Blimey! Over 21000 new posts since I was last here!!
Must stop doing so much work and get back visiting!!

Well, I am considering setting up a company offering web hosting - and for basic packages was thinking of charging ?30-?45 per year (depending on Windows or Linux servers). Now I think that basic hosting would suit most amdram groups - certainly would us! The package would also include webmail!

Firstly, I was wondering if anyone would actually be interested in a package like this bearing in mind it would be a new company. Would people leave their current hosts if they are perfectly happy with them, even if I can do a better price?

Secondly, this is a question for the tekkie guys on here!
The account I am looking at only offers 3gb bandwith per month (I am presuming, although will find out, they mean data transfer limit). Is this plenty for most amdram groups do you think?

Hope someone has some opinions

Sandra

You can get cheaper deals than that.... Some are free..

But then again...

Most groups don't need large disk size or bandwidth...

http://www.webfusion.co.uk/hosting/windows/

I agree with George.

I'd also add that to set up a proper hosting environment is expensive if you do it properly. What guarentees are you going to be able to give about availability? What redundancy have you got in the servers, SAN, network, network routing? Will you be able to operate from another physical site if need be, and how quickly can you move the service? I've not seen your business plan, so you may be on a very sound finacial basis. However, the land is littered with failed start-ups in this arena so be warned.

You have to remember that all the established operators are years ahead of you and as such have already written off their start-up costs. I'd respectfully suggest that unless you are planning only to host for the local playgroup, village hall and similar size organisations, you will have to come up with an offer containing a real point of difference to what is already out there. I can't make any suggestions I'm afraid, but it has to commercially innovative. If you look outside the IT technology areana, you will see lots of examples where people have come forward with an offer that is different to the existing players. Virgin Atlantic for example majored on friendly and human customer service, plus innovative at seat services. This set them apart from the 'plastic' customer service of the other operators.

Robin

I run a webhosting business and have been around since '97.

Unlike shops that close at 5pm you will be on call 24x7x365 when a server burps or a customer has locked themself out of their control panel. If you want to give up a social life this is definitely the way to go.

Having said that its not all doom and gloom and you can make a living from it although you need to invest alot of money to startup and keep your equipment constantly updated.

Oh and if you were thinking of reselling someone elses services - "webfusion" etc - dont even think of going there. Why? The further down the food chain you are the worse deal your customer will get and you will take all the fallout not them when things go wrong.