I have some thoughts for you as someone who's done this before. I used to run a file hosting site called MediaCrush with a buddy of mine. It was moderately successful, but we ended up shutting it down. I later switched to a file host called pomf.se, which eventually was shut down as well. I wrote a blog post that sums up my thoughts on public file hosting:
On the profitability of image hosting websites - https://drewdevault.com/2014/10/10/The-profitability-of-onli...
I suggest you read it. In a nutshell: don't.
The problem is growth. It will quickly get too expensive and you will not have nearly enough revenue to support it. I guarantee you it will happen.
Currently I run a file hosting service with controlled growth. Accounts are not available to the public - you have to apply for one, and I approve them conservatively (130 approved, 137 rejected users as of writing). All users are also expected to donate. I think all new file hosting sites should take link rot seriously and if they don't it's a net negative on the internet. I hate that if I look at a forum post written >5 years ago, odds are all of the images will be broken.
If anyone wants an account on my website, I might be inclined to approve a few today: https://sr.ht
On the profitability of image hosting websites - https://drewdevault.com/2014/10/10/The-profitability-of-onli...
I suggest you read it. In a nutshell: don't.
The problem is growth. It will quickly get too expensive and you will not have nearly enough revenue to support it. I guarantee you it will happen.
Currently I run a file hosting service with controlled growth. Accounts are not available to the public - you have to apply for one, and I approve them conservatively (130 approved, 137 rejected users as of writing). All users are also expected to donate. I think all new file hosting sites should take link rot seriously and if they don't it's a net negative on the internet. I hate that if I look at a forum post written >5 years ago, odds are all of the images will be broken.
If anyone wants an account on my website, I might be inclined to approve a few today: https://sr.ht