I’ve solely owned and operated a small website development business for the past eleven years. I primarily build and manage websites using MODx for clients in community services, conservation and environmental nonprofits, and green businesses, and presently have a loyal client base of 45+ domains. Besides creating websites, I also host my client websites on a dedicated server, which generates additional annual income.
I am looking for a partner who is growing his/her client base and wishes to share this dedicated server, who is willing to mutually share server/client maintenance during periods of each other’s absence, and who will take over my client base upon my retirement.
A suitable partner would be one who is comfortable working with :
-MODx (evo and/or revo)
-PHP, MySQL, CSS, Javascript and graphic web design
-Unix servers (cPanel and WHM)
If this sounds interesting, please PM me.
Gee, I posted this topic over three days ago and while lots of views so far, nary a response...
I’m just curious why this is the case.
I realize that not everyone who uses MODx or this forum is a web developer, but many of you post like you are. Are all so well heeled that you don’t want/need any more clients? Or are all working for larger companies as employees? I’d have thought the offer of eventually taking over my client base would appeal to someone, particularly a lone developer who is just starting out and eager to gain more clients.
Or does no one want to host their clients’ websites? I realize that many web developers set up client websites on shared servers, but hosting my clients on a dedicated server has been a lucrative and steady portion of my income these many years. My server support folks are great and handle any serious problems--a service included in my low monthly hosting cost which I more than make up for in client revenue.
My situation and offer aside, this brings up an observation: There’s very little talk here in the forums about various web development/design business models (or have I missed the topic buried in the forums?). Seems like this would generate some interesting discussion among us modxers.
I think I can help. However I need to speak to you and to find out what do you exactly need.
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I found a dedicated server to be much too expensive for my purposes, but a VPS worked great for when I was hosting a couple of client’s sites. The one I got was an interesting (and fun) Solaris server; the only problem I had with it was that the DADA mailing list (perl application) that I like wouldn’t run on Solaris.
Thanks everyone who has responded here, along with those who PM’d me.
When I got started over a decade ago, VPS didn’t exist and I soon ran into problems using a shared server. First, there were the script kiddies that were just about impossible to keep out of client sites. Many useful scripts back then required full file permissions and of course, that led to all kinds of puerile and malicious hack attempts. None of these hacks was very sophisticated and could be quickly fixed, but it was bothersome and time consuming, nonetheless. Next was the competition for server resources--as more folks came on the server or someone’s site suddenly took off, server response time noticeably decreased. Finally, I had little control over useful addon scripts that enhance server efficiency and security, like mailscanner or configserver security and firewall which dramatically reduce spam and hack attempts.
Susan is correct in that dedicated servers cost a bit more, but if you’ve enough clients, it becomes a revenue generator. Your break even point depends on what you charge for hosting. I avoided monthly billing of clients by moving to annual hosting plans, cutting down on my accounting costs. Of course, the advent of dirt cheap hosting during the past few years has made hosting much more competitive. I make up for this with better service and quicker response times, along with plans offering more or less maintenance. As in any business, prompt service tends to generate client loyalty.
I don’t think I’d have gone this route, however, if I hadn’t had excellent tech support from my provider (hostmatters.com), a small hosting company that has given me great service over the years. Things go wrong with any server, and it helps to understand how they work. It’s nice to know whatever I can’t fix myself, my techs can, including educating me about what to do next time.
I know that there’s disagreement among developers whether or not hosting is worthwhile. It has been for me, but it may not be for you. I can’t speak to VPS, but I’ve been pretty happy with the dedicated server route.
I have a dedicated server for my sites I host as well. I prefer them over shared servers. I tried one shared server and within 2 weeks it was hacked twice. So I paid to have my domains transferred sooner than the 6 week period.
I pay roughly $42 a year for 4 domains I host on a dedicated server.
I’m happy with it and I keep adding new domains for only $35 a year for the hosting then a little extra for the building/management on the siets.
I always assumed that a dedicated server would be more hassle than a shared server, so I’ve never really looked into them.
The shared servers I’ve used for the last few years have been fine, as far as I know they have never been hacked, and the performance has been good and pretty consistent, and the technical support has been good. I assumed with a dedicated server you would be on your own if anything went wrong?
My dedicated server I still have a team that is around the clock that monitors our servers. They fix any thing wrong all day everyday.
That’s speaking only for my servers not sure of anybody else.
