Standard hosting sells for $10-20/month. Managed WordPress sells for $25-75/month. Same infrastructure, higher margins, and happier clients. Here's how to build the product.
What "Managed" Means
| Standard Hosting | Managed WordPress |
|---|---|
| Client installs WordPress | Pre-installed for them |
| Client updates WordPress | You handle updates |
| Client manages security | You manage security |
| Client configures caching | Pre-configured caching |
| Client does backups | Automated backups |
| Generic support | WordPress-specific support |
You're selling convenience, expertise, and peace of mind.
Setting Up the Service
Auto-Installation
Use Softaculous or WP-CLI to pre-install WordPress when accounts are provisioned:
wp core install --url="clientsite.com" --title="Client Site" --admin_user="admin" --admin_email="client@email.com"
Security Hardening
Apply these on every managed installation:
| Hardening Step | How |
|---|---|
| Disable file editing | define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); in wp-config.php |
| Limit login attempts | Install and configure Limit Login Attempts plugin |
| Hide WordPress version | Remove version from headers and RSS |
| Disable XML-RPC | Block in .htaccess (unless needed) |
| Force strong passwords | Use password policy plugin |
| Two-factor admin login | Install 2FA plugin |
Caching
Configure server-side caching:
# .htaccess caching rules
<IfModule mod_expires.c>
ExpiresActive On
ExpiresByType image/jpg "access plus 1 year"
ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 1 year"
ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 1 year"
ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 1 month"
ExpiresByType application/javascript "access plus 1 month"
</IfModule>
Install LiteSpeed Cache or WP Super Cache and configure it before handing the site to the client.
Automated Updates
Set up automatic core, plugin, and theme updates:
// wp-config.php
define('WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE', true);
add_filter('auto_update_plugin', '__return_true');
add_filter('auto_update_theme', '__return_true');
Check sites weekly for update failures and fix them manually.
Pricing
| Plan | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter WP | 1 site, 5GB, daily backup, updates | $25/month |
| Business WP | 3 sites, 20GB, daily backup, updates, staging | $45/month |
| Agency WP | 10 sites, 50GB, twice-daily backup, updates, staging, priority | $75/month |
Why Clients Pay More
| Client Concern | Your Solution | Value |
|---|---|---|
| "My site got hacked" | Security hardening + monitoring | Prevents $500-5000 in damage |
| "My site is slow" | Caching + optimization | Better SEO, more conversions |
| "I forgot to update" | Automated updates | No vulnerabilities |
| "I lost my data" | Daily backups | Peace of mind |
Margin Comparison
| Product | Cost | Price | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard hosting | $5 | $15 | $10 (67%) |
| Managed WordPress | $8 | $35 | $27 (77%) |
The extra work (updates, security, monitoring) is mostly automated. Your per-client effort is minimal once the systems are set up.
Client Acquisition
Target WordPress users specifically:
- Web designers who need hosting for their clients
- Small businesses with existing WordPress sites
- Bloggers and content creators
- Local businesses switching from Wix/Squarespace
The pitch: "We handle the technical side of WordPress so you can focus on your content/business."
Space-Node's reseller hosting with NVMe SSD delivers the performance that managed WordPress clients expect. Fast page loads, quick admin panel access, and reliable uptime make your managed service feel premium.
