White-label hosting means selling hosting under your own brand while the servers, data centre and core maintenance are handled by an upstream provider. Your clients deal with your company name, your website and your support. It is how agencies, designers and small hosting companies offer hosting without running their own hardware.
Before you start
- A reseller or master reseller hosting plan with WHM access, such as an MdmHost reseller plan.
- Your own domain for the brand, a logo and a support email address.
What white-label hosting covers
| Part | White-labelled by you | Handled upstream |
|---|---|---|
| Brand and website | Your name, site, prices and terms | — |
| Nameservers | Private nameservers like ns1.yourbrand.com | DNS servers themselves |
| Control panel | cPanel logo, colours and URLs | cPanel licences and updates |
| Billing | Your invoices, payment methods, client area | — |
| Support | First-line support under your name | Server-level issues escalated to the host |
| Infrastructure | — | Hardware, network, OS, security, backups |
Branded nameservers
Private nameservers hide the upstream provider's DNS hostnames. You register child nameservers (glue records) such as ns1.yourbrand.com and ns2.yourbrand.com at your domain registrar, pointing to the IPs your host provides, and configure them in WHM so new accounts use them.
Branding cPanel and webmail
In WHM resellers can upload a logo, set a company name and adjust colours for cPanel and webmail. Clients can reach cPanel through yourdomain.com/cpanel or cpanel.yourdomain.com, so the upstream hostname never needs to appear in your instructions.
Branded billing and client area
Billing software such as WHMCS gives you a client area on your own domain, with your logo, invoices, order forms and support tickets. It provisions cPanel accounts automatically when a client pays, so clients never see the upstream provider.
Branded support
Clients contact you. You handle account questions, DNS changes, email setup and website issues, and escalate server-level problems (hardware, network, server software) to your host. Keep the upstream ticket details out of client communication and reply in your own words.
Note: White-labelling hides the brand, not the technology. A technically curious client can still see server IP ownership or software headers. Be honest if asked; using a quality upstream provider is normal and a selling point.
How to set up white-label hosting
- Choose your brand name and register its domain.
- Order a reseller plan and log in to WHM from MdmHost dashboard → Services.
- Create private nameservers and register their glue records.
- Brand cPanel and webmail with your logo and company name.
- Create hosting packages that match the plans on your website.
- Install billing software and connect it to WHM for automatic provisioning.
- Write terms of service, a privacy policy and a support process.
Troubleshooting
- Private nameservers do not resolve: the glue records at the registrar are missing or point to the wrong IPs.
- SSL warning on branded cPanel URL: use the proxy subdomains such as
cpanel.yourdomain.comcovered by AutoSSL.
Frequently asked questions
Is white-label hosting legal?
Yes. Reselling is explicitly allowed by reseller plans. Follow your provider's terms on acceptable use.
Do my clients need to know who my upstream host is?
Not usually, but your privacy notice should name processors that handle personal data where required by law.
What is the difference between white-label and reseller hosting?
Reseller hosting is the product you buy; white-labelling is how you present it under your own brand.