registrar and to link it inside the invoicing software platform.
4. Set up the shared site hosting accounts
The cPanel reseller website hosting business model permits the reseller to sell shared hosting plans exclusively. Availing of the WebHost Manager tool, the wholesale web site hosting reserves have to be divided into smaller plans.
5. Select the prices for the shared site hosting plans
Now is the time for the reseller to choose the prices for the promoted shared hosting accounts. While doing this, it's good to pay good heed to the fact that inside the invoice platform (which is separate from cPanel and WebHost Manager, in other words a third login location for the reseller so far and second for the customers) the customers 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 exalted cPanel hosting customers as well. cPanel has more or less 150 sections inside (the customer must pick up promptly), but does not have any Billing or Invoice Manager. Can you believe that?
6. Select the prices for the domains
The user interface offered by cPanel also does not support very fundamental domain name procedures, such as registrations, transfers, renewals, parking, DNS registrations, DNS record alterations, etc. So, this payment software system is also offering a place for the zealous cPanel site hosting customers where they can execute some (albeit, not all) of the aforementioned important domain management and manipulation procedures. So, now is the time for the reseller to pick which top-level domain names (TLDs) will be promoted and to select their corresponding registration, transfer and renewal price tags.
7. Append a customer support system
Another thing that is lacking in the user interface offered by cPanel is a technical support section (a customer support system). Depending on the billing software platform the reseller has chosen already, a customer support platform is either available or not. If it is not added, the reseller has to provide a customer support platform and to install it somewhere. Somehow the shared web site hosting clients should be aware of its availability.
8. Link the order wizard with the site
Finally, now is the time for the reseller hosting website itself. There the shared website hosting accounts and domain names can be bought by the prospective customers. The whole site must perform in perfect harmony with the invoice processor. This implies, within the web site, the order wizards and the order pages need to be connected accurately.
Let's summarize the login locations present with the cPanel-based web hosting reseller packages. There are at least two and maximum 4 places to log in to, which can be quite baffling for the resellers and chiefly for the clients.
For the reseller the login locations are:
(1) cPanel (for the reseller site); (2) WHM; (3) the billing software; (4) the ticket platform (this is in case the invoicing software platform does not already incorporate it - some do, others don't).
Login places for the fervent cPanel web site hosting customers:
(1) cPanel; (2) the invoice software system; (3) eventually the customer support ticket platform.