Integration/Automation

[neofree]

Hello. I am starting a new web hosting company and have some issues to work out. I would like to offer the ability to sell domains in addition to hosting. I am already going with a dedicated server. I've found services such as itsyourdomain.com to offer domain reselling. And, I've found services such as 2checkout.com to offer credit card processing for the hosting. But, the problem is... How do I do this in one step? I want users to beable to beable to register for a domain and sign up for hosting in one shot, and be billed only once for the domain and the hosting.

Suggestions?

[Eladesor]

Most hosts write their own script, it's not very difficult.
Other prefer to buy an 'off the shelf' one.

Eladesor.

[neofree]

OK, well I don't mind writing a script, or even paying for one. What I don't understand is getting it on one credit payment.

eg: itsyourdomain.com will take care of the billing of the domain. and 2checkout.com will take care of the billing for the hosting. this is requiring the end-user to enter his credit card twice. i can write a script, but i dont understand how I would allow the domain to be purchased through a single credit card order.

[Eladesor]

There are two possible options available to you:

1. Write the script to capture all of the details required, using a secure server. On submit - (a) fwd details to the registrar for automated signs ups (if they allow this) and (b) to your self to set-up the domain.

2. Buy something like http://www.zaygo.com who offer a domian purchasing script for resellers of certain registrars (can't remember which ones they do) which then automates the process for you in one go :) NOTE: they also sell hosting scripts, but I think they only work for annual packages not monthly.

Regards
Eladesor.

[neofree]

If I write the script, I am still curious how I can bill the costumers for the domain and pay for the domain to the reseller. I can think of the mechanics. Just not sure who offers the service I need in the way I need it.

Tommy

[frankc420]

I think I have a pretty good understanding of what your wanting to do. I'll give it a go, if a customer wants to purchase webhosting and a domain at the same time, you don't want their card charged once by you and once by the registra.... If that's the case, I would think the only way to get around this is to submit your own card to the registra and charge it all on 2checkout.com on the customers card. But to make the transaction smooth, your card should be from the same checking account that your 2checkout.com account dumps your funds into.

Which the above would still require a script.... It would be your easiest way out!

My 2 Cents,

Frank Collette, IV

[neofree]

This is the route that I have decided to go, except using Revecom instead of 2checkout. I chose them because of their reporting abilities, abilities to adjust re-occuring billing ammounts, can add custom fields to order form and several other reasons. I dont mind paying a little more for features. Now they are a little slower about processing the cards, and keep 5% for 3 months for chargebacks, but we still decided tehy would be better for us.

Neofree

[Web Diversity]

Eladasor mentioned earlier about Zaygo having a domain and hosting cart facility. This is very true they do. They also have plug ins for other modules, like integrating with your payment service provider (limited choice though).

You can integrate it and make it automated but you can also have it that you control what happens in terms of setting up the hosting etc.. You also can stipulate how much you charge for domains per year, it's fully customizable. You can also have it e-mail the details of the order to you and have the CC details but I would be less than comfortable with this, not sure about other people.

[Daytripper]

I've come across a nice web site building/hosting service that lets you build the customer's sites and they take care of the billing and give the toll free tech support to the customer. Granted you only get a commission on the monthly hosting of the customer, but you don't have to worry about tech support for customer and the recurring billing is taken care of for you. The customer can have ecommerce on their site, so if they don't have a merchant account you can sell them one and if they don't have a domain name guess what? You can sell that to them too.From all the nightmare billing and fraud I read about day in and day out I thought some people might find this set up rather attractive. If you know of any webmasters that just wanna build sites and let someone else take care of the bakend, drop me a line