Start a hosting business with WHM: the reseller setup checklist

A reseller plan gives you everything needed to sell hosting under your own name: WHM, cPanel accounts, free SSL, backups and a fast LiteSpeed and CloudLinux platform managed by MdmHost. This checklist walks through the setup in the order that saves the most rework, with links to detailed guides for each step.

Before you start

• An MdmHost reseller plan (Starter, Advance, Business or Supreme) or a VIP Master Reseller plan if you also want to sell reseller hosting.
• A domain for your brand, for example yourbrand.com (register one if needed).
• A rough idea of the plans you want to sell.

Access and security

1. Log in to WHM from the dashboard (see logging in to WHM).
2. Turn on two-factor authentication (see WHM two-factor authentication).
3. Set your contact email in your reseller cPanel so you receive notices.

Brand identity

1. Create private nameservers such as ns1.yourbrand.com (see private nameservers).
2. Add your logo, colours and support links to cPanel (see cPanel branding).

Products

1. Decide which cPanel tools each plan gets and build feature lists (see Feature Manager).
2. Create two to four packages with clear limits (see creating packages).
3. Set hourly email limits in every package (see outgoing email limits).
4. Check your total allocation and overselling plan (see reseller limits).

Billing and automation

1. Set up WHMCS or another billing system, create products mapped to your packages and test an order (see selling with WHMCS).
2. Configure automatic suspension for overdue invoices and termination after cancellation.
3. Prepare a welcome email with cPanel URL, nameservers and your support contact.

Your first customer

1. Create the account (see creating a cPanel account) or migrate it (see transferring accounts).
2. Check SSL in SSL/TLS Status (see AutoSSL for customers).
3. Check email authentication (see email deliverability).
4. Recommend LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress sites (see LiteSpeed Cache).

Ongoing operations

• Weekly: check disk and resource usage (see monitoring usage).
• Know how to restore a customer's files from JetBackup (see restoring customer backups).
• Escalate server issues (firewall, mail queues, IP blacklists) to MdmHost through a ticket; our 24/7 human support handles the server side.

Frequently asked questions

Do my customers know MdmHost is the provider?

Not if you use private nameservers, cPanel branding and your own billing. MdmHost supports you, and you support your customers.

Which MdmHost location should I choose?

Pick the location closest to most of your customers: Germany, USA or Singapore.

When should I move to a master reseller plan?

When you want to sell reseller plans yourself, or need more accounts and resources than the largest reseller plan offers.

How long does the setup take?

Most resellers finish nameservers, branding and packages in an afternoon. Billing setup and testing take longer, so allow a day or two before taking real orders.

Can I offer free SSL to my customers?

Yes. AutoSSL issues and renews free certificates for every account on MdmHost servers, so you can include SSL in every plan.