If you have a website

you need web hosting service. Options abound throughout the Internet, and you’ve seen offers for both real hosts and reseller options including different perks and rates. It’s first and foremost important to understand the difference between the two.

Web Host Resellers

act like a middle man, purchasing web hosting services from a real host; then, for a small profit, the service is sold to the customer. There is nothing wrong with using a reseller, but there are some differences that may determine one will work better for your business than another.

If you have an extreme number of sites

or required server space to host your site, a real host will most likely work the best. They will handle your website hosting directly, versus handing you over to another party for any technical issues or questions. However, if all you require is personal hosting or very small site that doesn’t receive a lot of traffic, a reseller will most likely serve your purposes well. Now we’re faced with the next question: how do you know if your proposed service is real or a reseller?

You can always ask them outright

but they may not always answer directly. Of course, this is a pretty good indication of the correct answer to your question. You may also check the registry of the company’s domain name to check ownership – if the names match between the domain and the hosts, you’re probably doing business with real hosts.

High-traffic and technically advanced sites

will most likely require employing the services of real web hosts. Although web hosting resellers will have the option to host several sites and continually provide upgrades, too. So, if you’re just starting out and plan on growing, these questions are most likely of no consequence to you currently – either web hosting service will offer the service and reliability you require today.