Just FYI - to start, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs were 26 and 21 respectively in 1976, when the Apple Computer Company was formed (as well as their first preassembled computer circuit board). That blows that theory out of the water, as they were of legal age to start a business.

It still boils down to the legal issue for me. No matter how smart, how mature, or anything like that. It doesn't matter to me but you sure as heck better be legally running a legitimate business venture if I am entering into any type of contract with you. No disrespect to anybody, but if you can't legally back your business up, it is too risky to do business with you.

You may be "smart" or "mature" but if you are fooling people into using a business that is not legal, then you are not as smart as you think you are - you are showing a lack of business ethics that, in my opinion, will carry to the future. If you don't think the rules apply to you now, are you going to stop this mode of thinking and go legit the minute you are of legal age to? I somehow doubt that...

I started a hosting business back when I was around 14-15 although with a slight twist. I started www.myimgs.com when image hosting was just a theory. We were one of the first image hosts around. When ever someone had an issue with the site they would be glad to shoot me an email because of the quick response they recieved from me and almost always I resolved their issue. The site was totally custom programmed by me and ran rather smoothly. Luckily I eventually got out when I did because of all the other image hosts coming up.

Very good points. I agree with every one of them. Most of my hosting acquisitions come from kiddie hosts. Although I feel they endanger the hosting industry at the same time they help it grow. Other companies can benefit from the kiddie hosts loss.

Well i would just like to admit that i am a kiddie host at the age of 15. Many people seem very happy with the service i am very capably providing them. I have spent ??? on my business using my own debit card, i depend on myself and my server provider, no-one else.

You live and learn its the way life is, iv learnt not to trust most people, but u have to take chances and starting my own business has to have been 1 of the biggest chances iv taken.

Too bad if i loose money, atleast iv had the experiance. Not too many people could say that they ran a successful hosting company when they where 15.

<< MOD NOTE: Self promotion is not permitted >>

Why judge people by their age and not how good a service they can provide you.

I judge people by whether they run a legitimate business. Stay above board, pay your taxes, register your business appropriately to do business legally (however that may be wherever you are - even simply being a sole proprietor as is done frequently in the U.S. and claiming appropriate taxes/income) and you're cool. Stray from that, and you aren't running a legal business and aren't worth the used toilet paper floating in the bowl.

I think this is an interesting topic. In the state of NJ you cannot get working papers until you are 14 and that is allows you I believe 4 hrs per day including school.

At 16, I think they can work a couple of more hours, but not many.

How does one own and operate a business at that age? I just cannot see how it is legally possible. Perhaps it is, but I just do not know the laws.

Now, I am 31, and have been tooling around the web industry for five years almost six, and I learn something almost everyday!

But, from my full-time job the biggest thing I have learned is customer service....and that is something a 13-18 (even 20) yr old may not have. Customer Service is key.

When I was getting Reseller Accounts I seemed to get screwed every where I went, and the last time was by a 17yr old.

He provided great service, and was always on-line, unless the server crashed!

Best part was, through the www I found out he kept getting shut off for non-payment, but he made up all these excuses of it was the server, it was the Data Center!

I now lease a dedicated server!

As for kids....I just want to know how they legally do it... I had a boat load of paperwork to fill out when I formed my LLC!

Well i have a small view on this
Anyone who or thinks about owning a business should be at least of adult age 18+ some 21 in various country's.
Also having a credit check done against that person
Ive seen alot of people , clans and seriously stupid people try and set up a business to make a quick ? or $ and its wrong.
They make a bad name for us stable mature Experience businesses out there.
Im not saying that young people shouldnt start up anything at most they should have parental concent.

Thanks for listerning

As I've stated before, it's not age that matters. It's the quality of service that matters...

I can't say I disagree, but I also can't say I agree.

There are many factors to consider that are often related to age -- most importantly the legality of the 'business' entity!

I have no problem with kiddie hosts, unless they steal my clients... I reckon they should be aware of the things of becoming a host, that they have commitments to their clients, and that a reseller account doesn't usually do much

And quality does matter, age and such is only a number, as long as they can provide fast and detailed support, it's all cool.

A lot of ignorance goes into creating a host. When you don't plan ahead and tackle all the costs and what not, you find yourself in a bad position. This is why most new hosting companies fail because they don't plan ahead, they think "hey I got a dedicated server, lets make a company". This mind set I find interesting.

I am only 20 years old and my partnet is 19. We are young, but not ignorant children. We planned ahead and we hope to always stay ahead in business. I agree though, web hosting is not for the faint at heart, either they are 14 or 27.

It will depends, I don't really mind the age but if they have the mindset of making quick bucks then I think they will not be a good choice. Btw I'm only 18, but so far my users are happy

I certainly do not have any objections to age, but this post makes some excellent points such as, can a 14 yr old legally own a business?

I think many teens, and even a few 20 somethings believe that there is money in web hosting, well, maybe it is due to the fact that I hold down a full time job or something, but I certainly could not make a living off web hosting.

Now, if something were to happen to my full time job, and while I looked for work took on Web Hosting full time I would invest more and try harder.

As it is, with a full time job, I still bust my butt for my company and I feel the most important service I can provide is Customer Service. I have attempted to surround myself with people who can make my operation 24/7. So far it has been working.

Age doesn't matter for me either, however I have found the younger hosts thought they could get rich quick, and additionally when the **** hits the fan, they have no idea how to handle it and generally disappear till they can resolve the issue (if ever) and then offer all kinds of free time.

If your in the biz for real, then you will handle what it throws at you as often as possible.

Good Luck with your business!

if he can paypal he can host

And if in the U.S. and the IRS thinks that he's "PayPalling" and making money, he had better have his ducks in a row and all the accounting paperwork of a legitimate business to prove it.