Growing

Website Building

Build simple websites for small businesses for $800-5,000 per project using modern site builders.

78/100

Hustle Score

Est. monthly
$500–$4,000
Startup cost
$50–$400
Time to first $
2-8 weeks
Hours / week
8–35
OnlineModerateYear-round

Last researched: 2026-09-01 · Sample estimates (stored research)

Estimated earnings based on available market information. Actual earnings vary by location, experience, demand, expenses, and time invested. Earnings are not guaranteed.

What This Side Hustle Is

Plumbers, restaurants, gyms, and contractors often have outdated sites or none at all. Using tools like Webflow, WordPress, or Squarespace you can deliver a clean five-page site in a week without writing code. Projects pay $800-5,000, and monthly hosting and maintenance plans add recurring revenue. It suits detail-oriented people who enjoy layout, copy, and problem solving.

Who It Is Best For

People comfortable with design toolsCareer changers into techFreelancers wanting high project feesDetail-oriented builders

Realistic Earning Potential

Beginner / mo

$400–$2,000

Experienced / mo

$2,000–$8,000

High performer / mo

$15,000+

Hourly est.

$40–$150/hr

Income assumptions: Assumes $1,500 average per project with one to two projects a month part-time, plus care plans at $100 each. High figures assume full-time delivery and a stack of maintenance clients.

Estimated earnings based on available market information. Actual earnings vary by location, experience, demand, expenses, and time invested. Earnings are not guaranteed.

Startup Costs

$50–$400 to get started. Time to first dollar is typically 2-8 weeks.

Equipment Needed

  • Computer
  • Site builder subscription
  • Stock photo access
  • Domain and hosting accounts

Skills Needed

Site builder fluencyLayout and design senseBasic SEO and copywritingClient project management

Age: 18+

Requirements to Qualify

  • 18 or older
  • Computer and reliable internet
  • Payment account for payouts
  • Legal authorization to work where you live
  • Samples or a profile to show clients

Devices: no smartphone needed · computer needed

How to Start

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Find Web Clients

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Your First 7 Days

Build My 7-Day Starting Plan

A day-by-day action plan built specifically for Website Building. Free, no sign-up needed.

What to Realistically Expect

The building is the easy part; getting clients is the job. Expect a month or two of samples and outreach before your first paid project. Clients often stall on content, so contracts and deposits protect your time.

Tips to Make More Money

  • Sell a monthly care plan with every website
  • Take a 50% deposit before starting
  • Use templates and reuse copy blocks to cut build time
  • Specialize in one industry to charge more
  • Show a custom sample page in your pitch
  • Charge separately for content writing and photo sourcing

Where to Find Customers

  • Local businesses with outdated or missing sites
  • Upwork and Contra listings
  • Chamber of commerce and networking groups
  • Referrals from designers and marketers
  • Facebook groups for local trades
  • Partnerships with photographers and copywriters

How to Price Your Services

Charge $1,200-3,000 for a five-page small business site, more with e-commerce or many custom pages, plus $50-200 a month for hosting, updates, and small edits. Bill 50% up front and 50% at launch. Price by value to the business, not by hours in the builder.

How to Get Your First Customer

Find a local business with a broken mobile site, build one polished sample page for them, and send it with your quote. Seeing their own improved site converts far better than a portfolio link. Get the deposit and scope in writing before you build anything else.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

  • High project prices for one week of work
  • Maintenance plans create recurring income
  • No code required with modern builders
  • Every industry needs it

Disadvantages

  • Clients delay providing content
  • Scope creep is common
  • Requires sales and outreach
  • Ongoing support requests

Common Mistakes & Risks

  • Starting work without a deposit
  • No written page count or revision limit
  • Not selling a maintenance plan
  • Building custom code when a template works
  • Risk: Unpaid final invoices
  • Risk: Endless revisions without a contract
  • Risk: Client-owned hosting problems falling on you

How to Scale

Standardize a template-driven process so each site takes days instead of weeks, then raise prices and stack monthly care plans for predictable revenue. Specialize in one industry so your templates, copy, and SEO get reusable, then subcontract build work while you sell and manage.

Scalability 75/100 · Passive potential 35/100 · Recurring potential 85/100

Tools and Platforms

Platforms

UpworkContraLinkedIn

Tools

Webflow or WordPressFigmaGoogle Business ProfileStripe invoicing

Helpful: IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center

Taxes and Business Considerations

This is self-employment income, usually reported on 1099-NEC or platform 1099-K forms. Deduct software, a share of home internet, equipment, and a home office if you qualify. Set aside about 25-30% of profit for quarterly estimated taxes. Keep business income in a separate account for clean bookkeeping.

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Consult a professional for your situation.

Sources and Last Updated Date

Last researched: 2026-09-01 · Data quality: sample

Stored research / estimates — live data sources are not connected yet.

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