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Help Thinking About Starting a Game Server Hosting Resell Business

Andrewsed

Andrewsed

Junior Poster
Registered
Hey everyone,

Recently, I have been considering launching a hosting reseller business. The plan involves renting a few large dedicated servers from a provider and then using virtualization software to divide them into smaller game servers, which I would then sell.

My primary focus was on Minecraft hosting, aiming to differentiate myself by providing excellent support and a seamless user experience, particularly targeting the European market.

I’d love to hear from anyone with similar experience. Do you have any tips, lessons learned, or pitfalls to avoid? Also, I’d appreciate input on the tech stack. Is there anything I might be overlooking?
 
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    • It's a solid concept, but be mindful of your margins. Minecraft players often prefer servers that are very affordable. Without offering something unique, like custom modpack hosting or highly personalized support, you'll be competing in a crowded market.
     
    About four years ago, I ran a small hosting service. The technical aspects weren’t the hardest part. The real challenge was providing support. Be ready for people to flood your inbox at 3 am if their plugin fails. If you’re okay with that, go ahead. From a technical perspective, I suggest using containers like Docker or LXC instead of complete virtual machines, as they are much lighter and easier to scale for hosting Minecraft servers.
     
    AllenTar said:
    About four years ago, I ran a small hosting service. The technical aspects weren’t the hardest part. The real challenge was providing support. Be ready for people to flood your inbox at 3 am if their plugin fails. If you’re okay with that, go ahead. From a technical perspective, I suggest using containers like Docker or LXC instead of complete virtual machines, as they are much lighter and easier to scale for hosting Minecraft servers.
    Click to expand...
    Yeah, that makes sense. I was definitely thinking of targeting the “premium” crowd rather than being the cheapest option. I know Minecraft hosting is highly saturated, but I believe that focusing on modded servers and providing good support could help me stand out.

    And good call on containers. I initially considered VMs, but if containers are lighter and quicker to scale, that might be the better choice. Thanks for the advice!
     
    For the EU, Hetzner and OVH are dependable options. Ensure your server's location aligns with your player base, as high latency can quickly ruin the experience. Also, using a control panel like Pterodactyl makes deployments and management much easier. Don't consider doing it without DDoS protection. Trust me.
     
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    • The main question is, why would someone pick you over the many other Minecraft hosts out there? If your selling point is better support, make sure you really deliver it. Many say they do, but few actually follow through. Consider offering modded servers or custom setups that players are willing to pay extra for, as these can help resolve issues.
     

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