Brandtley, I totally agree that this is something that should be considered before diving in and have heard just about every horror story.
However, I would also caution anyone who's gone the route of registering a domain for their client using the client's own account & setting up hosting using the client's own account that you can't simply tell them "it's not my problem--call tech support" when their site's down as you're not being much help to them. And, frankly, may inspire them to look elsewhere. I've chosen my path because I have a rock-solid host and because my clients have requested it and they appreciate that I manage all of the tricky, technical issues. They've each made it clear that, while they do want a website, they don't care at all about updating DNS records. Again, it all depends on what type of shop you want to be. Fortunately, there are many options. Cheers, Art Thompson, Jr. Logical Things, Inc. 917-609-1158 [m] 512-777-1158 [w] www.LogicalThings.com www.twitter.com/LogicalThings www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings We design, build and deploy branded Microsites, Landing Pages, Blogs, Eblasts and Whatever Comes Next. -- On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 3:39 PM, Brandtley McMinn <[email protected]>wrote: > Be wary of becoming a hosting reseller. Essentially, YOU register the > domain and hosting.. so if anything goes wrong, your client calls YOU about > it. This becomes a real hassle since you then have to take time out of your > other production work to contact your hosting service or debug the hosting > account. > > Not saying the kickbacks on hosting resale isn't nice and all, but it > really is a service you should research before delving into. > > Another option is becoming an affiliate with a hosting provider. So that > when your client decides to go with their hosting service, you make a > certain percentage as commission for referring them. > > Just do some research before moving forward with these avenues. > > Best regards, > > > -- Brandtley McMinn - Creative Director > Gigglebox Studios XD > [email protected] > 512.406.1666 > > On 6/23/2010 2:38 PM, Art Thompson, Jr. wrote: > > Hi Holly, > > I should have been more specific about my billing process, so please allow > me to elaborate: > > 1. I register domains using my own account, but using the client's > specified name as the LEGAL OWNER. The last thing in the world you want is > to be the LEGAL OWNER of someone else's domain. > > 2. I simply add the cost of registration as another line item to my invoice > for that particular project. > > 2a. More often than not, if I'm having to register a domain, I'm also > setting up hosting. If you haven't already set yourself up as a hosting > reseller and are inclined to do so, I would get on this as it makes life > much easier. (I use Rackspace Cloud Sites and couldn't be happier. They have > an excellent client billing feature and, no, I'm not compensated in any way > for saying that.) > > 3. I usually include a copy of the domain reg bill I receive with my > invoice to show the client that I'm not marking up the cost. And why would > I, for a few extra bucks? > > 3a. There's no need for either of us to send each other credit card info. > No need to create new domain registrar accounts or Gmail accounts that the > clients will never keep track of. Again, since I registered the domain, I > get the renewal notices. The only thing worse than a website going down > because the domain renewal has lapsed is if it's also snatched up by someone > else. Can you think of a worse conversation to have with your client, even > if it's to say it was their fault for missing the email(s)? > > 4. If or when the client does decide to take their business elsewhere, they > initiate the transfer to their new domain registrar--this is different from > transferring the LEGAL OWNER and MUCH simpler. Then I just unlock the domain > and my hands are clean. > > In short, keep things simple for your clients, but inform them about the > various machinations of owning a website. It also comes down to exactly what > service you choose to provide for your clients. Are you a full-service shop? > Is it determined on a case-by-case basis? The best thing is to explain > things and ask if they want to manage and pay for everything themselves or > if they want you to provide these services and send them one bill. > > Most of my clients fall in that second category and have been with me for > years. > > Cheers, > > Art Thompson, Jr. > Logical Things, Inc. > 917-609-1158 [m] > 512-777-1158 [w] > www.LogicalThings.com > www.twitter.com/LogicalThings > www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings > > We design, build and deploy branded Microsites, Landing Pages, Blogs, > Eblasts and Whatever Comes Next. > > -- > > > > On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 12:54 PM, Holly Fortenberry < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Yes, I agree that I'd prefer to have the domain name registered directly >> to the client, just not sure about the best payment procedure to protect my >> credit card info. You all are saying to open up the acct. in the clients >> name, yet, in doing so, I am paying for it with my own company credit card >> but sending client the password to his/her account; so, that means the >> client has access to my company credit card info (unless I retype and delete >> that cc info each time which I guess I could do even though that's a pain). >> It seems as if there should be a better way, other than asking the client to >> provide me with their own credit card info. >> >> Thank you, >> Holly >> >> >> Art Thompson, Jr. wrote: >> >> Holly, >> >> I always register domains for my clients unless they specifically state >> that this is something they wish to do themselves. This has nothing to do >> with squeezing an extra few bucks out of them. >> >> I register all domains in my clients' names which makes them the "legal >> owner, thus avoiding issues down the road. It also means thtat I get renewal >> emails--not them, so I don't have to worry about them miissing it and their >> site disappearing. >> >> Hope this helps. >> >> Art Thompson, Jr. >> Logical Things, Inc. >> [email protected] >> 917-609-1158 [m] >> 512-692-9865 [w] >> www.LogicalThings.com >> www.twitter.com/LogicalThings >> www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings >> >> We design, build and deploy branded Microsites, Landing Pages, Blogs, >> Eblasts and Whatever Comes Next. >> >> -- >> >> On Jun 22, 2010 7:31 PM, "Mark Phillip" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hey Holly, I always try to avoid it. >> >> The few dollars you'll save in registration costs isn't worth the pain of >> dealing with transferring the domain to the client at a later date. >> >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> Mark >> http://markphillip.com >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 7:19 PM, Brandtley McMinn <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >> > Hey Holly, >> >... >> >> -- >> Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Refresh Austin" group. >> >> [ Posting ] >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy >> We do not accept job posts from recruiters. >> >> [ Unsubscribe ] >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> >> [ More Info ] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin >> >> -- >> Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Refresh Austin" group. >> >> [ Posting ] >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy >> We do not accept job posts from recruiters. >> >> [ Unsubscribe ] >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<refresh-austin%[email protected]> >> >> [ More Info ] >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin >> > > -- > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin > > -- > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<refresh-austin%[email protected]> > > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin > -- Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Refresh Austin" group. [ Posting ] To post to this group, send email to [email protected] Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy We do not accept job posts from recruiters. [ Unsubscribe ] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin
