Why Should I Use WHMCS?

[Media Corp.]

Hello, I am a new hosting Reseller and was given a license for WHMAutopilot with my account. I tried to install it, but ended up paying the $25 USD to have it installed for me (I'm primarily a designer).

 

After a few hours (more like 12) of playing with the system I realized either I'm missing something, or the software is.

 

In light of this terrible experience, I am considering WHMCS for my Hosting Division.

 

I am wondering:

 

1) Your experiences with WHMCS (installation, ease of use, support etc..)

 

2) Ease in integration with your existing website (CSS, colours, fonts, general 'look' etc...)

 

3) Are you able to use WHMCS to generate invoices for other services such as web DESIGN etc. (can I use this software for ALL my invoicing.

 

4) Which license do you recommend (Lease, Owned etc...)

 

We are running cPanel.

 

I realize you probably get this question all the time. I'm also sure that the question-asker was VERY thankful for your comments.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Derek

[Si]

Hi Derek,

I'm a user/customer of WHMCS and so my reply does not reflect the replies of the company behind whmcs.

 

One of the first things you'll realise as a new hosting reseller is that the most annoying thing about the business is having customers and potential customers ask you questions which are already covered and answered either by yourself or others on a forum and which can be found if they took a little time to seek them out and spent time investigating something which is vital to their business. In light of that, you don't mention you've done either of these, so here are two initial things you should do:

 

1) Read the feedback section on this forum: http://www.whmcs.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=2

 

and

 

2) Install the trial and use it.

 

Secondly in response specifically to your individual questions.

 

1) Installation simple. Ease of use - easier than any other billing system I've used. Support - excellent. Always fast.

 

2) The simplest integration ever with smarty templates I've ever come across. (Using the trial is the best way for you to test it).

 

3) Yes. (Using the trial is the best way for you to test it).

 

4) As you are a start-up I personally would recommend leased.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I wish you well with your venture.

 

Si

[simplybe]

Hi Derek,

I run whmap & whmcs as well as some others side by side. If you had asked this question 2 years ago, I would have said whmap is the best there is. Sadly whmap has fallen behind with very few updates and a lot of bugs.

 

I would go with whmcs, get the trial. It is very easy to install and configure.

 

Good luck.

[pacwebhosting]

I would say WHMCS is very easy to use with a gentle learning curve and would highly recommend it

 

(and do at every opportunity!)

 

Thanks

 

Paul

 

One of the first things you'll realise as a new hosting reseller is that the most annoying thing about the business is having customers and potential customers ask you questions which are already covered and answered either by yourself or others on a forum and which can be found if they took a little time to seek them out and spent time investigating something which is vital to their business. In light of that, you don't mention you've done either of these, so here are two initial things you should do:

 

And thats one of the most annoying replies......

[Si]

One of the first things you'll realise as a new hosting reseller is that the most annoying thing about the business is having customers and potential customers ask you questions which are already covered and answered either by yourself or others on a forum and which can be found if they took a little time to seek them out and spent time investigating something which is vital to their business. In light of that, you don't mention you've done either of these, so here are two initial things you should do:

 

And thats one of the most annoying replies......

 

Hi Paul,

I would probably agree, if that was all that I replied. But it wasn't. And I would ask that you bear in mind I took quite a lot more time over my reply than some and provided a more detailed answer. What I said is a statement of fact, for the benefit of Derek (and others who read) yet had additional information added to it for his benefit.

 

No offence was meant, but I just felt if someone is entering the hosting business, the least they can do is try not to do what their customers will do. Simple lesson I think and if any offence or annoyance was caused I apologise.

 

Si

[Roger]

Derek if you need a provisioning/billing tool that you can count on to work without a lot of headaches headaches/work arounds then WHMCS is a great choice.

 

I've tried/used some of the others, mainly Modern*4 and 5. WHMCS is an island of competence in a sea of products that are near impossible to configure and/or just don't work properly.

 

The community is very friendly and very helpful. Sometimes we may be a little short or snappy, but we are human and if it gets to rude someone usually will step in. Unlike many other forums. That doesn't happen much at all around here.

 

I agree with the others. Grab the demo and give it a whirl. I believe you'll be impressed.

 

Regards,

-Roger

[Media Corp.]

One of the first things you'll realise as a new hosting reseller is that the most annoying thing about the business is having customers and potential customers ask you questions which are already covered and answered either by yourself or others on a forum and which can be found if they took a little time to seek them out and spent time investigating something which is vital to their business. In light of that, you don't mention you've done either of these, so here are two initial things you should do:

 

Sorry to inconvience you, Si. Saying that...thanks for the help (but no thanks for the lecture). I realize how forums work and did look around here before posting (would have saved me the time waiting for answers). I also had just finished a 12+ hour stint trying to get WHMAutop*lot working and had run out of patience. I do appreciate your help.

 

Thanks to Roger, Paul and 'simplybe' for the advice as well. I will definitely download the trial and see how it goes. Si, I was hesitant to download the trial because of the horrible experience I just had with Autopilot. The last thing I want to do is spend another dozen hours trying to get useless software working.

 

Thanks again,

Derek

[Si]

Hi Derek,

You didn't inconvenience me at all. If you had I would simply not have replied. There was no malice (as I have said before) in the reply I gave, and I apologised for any that was inferred or taken.

 

I wish you well with your venture.

 

Si