Hi.

I want to start a hosting company up aswell as I have a web design company aswell.
Could you let me know how to go about doing this and some recommendations.

Cheers
Charlie

You could start with a reseller account from a good webhost and go from there. As you get more clients you can go from reseller-VPS-Dedicated-Colocation.

It will be hard to get clients in the beginning. Setup billing/helpdesk software as well as a decent looking website. Do not get a template from templatemonster.com as too many exist already and you will simply look like everyone else.

In addition, make sure to get your company licensed. There are many other factors however this will just help to get you moving.

I think reselling is a good start, and you can strat with no cost using ResellerPanel free reseller hosting account.

Good luck

Well, I would get a re-seller. Then when you have around $100 monthly income get a VPS and go from there. Get support staff, billing software(start with a trial and then move up).etc

I recommend going with a small hosting company as they will lead you through

I seriously recomend you geting a reseller account at hostgator.
They not only offer you a reseller acocunt like no other, but thy do also offer you an enom reseller account (domains selling) and a billing software (whmautopilot) this should get you in the right path.... after that well as soon as you get enough clients jump to a dedicated.
Learn everything you can about linuxm shell commands and so on, in order to go fully dedicated directly froma datacenter.

Do not get a template from templatemonster.com as too many exist already and you will simply look like everyone else.

That would depend on his target market. If he goes local, he shouldn't be that worried about people knowing much about web templates.

Then again, he states he's into web design so I would think he's more than able to create a website.

I seriously recomend you geting a reseller account at hostgator.

I've only got experience with their shared hosting, but based on that I certainly agree with your recommendation.

Learn everything you can about linuxm shell commands and so on, in order to go fully dedicated directly froma datacenter.

Of course, a fully managed server can also be a solution. Not everyone wants to be a server admin (though some related knowledge would definitely be recommened). Some want to concentrate on the business side rather than the technical side of things.

Originally Posted by ldcdc

Of course, a fully managed server can also be a solution. Not everyone wants to be a server admin (though some related knowledge would definitely be recommened). Some want to concentrate on the business side rather than the technical side of things.

Well thats the last step I do recommend for some one.
I started with a managed dedicated as well at hostgator, and jumped to my own server (directly from a datacenter) after I learned a few things about security and such.
My main prime server is still at hostgator but the rest (32 are from the datacenter).
So basicly, a reseller account -> dedicated managed -> own dedicated.

As for when to move from one to another thats allways up to the owner.

I am currently signed up to this
http://www.startlogic.com/products_prologic.html

Would that be any good for doing it?

Cheers
Charlie

Its a good offer although I wouldnt recomend it to anyone that is just starting.
You know have to spend money in a billing software, SSL and you need to get a reseller domain account, in order to sell domains

Thats why I recommended you hostgator since they offer that for FREE.

I'm a reseller at JaguarPC.com ... i'm not an affiliate and it is not my company, but I would recommend them. Just get one of their Bulk Resller Plans to start off with, they're support is very prompt and friendly
I've only been there for a few weeks actually, but I have friends that have been there for years. So far I haven't experienced any downtime at all. I've set up a third party monitering and it reports 100% uptime

I'm interesting in doing the same as charliearchibal.
Of the various hosting services i found listed, here's a list of what cnet lists:

OLM.net
aplus.net
Cedant
BizLand
Nexpoint.net
ExpertHost.com
One World Hosting
HostGator
Website Source

How do these rate? HostGater is only one mentioned so far.

Originally Posted by stevenlw

How do these rate? HostGater is only one mentioned so far.

I tried so many hosting companies I cant even remember half of them, before decided to go solo.
The only ones that really help out when troubles appear is hostgator.

Every time I had a problem with the servers, they resolved a.s.a.p, they even "helped" me out lounching my own business.
How else helps out a reseller that is about to leave their services to become an "competitor"?

Originally Posted by stevenlw

How do these rate? HostGater is only one mentioned so far.

I can't comment on Aplus.net becuase I haven't used their services but I know there are alot of reviews about them, just search 'Aplus.net' at http://www.webhostingtalk.com and you will see.