How to Start a Self-Employed Proxy Business?

[finndrops160823]

Hi everyone for this dump question

I want to start a self-employed company to create and sell proxies. Is this possible? Where should I start?

I need advice on:
Hardware requirements
Software setup
Who to contact to obtain IPs?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[shijin]

Totally possible, bro! For hardware, get solid servers with lots of bandwidth. For software, look into proxy software like Squid or 3proxy. Hit up data centers or residential proxy providers for IPs.

 

[Bers666]

First, make up a plan where to sell them. What audience to reach.
Also we haven't heard from you what kind of proxies you will sell.

 

[Proxy Cake]

Def possible mate. Main part is finding customers though, it is hard to get the word out but if your quality and pricing is attractive you should be alright

 

[ProxyPapa]

You'll need a proper setup. For hardware, you can use a Raspberry Pi. For software, Linux is the best choice. To get IPs, purchase SIM cards from ISPs for mobile proxies.

Please do not use Raspberry Pi for your setup, unless you are not serious about it. It would be OK just for sandbox environment, not for a production

 

[finndrops160823]

thanks for all advice. however I still have no clues

 

[ristoriel]

Hardware – You’ll need dedicated servers or residential devices depending on the type of proxies you want to offer.

Software – Use proxy management tools to route traffic, rotate IPs, and manage users. Open-source or paid proxy solutions can help set up SOCKS5/HTTP proxies.

IPs – Contact data centers (for datacenter proxies) or ISPs (for residential/static IPs). For mobile proxies, you’ll need SIM cards and mobile data plans.

 

[Spicy Chromosomes]

Where are you from? In some countries this business can be cheaper than others

 

[ProxyPapa]

Hardware – You’ll need dedicated servers or residential devices depending on the type of proxies you want to offer.

Software – Use proxy management tools to route traffic, rotate IPs, and manage users. Open-source or paid proxy solutions can help set up SOCKS5/HTTP proxies.

IPs – Contact data centers (for datacenter proxies) or ISPs (for residential/static IPs). For mobile proxies, you’ll need SIM cards and mobile data plans.

Open source solutions? Don't hide it from us, spread it out. I would be interested to know

 

[proxygo]

Def possible mate. Main part is finding customers though, it is hard to get the word out but if your quality and pricing is attractive you should be alright

getting customers is easy - advertise

 

[finndrops160823]

Hardware – You’ll need dedicated servers or residential devices depending on the type of proxies you want to offer.

Software – Use proxy management tools to route traffic, rotate IPs, and manage users. Open-source or paid proxy solutions can help set up SOCKS5/HTTP proxies.

IPs – Contact data centers (for datacenter proxies) or ISPs (for residential/static IPs). For mobile proxies, you’ll need SIM cards and mobile data plans.

I contacted my internet provider and ask for more IP, they don't understand what I am talking about lmao

 

[ristoriel]

Open source solutions? Don't hide it from us, spread it out. I would be interested to know

Yeah, there are definitely some open-source options out there, but honestly, what works for me might not work for you. Best bet is to dig around and see what’s currently out there—stuff changes all the time.

 

[ristoriel]

I contacted my internet provider and ask for more IP, they don't understand what I am talking about lmao

Haha, yeah, not all ISPs are gonna get what you mean when you ask for more IPs. You might have better luck asking about static IPs or business plans, but honestly, it really depends on the provider—some just don’t offer what you need. Might be worth looking into other options too.

 

[ProxyPapa]

Haha, yeah, not all ISPs are gonna get what you mean when you ask for more IPs. You might have better luck asking about static IPs or business plans, but honestly, it really depends on the provider—some just don’t offer what you need. Might be worth looking into other options too.

Your ISP will not just hand out subnet of IP's, just because you asked. The most you will get is static IP and possibly 1 additional IP if you are on some kind of business plan.

 

[ProxyPapa]

Yeah, there are definitely some open-source options out there, but honestly, what works for me might not work for you. Best bet is to dig around and see what’s currently out there—stuff changes all the time.

My response was sarcasm...

 

[iproxyonline]

Hey! Hi there, we and our proxy farmers have tons of experience in this field

I’ll focus on mobile proxies specifically. They’re in high demand because only mobile proxies truly avoid bans on social networks and other picky resources.
For an individual proxy farmer, mobile proxies are the easiest option, since you alone definitely can’t legally farm residential IPs. And datacenter IPs get banned so fast, they’re hardly worth it.

About your questions in mobile proxy case:
You can set them up on mobile phones or USB modems -- basically any device that can use a SIM card (real or eSIM). We went with phones because they’re easy to start with (everyone has some old Androids lying around) and simple to scale. Plus, supporting 5G is often a must for clients.
You can either build your own solution (using open-source tools like 3proxy) or pay for a subscription to a ready-made service. DIY can be cheaper if you know network tech and coding, while the subscription route is hassle-free and lets you start right away.
The mobile IPs come from the SIM card itself. A single SIM can give you access to a huge pool of different mobile IPs! Every time you reconnect to the cell tower (reboot your phone or toggle airplane mode), you get a new IP, so your proxy’s IP also changes.
(!) Some mobile operators do NOT rotate IPs when reconnecting, so you have to test.

I’d be happy to keep this conversation going -- it’s a massive topic with lots of nuances.
It’s also a great business -- our proxy farmers are growing fast and the market is taking off!

 

[techdigi]

Hey! Hi there, we and our proxy farmers have tons of experience in this field

I’ll focus on mobile proxies specifically. They’re in high demand because only mobile proxies truly avoid bans on social networks and other picky resources.
For an individual proxy farmer, mobile proxies are the easiest option, since you alone definitely can’t legally farm residential IPs. And datacenter IPs get banned so fast, they’re hardly worth it.

About your questions in mobile proxy case:
You can set them up on mobile phones or USB modems -- basically any device that can use a SIM card (real or eSIM). We went with phones because they’re easy to start with (everyone has some old Androids lying around) and simple to scale. Plus, supporting 5G is often a must for clients.
You can either build your own solution (using open-source tools like 3proxy) or pay for a subscription to a ready-made service. DIY can be cheaper if you know network tech and coding, while the subscription route is hassle-free and lets you start right away.
The mobile IPs come from the SIM card itself. A single SIM can give you access to a huge pool of different mobile IPs! Every time you reconnect to the cell tower (reboot your phone or toggle airplane mode), you get a new IP, so your proxy’s IP also changes.
(!) Some mobile operators do NOT rotate IPs when reconnecting, so you have to test.

I’d be happy to keep this conversation going -- it’s a massive topic with lots of nuances.
It’s also a great business -- our proxy farmers are growing fast and the market is taking off!

So, basically you would also help or give the service to setting things up regarding this. and how much is the cost involves in this business model?

 

[iproxyonline]

So, basically you would also help or give the service to setting things up regarding this. and how much is the cost involves in this business model?

Yes, that’s exactly what we do, but I don’t want to break BHW rules by talking specifically about our service. So here’s a general breakdown of approximate costs for a mobile proxy farm.

One-time investments (basic minimum):

1. Device for using a SIM card (USB modem or mobile phone)
   • A USB modem typically costs $20–70. For scaling and adding more modems, you’ll need a USB hub (around $50) -- better not to skimp on that.
   • A mobile phone is pricier ($150+), but you can buy a used one on eBay for $50+ or repurpose an old device.
2. Infrastructure setup costs if you handle everything yourself without third-party services (hard to estimate, depends on your experience or dev costs).

Ongoing costs:

1. SIM plan with mobile internet (unlimited if possible). Costs vary by country, roughly $10–$100.
2. Proxy creation service fees (if you use a third-party service). Market average is $10+ per month. Our own plan starts at $6 per 30 days.
3. Equipment replacement (modem, USB hub, phone batteries).
4. Time/labor (yours or your team’s) for client support and marketing. You can do it yourself to keep expenses low --clients can be found on the BHW marketplace.

Income:
Depends on your country (market demand) and proxy quality (speed, stability, features). Roughly, you might earn anywhere from $150 to $500 monthly per proxy, depending on how you charge (by day or by GB) and your pricing strategy. I’d appreciate it if forum members could correct my estimates since I’m not a specialist in selling ready-made proxies.


As you can see, a lot depends on your particular case. This list should help you estimate initial expenses. As you scale, things get more complex: you might negotiate bulk discounts with mobile operators (just don’t mention the SIMs are for proxies) and volume discounts from proxy services (we, for example, offer up to 35% off). But you’ll also have extra scaling costs, like possibly needing a larger space to store your proxy farm.

Proxy farming isn’t a magic wand that will make you rich overnight, but it definitely works.

 

[techdigi]

Yes, that’s exactly what we do, but I don’t want to break BHW rules by talking specifically about our service. So here’s a general breakdown of approximate costs for a mobile proxy farm.

One-time investments (basic minimum):

1. Device for using a SIM card (USB modem or mobile phone)
   • A USB modem typically costs $20–70. For scaling and adding more modems, you’ll need a USB hub (around $50) -- better not to skimp on that.
   • A mobile phone is pricier ($150+), but you can buy a used one on eBay for $50+ or repurpose an old device.
2. Infrastructure setup costs if you handle everything yourself without third-party services (hard to estimate, depends on your experience or dev costs).

Ongoing costs:

1. SIM plan with mobile internet (unlimited if possible). Costs vary by country, roughly $10–$100.
2. Proxy creation service fees (if you use a third-party service). Market average is $10+ per month. Our own plan starts at $6 per 30 days.
3. Equipment replacement (modem, USB hub, phone batteries).
4. Time/labor (yours or your team’s) for client support and marketing. You can do it yourself to keep expenses low --clients can be found on the BHW marketplace.

Income:
Depends on your country (market demand) and proxy quality (speed, stability, features). Roughly, you might earn anywhere from $150 to $500 monthly per proxy, depending on how you charge (by day or by GB) and your pricing strategy. I’d appreciate it if forum members could correct my estimates since I’m not a specialist in selling ready-made proxies.


As you can see, a lot depends on your particular case. This list should help you estimate initial expenses. As you scale, things get more complex: you might negotiate bulk discounts with mobile operators (just don’t mention the SIMs are for proxies) and volume discounts from proxy services (we, for example, offer up to 35% off). But you’ll also have extra scaling costs, like possibly needing a larger space to store your proxy farm.

Proxy farming isn’t a magic wand that will make you rich overnight, but it definitely works.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown! The cost and income estimates are really helpful, and it's clear that scaling a mobile proxy farm requires careful planning and effort.

That being said, where would you recommend selling these proxies once set up? Is the BHW marketplace the best place to start, or are there other platforms or methods you'd suggest?

 

[jd.the.man]

A big factor is location especially if you want to run mobile proxies, where are you based?