When one of your resellers starts selling reseller hosting themselves, they need master reseller rights. You do not have to recreate them: WHMReseller lets you change the type of an existing reseller, keeping their accounts, logins and settings.
Before you start
- A VIP Master Reseller plan with WHMReseller that allows creating master resellers (alpha level may be required; see alpha resellers).
- Free allocation for the extra limits.
- Agreed new limits and price with the reseller.
Change the reseller type
- Open WHM → Plugins → WHMReseller and go to List Resellers.
- Click Edit or Modify next to the reseller.
- Change Reseller type to Master Reseller.
- Set Max resellers: how many resellers they may create.
- Raise Max accounts, Disk space and Bandwidth for their whole tree.
- Enable access to WHMReseller in their privileges.
- Save.
Menu names vary slightly between versions; see editing reseller limits.
What stays the same
- Their cPanel accounts, packages and branding.
- Their WHM login and password.
- Their customers' websites and email.
Check afterwards
- Log in as the reseller in a private window.
- Confirm WHMReseller appears and Create Reseller works.
- Confirm limits on their dashboard.
Tip: Give the new master reseller the end-user guides they now need, such as creating resellers and designing reseller plans.
Update billing
Move the reseller to your master reseller product in WHMCS so invoices match the new limits.
Downgrading later
To change a master reseller back to a normal reseller, first move or remove the resellers they created, because a normal reseller cannot own other resellers (see changing ownership).
Plan sizes for this tier are discussed in designing reseller plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does the upgrade cause downtime?
No. It changes permissions and limits only; websites keep running.
Can I upgrade a reseller to alpha directly?
Only if your own level allows creating alpha resellers.
Do their customers notice?
No. Customer accounts are unchanged.
How much more allocation does a master reseller need?
Enough for their own resellers plus headroom. Many hosts give master resellers two to three times a large reseller tier.
Will they get my branding?
They keep their own branding settings and can set up branding for their resellers.
Can I see what their resellers do?
Yes. As the level above, you can see the whole tree under them in WHMReseller and List Accounts.
Should I review their privileges?
Yes. Master resellers manage others, so double-check they cannot grant more than you intend, such as unlimited accounts.
What if I run out of allocation later?
Lower unused allocations or upgrade your VIP plan before raising their limits again.