Do-it-yourself hosting services?

Question

Individual entrepreneur

Good afternoon!
Our studio develops websites, a lot of clients have accumulated, mostly not very loaded projects. Previously, they were registered on third-party hosting, but now there is a desire to provide such services themselves.
We have IP, instead of servers we want to use VDS, i.e. we are not going to install our physical server yet.
What licenses and papers do we need? What pitfalls can be, tell me who came across ...

Answer 1

Getting a license is easy and inexpensive.
But then you are obliged to hand over the communication center to the communication center within a year. In which, of course, you must have at least one physical certified server. This pleasure is already expensive - together with the preparation of documents and other expenses, count on ~5k$.
And you can safely forget about VDS. No such AFAIR option is provided.
The main pitfall is that the policy of the state is that the fewer small telecom operators, the better. Keep an eye on a few large ones and require them to install SORM equipment, etc. - much easier.
So it's your decision - many hosters offer special conditions for studios. The client can pay you (you act as an agent), you have a full-fledged admin panel.

Answer 2

If you are also going to take a license, then it’s better for you not to get involved in this matter at all.

Answer 3

For several years I was also engaged in hosting from the studio, without any papers and licenses. But in the end I realized that nerves are not worth the money from hosting

Answer 4

On paper - in general, you need either a competent lawyer who will draw up a contract for consulting services (but this is quite dangerous garbage), or an LLC + a telematics license (here we are already avoiding criminal liability) + surrendering a communication center (without a communication center, a fine of 3000 rubles). Or you can work absolutely in the black, up to a relatively high turnover, you will not be of interest to anyone, especially if the servers are not in Russia.
Regarding the software - Take reselling better from a normal office, no hemorrhoids, everything is on the host. If you want your own - VPS / VDS with 512+ (preferably 768-1024) MB of RAM, a panel (DirectAdmin, Cpanel, ISPManager, you can play around with Virtualmin). Plus, you will need a billing and support system, most likely.

Answer 5

I would never become a client of such a "studio"