WaaS allows agencies to sell fully managed WordPress websites with hosting, all bundled into one offer. It creates an exceptional value proposition for both agencies and their clients. However, venturing into a WaaS business is more than just launching websites.
To be specific, WaaS (WordPress as a Service) is more about creating a streamlined, scalable process that delivers value to your clients while keeping things manageable for your agency. And InstaWP is helping agencies build, sell, and manage WaaS like never before.
With features designed to streamline the WaaS process within the InstaWP platform, agencies can focus on what they do best: delivering outstanding websites for clients.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of WaaS for agencies, how to build it using InstaWP, and how much it will cost you so that you can price your WaaS offerings effectively.
Table of Contents
What Is WaaS and Why Is It Important for Agencies?
WaaS (Website as a Service) is a model that allows agencies to sell WordPress websites as a complete service package, including a pre-made template, hosting, and additional features, all bundled together.
This service model appeals to a wide range of customers, from small businesses to large enterprises, looking for quick, easy-to-manage websites that don’t require ongoing maintenance from their end.
For agencies, WaaS is a game-changer. It allows them to:
- Price hosting for your client, taking a cut in hosting cost.
- Scale quickly by offering standardized packages that don’t require constant custom work.
- Increase revenue through subscription models, upsells, and recurring payments for hosting and premium services.
- Improve efficiency by leveraging pre-configured templates and a simple, user-friendly management system.
By moving to a WaaS model, agencies not only provide their clients with hassle-free website solutions, but they also gain a recurring income stream, increasing overall business profitability.
4 Benefits of Building WaaS with InstaWP
- Support for Multisite: WaaS in InstaWP supports multisite management, allowing you to manage multiple clients under one dashboard. This feature is particularly useful for agencies looking to scale rapidly.
- Freedom to Create Hosting Plans: InstaWP gives you the flexibility to create your own hosting plans, whether you choose InstaWP Live (managed hosting) or partner with other hosting providers like RunCloud and ServerAvatar. It even works great with non-supported hosting providers.
- Great UI/UX: InstaWP’s user-friendly interface ensures both you and your clients can easily navigate through the WaaS process. From site creation to management, the platform is designed with simplicity and usability in mind.
- Trial Sites and One-Click Go Live: Offering trial sites allows potential customers to try your templates before making a purchase. The one-click “Go Live” feature makes it simple to upgrade trial sites to fully functional websites with no hassle. With InstaWP, it’s easy to enable or disable trial/demo site creation for your WaaS.
What the Service Provider (WaaS Owner) Needs to Pay
The pricing for your WaaS business will depend on several factors, including the type of hosting, the number of sites you plan to sell, and any additional integrations or services you use.
InstaWP provides flexibility through its Pro and Agency plans, along with options for both managed hosting (InstaWP Live) and self-managed hosting (via RunCloud or ServerAvatar). Let’s discuss these factors in detail.
InstaWP – Fixed Costs
There are several fixed costs to consider when using InstaWP to create a WaaS business. These costs do not depend on the number of sites sold and are necessary to get started with the platform.
Pro Account Vs Agency Account
InstaWP has various pricing plans, of which two main account types support WaaS. Each of them designed for different needs. Here’s a comparison of the Pro and Agency plans:
| Feature | Pro Account | Agency Account |
| Monthly Cost | $19/month | $49/month |
| Sites per Account | Up to 5 sites | Unlimited sites |
| Custom Branding | No | Yes (whitelabel) |
| Priority Support | No | Yes |
| Access to Premium Features | No | Yes |
| Best for | Small agencies or personal use | Agencies with a large client base or multiple projects |
The Pro Account is best for smaller agencies or individual developers. The Agency Account, on the other hand, is ideal for agencies that plan to manage multiple sites and offer a more professional, branded experience to clients.
Optional Whitelabel Addon
If you wish to offer WaaS under your own branding (e.g., with a custom domain like yourdomain.com instead of instawp.app), you can purchase the Whitelabel Addon ($20/month). This addon allows you to rebrand the platform for your clients, giving them a fully branded experience.
Payment Gateway Charges (Optional)
InstaWP allows you to integrate payment gateways like WooCommerce, SureCart, EDD, and WHMCS to process transactions. If you choose to use InstaWP’s integrated payment gateway system, you will be subject to a 7% transaction fee on each sale.
Hosting Costs
The hosting costs for WaaS can vary significantly based on the type of hosting solution you choose. Here’s a breakdown of the two main options: InstaWP Live (managed hosting) and self-managed hosting via third-party providers like RunCloud or ServerAvatar.
InstaWP Live
InstaWP Live offers fully managed hosting for your WaaS sites, including advanced performance, security features, and expert support. This is a premium option for agencies who prefer to offload the management of hosting to InstaWP’s team.
| Hosting Plan | Cost | Features |
| InstaWP Live Hosting | $9/month per site | Managed hosting with automatic backups, CDN, and security. |
While this is a more expensive option, it provides peace of mind, as InstaWP takes care of all hosting-related tasks, ensuring high performance and uptime for your WaaS business. Bulk pricing is available, so you can contact InstaWP for custom deals if you need to host many sites.
Self-Managed Hosting
If you prefer to have more control over your hosting environment or want to keep costs down, you can opt for self-managed hosting through third-party providers like RunCloud or ServerAvatar. You can also host InstaWP-powered WaaS with a non-supported hosting provider if you wish.
These options provide greater flexibility and are typically more affordable than fully managed hosting.
| Hosting Plan | Cost | Features |
| RunCloud/ServerAvatar | ~$3/month per site | You manage the hosting; great for agencies with technical teams. |
| Other Hosting Providers | Variable | Depends upon the hosting provider you choose. |
With this setup, you handle most of the server management yourself. It’s suitable for agencies with the necessary technical skills to set up and manage servers effectively.
Also Read: Self-Managed Hosting vs. Managed WordPress Hosting
WaaS Pricing Examples
Here are some examples of different WaaS pricing configurations based on the hosting and feature options you choose:
Example 1: InstaWP WaaS Only
For this basic setup, the service provider uses InstaWP to create and sell WaaS websites without any additional eCommerce or hosting options. The pricing only covers the fixed costs associated with InstaWP and hosting.
| Cost Element | Price |
| InstaWP Pro Account | $19/month |
| Whitelabel Addon | Optional (depends on plan) |
| Hosting (RunCloud) | ~$3/month per site |
| Total (1 Site) | $22/month (excluding whitelabel and additional costs) |
Note: This is an entry-level WaaS setup with the Pro Account and self-managed hosting through RunCloud. The pricing can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the WaaS owner and additional features they wish to include.
Example 2: InstaWP WaaS + WooCommerce + InstaWP Live
For an agency looking to integrate eCommerce and use fully managed hosting, the costs will increase as follows:
| Cost Element | Price |
| InstaWP Agency Account | $49/month |
| Whitelabel Addon | Optional (depends on plan) |
| Hosting (InstaWP Live) | $9/month per site |
| Payment Gateway Charges | 7% of each transaction |
| WooCommerce Integration | Free (unless additional plugins are added) |
| Total (1 Site) | $58/month + WooCommerce fees |
In this configuration, the agency uses InstaWP Live for hosting and WooCommerce for eCommerce functionality. The pricing includes the base costs for InstaWP and the managed hosting but will vary depending on the number of transactions processed.
Example 3: InstaWP WaaS + WooCommerce + ServerAvatar
For agencies that prefer lower hosting costs and have technical expertise to manage self-hosted environments, the cost structure would look as follows:
| Cost Element | Price |
| InstaWP Agency Account | $49/month |
| Whitelabel Addon | Optional (depends on plan) |
| Hosting (ServerAvatar) | ~$3/month per site |
| Payment Gateway Charges | 7% of each transaction |
| WooCommerce Integration | Free (unless additional plugins are added) |
| Total (1 Site) | $52/month + WooCommerce fees |
This setup combines the benefits of WooCommerce integration with the cost-effective ServerAvatar hosting option. While the hosting costs are lower, the agency is responsible for server management.
How to Choose the Right Hosting Option for Your WaaS?
When choosing hosting for your WaaS, it’s essential to strike the right balance between performance, scalability, and cost.
Three main options are available for hosting your WaaS websites: InstaWP Live (managed hosting), self-managed hosting through partners like RunCloud and ServerAvatar, and self-managed hosting via other hosting providers using a control panel that InstaWP supports. Let’s see what are the pros and cons of all these options.
InstaWP Live Hosting
InstaWP Live is a fully managed hosting solution, optimized for WordPress websites. While it comes at a slightly higher cost—starting at $9 per site per month—it offers numerous advantages for agencies looking for hassle-free, high-performance hosting. Features include automatic backups, enhanced security, and superior performance, all managed by InstaWP’s team of experts.
Pros:
- Fully managed, no technical setup required
- Includes automatic backups and security features
- Great performance with built-in caching and CDN
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- Higher cost than self-managed hosting options
- Limited flexibility in choosing specific server configurations
Self-Managed Hosting
Self-managed hosting offers more control at a lower cost, starting at around $3 per site. This option is ideal for agencies with a technical team who prefer managing server configurations themselves. In case you go with a non-supported hosting provider for InstaWP WaaS, there will also be a few additional steps.
Pros:
- Lower cost compared to managed hosting
- Full control over server configurations
- Scalable for agencies with technical expertise
Cons:
- Requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage
- Additional administrative effort for backups and security
In summary, choosing between managed hosting and self-managed hosting depends on your agency’s needs and technical capabilities.
Building WaaS with InstaWP (Quick Guide)
Building a WaaS with InstaWP is straightforward, with everything you need to create, sell, and manage WordPress websites under one roof. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to get you started:
- Create Your Template
Choose from a variety of pre-made templates or build your own designs using InstaWP’s powerful features. You can even set a price for each template and start selling immediately.
- Set Up Hosting Plans
Choose from InstaWP’s managed hosting solutions, or use self-managed hosting through partners like RunCloud or ServerAvatar. You can offer flexible pricing options for hosting, whether you choose monthly or annual plans.
- Customize the Branding
Make your WaaS offering your own by customizing the branding. Add your logo, colors, and domain to match your agency’s identity. You can also whitelabel the domain so that clients receive a fully branded experience.
- Set Up the Checkout Process
Choose a payment gateway (WooCommerce, SureCart, EDD, or WHMCS) and configure your checkout process. InstaWP also offers the ability to ask for payment upfront, streamlining the transaction process.
- Launch Your WaaS
Once everything is set up, you can start offering your clients access to ready-to-launch websites. Clients can select a template, make payments, and start customizing their sites—all from a seamless, intuitive user interface.
Conclusion
Building and selling WaaS with InstaWP is a powerful way for agencies to scale their business while providing clients with a seamless and efficient website management experience. By leveraging InstaWP’s user-friendly platform, agencies can quickly launch branded websites with customizable templates, hosting plans, and powerful management tools.
The choice of hosting, pricing structure, and payment integration all contribute to the overall success of your WaaS business. Whether you opt for InstaWP Live’s fully managed hosting or choose self-managed options through partners like RunCloud or ServerAvatar, InstaWP gives you the flexibility to scale and offer outstanding value to your clients.
FAQs
1. What is WaaS (Website as a Service) and how does it work?
WaaS (Website as a Service) allows agencies to sell pre-built website templates along with hosting and management services. It’s a business model that makes it easy for agencies to offer customized websites without having to develop everything from scratch. With WaaS, agencies can create, sell, and manage multiple client websites while providing ongoing services like hosting, updates, and security.
2. What are the benefits of offering WaaS for my agency?
Offering WaaS allows your agency to generate recurring revenue by selling websites as a service. It also lets you control the hosting, maintenance, and updates, improving client retention and satisfaction.
3. Can I integrate third-party tools or platforms with my WaaS offering?
Yes, you can integrate third-party tools like WooCommerce, EDD, SureCart, and other popular plugins if your WaaS is created with InstaWP. You’ll soon have the flexibility to connect your WaaS platform with payment gateways, CRM systems, and more, depending on your client’s needs.
4. How do I handle scaling WaaS for multiple clients or large projects?
Scaling WaaS is easy with InstaWP. As your business grows, you can choose between managed hosting with InstaWP Live, its hosting partners like RunCloud or ServerAvatar, and any other hosting provider of your choice. InstaWP also offers customizable hosting plans and bulk pricing for larger agencies. With its user-friendly dashboard and automation, you can manage thousands of client websites with minimal effort.
5. What’s the difference between the Pro and Agency accounts for WaaS pricing?
The Pro Account is designed for smaller agencies or personal use, allowing up to five sites. It costs $19/month and includes basic features. The Agency Account is best for larger agencies, offering unlimited sites and additional features like whitelabel branding, priority support, and access to premium tools. It costs $49/month.
6. Is the Whitelabel Addon mandatory for running WaaS on InstaWP?
No, the Whitelabel Addon is optional. If you want your clients to see your custom branding (e.g., yourdomain.com), you should purchase the addon. Without it, clients will see the default instawp.app branding for their websites.
7. Are there any hidden costs or additional charges in InstaWP’s WaaS pricing?
InstaWP’s pricing is transparent. The primary WaaS costs include the Pro or Agency Account, optional whitelabel addon, and hosting fees. If you use InstaWP’s integrated payment gateway, a 7% transaction fee is deducted from each sale. Additionally, hosting costs vary depending on whether you use InstaWP Live (managed hosting) or third-party providers like RunCloud or ServerAvatar.
8. How can I calculate my WaaS pricing if I’m using InstaWP Live for hosting?
If you opt for InstaWP Live (managed hosting), each site will cost around $9/month. You can set your own pricing model for clients, factoring in this cost, along with other variables like the account type, whitelabel addon, and any payment gateway fees. For self-managed hosting through RunCloud or ServerAvatar, hosting costs are lower, around $3/month per site. It will differ for other non-supported hosting providers. The key to setting your pricing is balancing these fixed costs while ensuring a profitable margin for your agency.