The two main types of hosting you'll find when looking around are shared a reseller hosting. Both types of accounts are fairly similar, with one major difference. With shared hosting you generally only have one account and you share assets with all other accounts on the server. With reseller hosting you buy a larger chunk of a shared server and resell those resources to your customers.
The great thing about a reseller account is that you don't need to know how to run a server at all. The company you buy the reseller account from takes care of maintaining the server software. Any time you have a problem related to the server you just contact the host and they'll take care of it.
If you just have a single website then you won't have any advantages by going with a reseller package. If, however, you have a number of sites that you host you can generally save quite a bit of money, as buying hosting in larger portions is generally cheaper.
With a reseller account you can also sell hosting, so this can be a comparatively economical step into the hosting business. You have the flexibility of regulating your own clients, creating, suspending and terminating accounts. You also have the insight that the server is being maintained for you, so you only have to worry about your clients and web site.
A big drawback is that if you are unable to solve a customer's problem yourself you will need to contact your host and wait for a reply. This can become a lengthly process and is one of the major reasons some customers are unwilling to buy hosting from a reseller. You should be able to handle most problems yourself and with proper support protocols it shouldn't be a big problem.
As a reseller, like I said previously, you have reduced access to admin functions, and if you have exposure with the control panel and server software you may find this annoying. The only thing I can put forward is asking the host if it would be possible for them to permit your account more with administration privileges. The worst thing the host can say is 'no', so it's worth a try.
Reseller hosting is a great option if you need to host a few accounts or are looking to set up your own hosting business. With a minimal outlay you can take your first steps on the road to success.
