Good day all all
Yes it is profitable, I do it since 2003 but:
1) You have to go niche specified:
Do not sell to everyone, choose your target and stick with it... I sell hosting only to small and middle companies in 1 country... I do not advertise... all clients come by recomendations... I do not even have a page about hosting, but I have it in the cart options.
2) Do not over sell:
Unlimited this and that doesn't exist... even the universe is not unlimited... is your hard disk unlimited? ... In my experience, since 17+ years, I never used the word unlimited and I explain to my clients that I offer what is real (quantifiable).... My biggest disk pack is 25GB and traffic is 100GB traffic, and most clients use like 5% of that.
3) Better sell as an additional option to one specific service/hobby:
I offer consulting and some small jobs to small companies, and they always mention the hosting... that's where I come in.
How to find the service? easy, just think of whatever you like or already do, you love music, sell to artists, you love computers and tech (like me) sell to a little tech savvy clients.
4) You won't make money on domains:
Forget making money on domains... the money is in the hosting.
5) Sell to mature audience:
Forget the kids who change host every few months and complain of the slow this, bad that... look for long term mature audience... who know a bit about technology.
6) An extremely profitable strategy is:
To offer a free domain name website design, and invoice the hosting at 100$ a month or more (depends where you are), payed (6 months or 12 month in advance)... also include maintenance to that... Maintenance, not redesign... you will make big money with just few clients.
How? simple, build some demo sites in advance and show them, give them 1 month money back guarantee (minus the domain name and a tiny percent for the work), the time you finish the real site the month should be almost past... you see.
Note: if you already created demos to show, under your main domain, copy, paste and little change should be easy.
7) Do not offer complicated design services:
Just pick regular clients, like artists, lawyers, or doctors (depends on your hobbies) and do not accept clients with specific complicated websites to build.
8) Do not compete on price, compete on a full-service:
Do not fall in begging clients with discounts, compete on a complete service to fewer clients.
9) Even in poor or middle income countries you will make money:
My clients are in one country in Africa, everybody resell there for few dollars a month, me I offer what nobody else offers in that country, a website, a domain and a support all-in-one-place... they never loose a thing, they never loose a domain, they never get several support to contact (in average i get one support demand each month lol) and I ask x10 more than anyone I know.
Think about it for a moment, who does that? even in the states, companies rarely offer that, except freelancers etc.
10) How to start?
Easy, pick your hobby, go outside and knock on doors, tell everybody you offer a free website design + yearly support worth $$$$... in one day you will find many many interested... do not over complicate... simplify and be natural.
I hope this helps.
Love my advice, give me a like.
Cheers