Starting your own web hosting business can be a lucrative venture, moving beyond simply choosing from the best web hosting services to becoming a provider yourself. Reseller hosting offers a powerful solution, providing a “business in a box” for aspiring entrepreneurs, web designers, and digital agencies.
AccuWeb Hosting is a major player in this space, offering a wide array of reseller packages. But with so many options, are they the right partner for your new hosting empire? In this comprehensive review, we’ll break down AccuWeb’s reseller hosting plans, features, performance, and how it all works.
First, What Exactly is Reseller Hosting?
Think of a web hosting company like a commercial landlord that owns large data centers. With reseller hosting, you lease a large portion of their server space at a wholesale price. You then have the freedom to divide this space into smaller, individual hosting accounts, create your own branded packages, set your own prices, and sell them to your clients.
You become the hosting provider for your customers, while the parent company (in this case, AccuWeb) handles the backend server maintenance, security, and infrastructure.
About AccuWeb Hosting
Founded in 2003, AccuWeb Hosting is a U.S.-based provider with over 22 years of experience in the industry. They are known for offering a vast range of hosting solutions, from shared hosting to dedicated servers, with a particular focus on both Windows and Linux environments.
AccuWeb Reseller Hosting Plans Analyzed
AccuWeb offers three distinct categories of reseller hosting, each tailored to different technical needs and business scales.
1. Linux Reseller Hosting
This is the most popular choice for resellers due to its compatibility with cPanel/WHM and common applications like WordPress, where clients are often looking for the fastest WordPress hosting performance you can provide.
- Pricing: Starts at $11.99/month.
- Management: Includes the industry-standard WebHost Manager (WHM) panel to create and manage client cPanel accounts.
- Key Features: Unlimited Email Accounts, Unlimited MySQL Databases, Free SSL Certificates, Private Nameservers.
Here is a breakdown of their Linux Reseller plans:
| Plan | cPanel Accounts | SSD Storage | Bandwidth | Price (Promo) | Free WHMCS |
| Bronze | 5 | 30 GB | 100 GB | $11.99/mo | Yes |
| Silver | 30 | 100 GB | 300 GB | $29.99/mo | Yes |
| Gold | 50 | 150 GB | 600 GB | $49.99/mo | Yes |
| Platinum | 100 | 200 GB | 1 TB | $97.99/mo | Yes |
Expert Take: While the Bronze plan is tempting, we recommend the Silver plan for serious entrepreneurs. The inclusion of a free WHMCS license (a powerful billing and automation tool) is a game-changer that saves immense administrative effort.
2. Windows Reseller Hosting
Ideal for resellers whose clients need to run Windows-specific applications like ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Microsoft Exchange.
- Pricing: Starts at $29.99/month.
- Management: Uses the Plesk control panel for account management.
- Key Features: Solid-State Drives (SSD), MailEnable Email, Free SSL, MSSQL & MySQL Databases.
3. VPS Reseller Hosting
For resellers with high-traffic clients or those who need guaranteed resources and greater control. You are essentially reselling individual Virtual Private Servers (VPS).
- Small Building VPS Reseller: $107.92/month.
- Tower VPS Reseller: $205.83/month.
Expert Take: This is an advanced option. It offers superior performance and isolation for each client but requires more technical knowledge to manage effectively. It’s best suited for agencies serving enterprise-level clients.
How to Start Your Business with AccuWeb: A Step-by-Step Guide
AccuWeb’s platform is designed to get you up and running quickly. Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Choose Your Master Reseller Plan
Select the primary AccuWeb reseller plan (e.g., Linux Reseller Silver) that provides enough resources (storage, bandwidth, cPanel accounts) for your initial client base. You can always upgrade later as your business grows.
Step 2: Define Your Branded Hosting Packages
Using the WebHost Manager (WHM) control panel provided by AccuWeb, you create your own custom hosting plans. You decide the resource limits for each tier, such as:
- Storage space (e.g., 10 GB for a “Basic” plan)
- Monthly bandwidth
- Number of email accounts and subdomains
- Pricing for your packages
Step 3: Brand Your Client-Facing Control Panel
WHM allows you to “white-label” the cPanel interface. You can add your own logo, branding colors, and company name, so your clients have a seamless brand experience and never need to know AccuWeb is the provider behind the scenes.
Step 4: Market and Sell to Your Clients
Once your plans are defined, you can start selling them. When a customer signs up, you use WHM to create a new, individual cPanel account for them based on the package they purchased.
Step 5: Provide First-Line Support
As the hosting provider, your clients will contact you for technical support. You are their first point of contact. If you encounter an issue you can’t solve (like a server-level problem), you can escalate it to AccuWeb’s 24/7 expert support team.
Pros and Cons of AccuWeb Reseller Hosting
No provider is perfect. Here’s a balanced look at AccuWeb’s strengths and weaknesses.
Pros
- Wide Variety of Plans: With options for Linux, Windows, and VPS, they cater to nearly any reseller need.
- Free WHMCS on Most Plans: Offering a free license for WHMCS (on Silver plans and up) is a significant value-add that automates billing and client management.
- 100% White-Labeled: AccuWeb provides private nameservers, allowing you to completely brand the service as your own.
- 24/7/365 Expert Support: Their support is crucial for resellers who need to resolve escalated client issues quickly.
- Solid Uptime: They offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which is standard but essential for maintaining your clients’ trust.
Cons
- Higher Renewal Rates: Like many hosts, the attractive introductory prices increase upon renewal. Factor this into your business model.
- No Free WHMCS on Entry Plan: The Bronze plan lacks the free billing software, requiring manual invoicing or a separate paid license.
- Can Be Overwhelming for Beginners: The sheer number of options and the technical nature of WHM/Plesk can be intimidating for those brand new to web hosting.
Who is AccuWeb Reseller Hosting Best For?
- Web Designers & Developers: Easily bundle hosting with your design services for a recurring revenue stream.
- Digital Agencies: Manage all your client websites under one powerful dashboard and generate additional income.
- IT Consultants: Offer a more complete service package to your small business clients.
- Entrepreneurs: Launch a full-fledged hosting business with low startup costs. You’ll likely want to learn how to start a blog to market your new hosting packages effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is reseller hosting different from affiliate hosting?
With reseller hosting, you are the direct service provider for your clients that they pay you, and you provide their support. With affiliate hosting, you simply refer customers to a hosting company in exchange for a commission by joining various affiliate marketing programs; you have no ongoing client relationship.
Do I need to be a technical expert to be a reseller?
You need a solid understanding of web hosting basics (cPanel, domains, email setup). However, you don’t need to be a server administrator, as AccuWeb manages all the deep technical work (hardware, network, security).
What happens if my client outgrows their plan?
You can easily upgrade a client’s account to a higher tier that you’ve created within your WHM. If your entire reseller account runs out of resources, you can upgrade your master plan with AccuWeb.
Can I set my own prices for the hosting plans I sell?
Absolutely. You have 100% control over the pricing of the packages you create and sell. Your profit is the difference between what your clients pay you and what you pay AccuWeb.
The Verdict
AccuWeb Reseller Hosting is a powerful, flexible, and feature-rich platform ideal for anyone serious about starting a web hosting business. The inclusion of free WHMCS on most plans, combined with the choice of both Linux and Windows environments, makes it a standout option.
While absolute beginners might face a slight learning curve, the platform provides all the tools needed to build a scalable and profitable hosting service. For agencies, developers, and entrepreneurs looking to add a recurring revenue stream, AccuWeb is a very strong contender.
