Could You Save Money With a Hosting Co-Op?

Shared hosting is notoriously inexpensive, but it’s also fairly limited in what it can provide.

Hosts offer big discounts for advance payment, but that’s not always a good idea.

So what’s the alternative?

If you’re not ready to step up to a bigger plan, you could form your own hosting co-op by splitting a server between several people.

The Hosting Co-Op Concept

With a co-op, you simply need a group of people who want to split the cost of a hosting plan.

Everyone benefits from lower costs, more control and more resources.

There shouldn’t be anything in your host’s ToS to prevent this, although one person may have to be nominated as the technical contact in case of any issues.

Would It Work For You?

Any shared financial transaction could be fraught with problems.

• Consider whether you trust your friends, coworkers or family members to contribute equally.
• Consider the added burden of management and maintenance.
• Weigh up who’s responsible for paying the bill – and collecting money from everyone else.

In some cases, you’ll be better off simply buying a VPS.

The inbetween option is to become a reseller. That way, if you get lumbered with the admin, you’re entitled to get paid for your time.