How To Start A Web Design Business: Things To Know In 2023

Updated On: November 21, 2023

Welcome to my How To Start A Web Design Business review. My goal is to answer common questions like: how much it costs, if it's a scam, and if you can actually make money with it. The end goal is to help you understand if it's a good fit for you personally, and if there are any better alternatives out there.
Guide In Starting A Web Design Business

This How To Start A Web Design Business review has been throughly researched with information and testimonials that are available online to anyone in the public. Any conclusions drawn by myself are opinions.

Table of Contents

Program At A Glance

What I liked
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What I Didn’t Like
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Launching your own web design business has never been so simple! Online retail sales have risen since COVID-19, and new research predicts that online purchases in 2022 will surpass those in 2021.

Online shopping and e-commerce are now more popular among consumers than ever before, which means retailers and businesses need to use the web more heavily in order to remain competitive and viable. You can bank on this increased consumer drive to get your web design business running.

So how do you get started with designing websites?

Where should you start?

Do you have a true passion for running a web design business?

Would you be able to grow it?

Let’s look at all the necessary steps required to launch a web design business in this guide.

I’m going to talk about how to start a web design business to see if it really is the best business model for you.

Alright, so Web Design Business doesn’t exactly fit into a nice category.

At the end of the day, web designing is a… unique way to think about making money.

It’s certainly possible to make money with off the wall businesses like this, but unless you’re interested in taking years out of your life to experiment on an unproven business model, I would look elsewhere.

My #1 personal recommendation if we’re talking about starting a fully-online business has got to be the Lead Generation & Ad Agency business models.

There are a handful of programs that teach you the ropes, but my #1 choice that combines both of those business models into one is the Digital Rental Method program

But, if you’re hard pressed to jump head-first into an off-the-wall business model, let’s continue on to our full breakdown of Web Design Business.

Why Start A Web Design And Web Development Business?

Why Start A Web Design And Web Development Business

Starting a web design business has several advantages, both financially and personally. A web design business is a viable option for those who like working with computers and solving issues.

“Starting a web design business can be financially and socially rewarding. Web design is a lucrative business that you can run while enjoying your work, solving problems, and maintaining your schedule.”

With new technologies and more resources available than ever before, starting a web design business today means you’ll have a greater opportunity to establish yourself and your web design business brand than ever.

Hence, the best time to get into web design is NOW.

The thing is a well-designed website is an essential element for every business in 2022. This is where your new web design business comes into play.

Evaluate Your Reasons For Starting A Web Design Business

Evaluate Your Reasons For Starting A Web Design Business

If you’re reading this, it’s safe to assume that you have a strong interest in web design and seek methods to get into the industry. After seeing a poorly designed website, a terrible impression is likely to be left in your mind.

Poor design almost always turns you away from doing business with a company you otherwise would have liked to do business with.

Why are you interested in being a successful web design business owner? Do you want to be your own boss? Is flexibility in your work schedule important to you? Would this generate more income for you?

Regardless of your reasons, it will take a lot of determination and drive to start a web design business. If you think you can achieve success without exerting any effort, you’re wrong.

If you’re just starting out, you may work more hours for less pay. Longer hours at the start might seem problematic, but if you are passionate about what you do, it won’t really matter.

7 Questions To Ask Yourself

7 Questions To Ask Yourself

  1. Would you be more productive if you worked alone, or would you benefit from constant human interaction?
  2. Are you able to communicate well?
  3. Do you handle uncertainty and stress well?
  4. How self-motivated and driven are you?
  5. How disciplined are you when it comes to meeting deadlines and producing quality work?
  6. Do you feel you can survive web design work without immediate reward?
  7. Are you sure this is one thing you would want to pursue?

Any company venture, even a web design company, might be time-consuming and difficult to begin.

Keep in mind that tenacity, devotion, and a willingness to work hard will lead you to success and financial independence.

What It Means To Start A Web Design Business

It’s time to find out how to get started in the web design market now that you know how amazing web design may help your organization.

To have any chance of success in web design professionally, you need to have an absolutely outstanding website of your own. Here, potential clients can learn about your experience and talent as web developer.

Your Web Design Business Website: Keys To Success

Increase Your Success In Web Design Business

Your website must have some essential aspects if you want to succeed in the extremely competitive web design industry. Thought leadership might be a wise strategy at this point.

Tell Your Story.

Tell Your Story

Use your business website to tell your story.

The story you tell prospects on your business website is critical. It’s not just about listing your skills and what you can do, though this is also very important.

Let them know who you are.

Explain why you’re passionate about web design. Share how you have gained knowledge and experience from other industries before starting your own website design company.

Share a few details about your personal life and what passions and hobbies you enjoy. Place yourself first as a person, then as a web designer.

In this way, you will stand out from the crowd when potential clients or target audience are searching for a web designer for their next big project.

With this approach, you can be more relatable, and you’ll give them the impression that you’re someone who they can work with easily.

Be Accessible.

Be Accessible

Make sure that your existing and new clients can easily get in touch with you.

You are going to be asked several questions about their WordPress projects by every visitor to your website, as in the following:

  • Are you familiar with WooCommerce and ShipStation plugins?
  • Do you have experience building WordPress websites for businesses with multiple revenue streams?
  • Could you integrate some of their existing design into your new design?

Your website content should be able to answer as many of these questions as possible. However, for that client who would rather speak to you about his or her needs, how easy is it to reach you?

Yes, you can let go of the cliched “Contact Me” page and place a web form that most Internet users never expect to get a response from.

Alternatively, you could provide your personal email address and phone number and let customers and prospects know the specific times you are available.

The first thing you should do as you begin your journey is make yourself easy to reach personally and to be available for conversations as many hours as possible during the day.

By taking this simple step, you’ll be able to stand out.

Get Found.

Choose A Simple And Catchy Business Name

It won’t matter how cool your website is if potential clients are unable to find it or don’t know it exists.

Visibility to the client is definitely challenging in the beginning. Choosing a simple and catchy business name and URL can help you avoid this.

But don’t become too cutesy.

When choosing your URL, ensure that it ends in ‘.com’ and try to keep it at three syllables or shorter.

Start handing out your business cards to as many local businesses as possible and promote your business.

I know it might seem daunting to walk into a business location, but it isn’t actually that difficult. Try to be personable, friendly, relaxed, and non-intrusive. Give a brief overview of your business and yourself.

Make sure that your URL appears prominently on your business card, so they have a means to learn more about you after you leave.

Since most of your competitors are afraid of “cold calling” introductions, this practice will most likely drive you new business.

Once you have successfully implemented this simple yet effective practice, you’ll soon need to think about managing multiple WordPress sites.

Once this is done, list yourself on popular freelance websites like Upwork.com and Freelancer.com. Take time to set up your freelance profiles.

Next, apply to as many WordPress web design freelance positions as possible. Here, it’s important to avoid price-bidding wars with other web designers or freelancers. Before you begin searching for freelance web designer work, establish how much you will charge for your web design services and stick to them.

Your work will lose its value if you decide to undercut your rates and upset clients who have previously paid a higher rate.

Getting freelance jobs through popular freelancing sites isn’t easy, especially if you’re a beginner. But it’s a great way to build a portfolio and make contacts for direct work in the future.

Display Your Rates.

Display Your Rates

Display your rates on your business website.

When you do online research or shopping, what do you look for first in a company’s products or services?

As is the case with most people, you probably want to know what it will cost. The same applies to your customers.

Whenever a client is considering getting a website designed, they would want to find out how much they’ll have to spend. Depending on the type of project or the complexity of the design, you can set the rates on your work, the number of pages, or by the hour with an estimate on the length of time the project will take.

In cases where it may be difficult to set blanket prices, remember always to offer a “Custom Design” option that allows clients to reach out to you directly for a more detailed quote.

When you speak with a potential lead, you can get a new project and get a new web design job.

Showcase Your Portfolio

Showcase Your Portfolio

Make sure your website shows as much of your past work as possible. Even if you are a beginner to professional web design, you can use the sites you build for family members, friends, or bartering.

If you’ve built something and think it’s not worth including in your business website, think again. Potential clients might be searching for an array of different types of websites.

Perhaps the design you did for the local tire shop is just what someone else on the other side of the country wants.

When building your portfolio, you may also include your pro-bono works for friends, family, or colleagues.

Portfolios are designed to help you land clients, whether you are searching for freelance work, clients for your agency or employment at your target company. A website’s content should first reflect what you hope to achieve.

Feature Glowing Reviews

Feature Glowing Reviews

Include your best customer reviews in your business website.

Customer reviews influence buying decisions. You can quickly lose an entirely new customer with a few bad reviews.

Your business will look unreliable if you don’t have customer reviews.

In either of these scenarios, you will not be able to effectively build your business as a web designer.

Building your business will be tough if you lack customer reviews.

Simply ask your existing customers for reviews to build your portfolio. Have a link on your website that leads to a satisfied customer after your work is done. Politely ask people in your email list if they can review your work. They might be okay with you featuring the review on your site.

Generally, a majority of clients will take time to write a review for you. If you want to display all reviews on your website, you can do so, or you can display only the best ones.

WordPress review plugins make the process easier to streamline.

Consider your pro bono clients if you’ve never done any paid web design. Tell everyone you’ve made websites for that you will be doing professional web design.

Request their help in writing reviews for you. How many people will want to be part of your new venture will surprise you.

Set Realistic Web Design Business Goals.

Set Realistic Web Design Business Goals

A part-time job is an option if you want to compliment your current income with this venture. To begin the process, identify three customers in the following month. Any of these positions may pay $1,000 or more.

Start with six clients if you intend to make it full-time. Don’t wait any longer, and get out and start doing it.

It’s important, however, not to take on too many tasks simultaneously. Being able to handle multiple tasks at once will take some practice. You would will still give individual attention to each client while ensuring that all projects are completed successfully.

What Does It Take To Start A Web Design Business?

How To Start A Web Design Business
How Do I Start? banner

The following steps you may take to advance your startup to the next stage.

  • Take the time to build your brand.
  • Put together a website to show off your portfolio.
  • Utilize social media to build a presence online.
  • Give potential clients business cards and take them to networking events.
  • Boost your website’s ranking in the search engines by brushing up on your SEO knowledge.
  • Look for a mentor who has experience setting up businesses.
  • Make sure you have a lawyer and an accountant to manage your business expenses.
  • Decide on how your website will be designed.
  • Consider WordPress (we highly recommend it) as your website content management system.
  • Make sure you have a contract plan.
  • Make sure you have a clear plan for ongoing website maintenance.

What Skills Will You Need To Succeed As A WordPress Web Designer?

Web Design Skills

This industry isn’t for everyone. To be a successful web designer today in this highly competitive environment, you need talents and competencies.

WordPress web design doesn’t require you to learn how to code from scratch, which is great news for most of us.

However, you should possess these skills to be successful:

  • SEO (search engine optimization) knowledge
  • User Experience (UX)
  • Visual design knowledge
  • CSS and HTML knowledge
  • Knowledge of tools such as Illustrator and Photoshop
  • “People skills”

WordPress web designers need to keep in mind that they must create both an attractive and functional website. In order to achieve this, you need the right combination of technical expertise and creative flair.

The Importance Of “People Skills” For A Web Design Business

People Skills Important In A Web Design Business
3d imagen, background concept wordcloud illustration of people skills

Web design businesses benefit greatly from the ability to connect with potential clients as if they were long-time friends.

I consider myself an introvert. Being a “people person” isn’t exactly my thing, so I can relate to people who lack the natural ability to strike up a conversation with strangers.

Creating a client base for your web design business may be challenging for introverts, so make sure you stretch yourself a bit, but not too much.

That’s easy for me to say, isn’t it? As I sit with my headphones on, quietly facilitating encouraging words and phrases as they are spoken with thought.

Even though it’s easier said than done, it’s still possible. The following five tips will help you sharpen your “People Skills.”

  • Make conversation with strangers a habit. Take the time to at least say hi to anyone who you come into contact with, whether it’s your waiter, barista, or person in the elevator with you. Taking this step will help you improve your communication with clients in the future.
  • Participate in networking events and try meeting at least two people, and strike a friendly conversation.
  • Connect with a friend.
  • Identify questions before you meet a client that you would want to learn about them. Consequently, this would involve imagining what kind of client you want to work with. It’s about quality over quantity.
  • Plan to recharge on certain days; that way, you’ll have time to yourself at the end of the day.

You will find a variety of ideas about how to develop a client base in the “Turning Contacts Into Contracts” Ebook, irrespective of whether you are an introvert or an extrovert.

Powerful Tutorials For WordPress Web Design

Powerful Tutorials For WordPress Web Design

There are countless tutorials and courses available online as well as in libraries that can help anyone starting out or looking to improve their skills in WordPress web design.

Currently, there are over 500 hours of premium WordPress training content available on iThemes.

Let’s look at the best WordPress web design tutorials you can find to save yourself time researching it on your own.

HTML And CSS

HTML And CSS

WordPress designers should be well versed in HTML and CSS in order to produce the best designs. Here are some courses and tutorials you can check out for more information on this topic.

CSS Tutorials By LinkedIn Learning

This is an excellent starting point for learning about code. There are a number of tutorials and classes available here. These tutorials will teach you how to use HTML and CSS to create a WordPress website, why they are essential, and how exactly you can use them.

Once you understand these basics, you can move on to a more complex tutorial and course.

CSS Tutorial By W3Schools

You can learn a wide range of topics at W3Schools, from the basics all the way to advanced CSS techniques. When you master W3Schools’ courses, you will be able to create effective and powerful WordPress websites.

SEO

SEO

You should also be able to demonstrate proficiency in search engine optimization (SEO) since your clients will be looking for it when hiring a WordPress web designer. You must have a working knowledge of SEO if you want your clients’ websites to rank highly on Google and other search engines.

Remember that a website’s physical design only accounts for half of the work required. A site must also be search engine-friendly if it is to rank well on search engines like Google. Optimizing a site to suit a search engine’s algorithms and rules is essential if you want it to appear high in search results.

Additional WordPress Web Design Courses

The following are some other top courses you should consider before starting your business:

  • CSS Tutorial For Beginners
  • WordPress courses from iThemes Training
  • Become a WordPress Web Design Expert Without Any Coding

You might also want to check out the book “Web Designer’s Guide to WordPress: Plan, Theme, Build, Launch (Voices That Matter)” to broaden your knowledge.

It’s an incredibly practical guide that will inform you about every aspect of WordPress website design – starting with initial installation, all the way to creating and implementing elaborate designs.

6 Helpful Resources For Web Designers

Adobe Creative Cloud Helpful Resource For Web Designers

Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 Start BusinessOpp Courses For 2024

Did How To Start A Web Design Business Make The List?

  1. Adobe Creative Cloud.) The free 30-day trial is a great way to see if it’s right for you, since it costs quite a bit.
  2. Sketch.) With Sketch, you’ll get an excellent design platform that’s simple and affordable. It also offers a 30-day free trial.
  3. Dribbble.) Dribbble lets you explore designs, share yours, and promote others.
  4. Pexels.)You can download free, high-resolution images for your projects.
  5. Unsplash.) Free, high resolution images are available here.
  6. Pikwizard.)There is an extensive library of free, beautiful pictures available on Pikwizard. There are a lot of pictures of people in this library, and I like the way they are categorized into relevant categories.

Wrapping Up: Starting Your Web Design Business

Wrapping Up Starting Your Web Design Business

The only person that can help get you started on your path to success is you, regardless of the long-term goals of your new business.

There is a possibility that you already possess all of the technical skills required. However, you have no idea what to do to promote your company. If that’s the case, this article should be helpful for getting you started.

In contrast, you may already know how and what to do to start your business. But the problem is that you lack the technical expertise of web design. If this is the case, you’ll need to explore the various courses and tutorials listed here so that you can begin to learn how to become an expert.

Knowing that you will reap the rewards for your hard work far outweighs the challenges you might face in this business. Web design businesses are tough, but it’s worth it financially and personally!

Enjoy the journey, learn from the lessons, and keep pushing forward to establishing your web design company!

What Is My #1 Recommendation For Making Money In 2022?

Make Money Online With Digital Landlord

Alright, time for me to get real with my lovely readers for a moment:

I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:

  • I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
  • I’ve drop-shipped a toilet-bowl putting green on Shopify
  • I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing

And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.

THAT BEING SAID: I would at least recommend you implement something that is tried and true, because I’ve seen TOO MANY people (including friends and family) get burned by stuff like Web Design Business.

They come out of left field with some random idea, make it seem attractive, and then make themselves a quick buck by luring in unsuspecting people.

I’m not saying Web Design Business itself is a piece of trash; I’m just saying you need to be very careful.

This is a big reason why I only recommend proven, tried and true business models, like Lead Generation & Ad Agencies.

There are a bunch of programs out there that teach you those skills, but my top choice is the Digital Rental Method program.

Why? It has proven leaders with their own 7-figure businesses implementing exactly what they teach you.

I’ve also got over a dozen personal friends in there, so I feel comfortable telling you it works.

Their program works whether you’re a complete newbie you have been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward.

Here’s why:

1)Time: You can do this if ’you’ve got a spare hour or two each day. If you want to drop everything and go all-in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.

And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring (for the most part).

That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.

But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.

2)Big Margins: With most businesses, you’re often going to have really slim margins. That means you need to hit a serious scale to make serious money.

using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.

Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.

Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on “auto-pilot.”

3)It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…

If you wanted to double your income with web designing, you would need to have talents and competencies. And I can guarantee you that’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.

4)You’re Helping REAL People: My biggest gripe with web designing is that you’re basically only helping yourself.

But With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:

Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.

You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.

Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.

So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other off the wall business models like web designing and maybe hit it big one day.

You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.

OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.

Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.

If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.

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