The first and the easiest way out is to buy a dedicated server with pre-installed CPanel. Numerous dedicated hosting companies offer this service. The licensing fee is either bundled in the price for CPanel dedicated server or stated separately. In either set-up, this is the most inexpensive way of having access to this control panel and making it available to your customers.

If you own a decent number of self managed dedicated servers or are planning for collocation, money can be saved when buying your own external licenses. You'll need one for each dedicated server you own, this can either be bought directly from CPanel.net or through one of their authorized distributors.

Depending on whether you cross the 10 dedicated servers' milestone, you have the option of applying for a partner NOC and enjoying the benefits including discounted pricing and trustworthiness.

In other case, i.e. when you are applying for less than 10 individual server licenses or 50 for virtual dedicated ones, your choices are either a time limited licenses for 1, 2 or 3 years or an all powerful never expiring CPanel license that requires dedicated investment.

If buying directly from CPanel.net, the one year license will cost $450. This will come with one year of support and free upgrades. For an extra $350, the timeline can be extended to another year. Finally, the $1100 package will get you going for three years.

But then, instead of paying $1100 for three years, you are far better off paying $1250 for a never expiring license for your CPanel dedicated server.

Also find out the price that your data center quotes for obtaining external CPanel licenses prior to placing an order with CPanel.net or any of their partners.