Reseller Hosting with WHM: Create Packages and cPanel Accounts

Reseller hosting lets you host many client websites, each with its own cPanel account, from a single WHM login. It is popular with web designers, freelancers and small agencies in India who want to offer hosting under their own brand. This guide shows you how to plan your hosting packages, create them in WHM and set up cPanel accounts for your clients step by step.

How reseller hosting works

Your hosting provider gives you a share of a server, usually defined by total disk space, bandwidth and the number of cPanel accounts you can create. You log in to WHM with your reseller username and use it to create separate cPanel accounts for each client. Every client gets their own login, files, email and databases, completely separate from your other clients.

The provider still manages the server itself, including security, software updates and hardware. You manage your clients, packages and support. This is why reseller WHM shows fewer menus than the root WHM on a VPS. Which tools you see is decided by your provider through the Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges screen in their root WHM.

Before you start: plan your packages

A package is a template of limits that you apply to cPanel accounts. Planning packages in advance keeps things organised and makes it easy to upgrade clients later. Here is an example of a simple three-tier setup:

Setting	Starter	Business	Pro
Disk Quota	2 GB	10 GB	25 GB
Monthly Bandwidth	20 GB	100 GB	250 GB
Max Email Accounts	5	25	Unlimited
Max SQL Databases	2	10	Unlimited
Max Addon Domains	0	3	10
Max Subdomains	5	20	Unlimited

These numbers are only examples. Base your limits on the total resources in your reseller plan and the kind of sites your clients run. Name packages clearly, because WHM automatically adds your reseller username as a prefix, for example username_Starter.

Step 1: Create a feature list (optional)

A feature list controls which tools appear in your clients’ cPanel. For example, you may want to hide SSH access or certain advanced tools for basic plans.

1. Log in to WHM at https://yourdomain.com:2087 with your reseller username and password.
2. Search for Feature Manager in the left search box and open it.
3. Under Add a new feature list, type a name such as basic and click Add Feature List.
4. Tick the features you want to allow and untick the ones you want to hide.
5. Click Save.

If your provider has not given you access to Feature Manager, the default feature list will be used, and you can skip this step.

Step 2: Create a hosting package with Add a Package

1. In WHM, go to Packages and click Add a Package, or search for it.
2. Enter a Package Name, for example Starter.
3. In the Resources section, set the Disk Quota (MB) and Monthly Bandwidth (MB). Enter the value in megabytes, so 2 GB is 2048 MB.
4. Set limits such as Max FTP Accounts, Max Email Accounts, Max Mailing Lists, Max SQL Databases, Max Subdomains, Max Parked Domains (aliases) and Max Addon Domains. Select Unlimited where you do not want a cap.
5. Review email-related limits, such as Max Quota per Email Address and Maximum Hourly Email by Domain Relayed, which help prevent spam from compromised accounts.
6. In the Settings section, choose options like the cPanel Theme (Jupiter), the Feature List you created, and the Locale. Leave Dedicated IP and Shell Access unticked unless you specifically need them.
7. Click Add. WHM confirms that the package was created.

Repeat these steps for each package. You can change a package later with Edit a Package, and the new limits apply to every account using it.

Tip: Keep the “Unlimited” option for databases or subdomains if you like, but always set a real disk quota. One runaway account without a quota can use up the disk space of your whole reseller plan.

Step 3: Set up your nameservers

Your clients will point their domains to nameservers. Your provider will usually give you their default nameservers, such as ns1.provider-example.com. If you want branded nameservers like ns1.yourdomain.com and ns2.yourdomain.com, you need to:

1. Ask your provider for the IP addresses to use for your nameservers.
2. Register these as child nameservers (also called glue records or host records) in your domain registrar’s control panel.
3. Ask your provider to set them for your reseller account, as they are configured in Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges, or enter them yourself under Basic WebHost Manager Setup if that tool is available to you.

Step 4: Create a cPanel account

1. In WHM, go to Account Functions and click Create a New Account.
2. Under Domain Information, enter the client’s Domain, for example example.com. WHM suggests a Username automatically; you can change it.
3. Click Password Generator to create a strong password, and copy it somewhere safe.
4. Enter the client’s Email address. Account notifications are sent here.
5. Under Package, choose the package you created, such as username_Starter.
6. Check Settings for the cPanel theme and locale, and leave DNS Settings and Mail Routing Settings on their defaults unless you have a specific need, such as email hosted elsewhere.
7. Click Create. WHM shows a log of the account setup. When it finishes, the account is ready.

Send your client their cPanel login details: https://example.com:2083 (or https://example.com/cpanel), their username and password. Remind them to update their domain’s nameservers to yours if they have not done so.

Step 5: Manage accounts with List Accounts

Open List Accounts to see every account you have created, along with the domain, IP address, package and disk used. From here you can:

• Click the cPanel icon to log in to a client’s cPanel without their password.
• Expand an account to change its password, package or contact email.
• Use Upgrade/Downgrade an Account to move a client to a bigger package.
• Use Manage Account Suspension to suspend an account for non-payment, and unsuspend it later.
• Use Terminate Accounts to permanently delete an account once you have taken a backup.

Common problems and fixes

“You do not have enough resources” when creating an account

Your reseller plan has a total disk or bandwidth allocation, and the new package would exceed it. Reduce the package limits, remove unused accounts, or ask your provider whether overselling is allowed on your plan.

Package does not appear when creating an account

Make sure you saved it with Add a Package and that you are selecting the name with your username prefix. Refresh the page if you created it in another tab.

Client’s site shows a default page

The domain’s nameservers or A record probably still point to the old host. Check DNS at the registrar and allow some time for propagation.

Frequently asked questions

Can my clients see that I am a reseller?

Clients see cPanel and your nameservers. If you use branded nameservers, the provider’s name is generally not visible in day-to-day use.

Can I change a client’s package later?

Yes. Use Upgrade/Downgrade an Account in WHM. The new limits apply immediately and no data is lost.

Do I need to manage server security as a reseller?

No. The provider looks after the server. You are responsible for your clients’ accounts, support and billing.

What is overselling?

Overselling lets you allocate more total disk or bandwidth to clients than your plan contains, on the basis that most accounts never use their full limit. It must be enabled by your provider.

Conclusion

Running reseller hosting with WHM comes down to three tasks: plan sensible packages, create them with Add a Package, and set up client accounts with Create a New Account. Use List Accounts for day-to-day management, keep disk quotas realistic, and set up branded nameservers when you are ready. With these basics in place, you can host client sites professionally and grow at your own pace.