How Much Money You Can Actually Make
Wondering how much money you can make as a freelance web designer? Or maybe you’re wondering how much to charge for a website. Look no further! Your entrepreneur finances are important which is why I’m sharing how much money you can make when you start a web design business and how your money mindset impacts your revenue.
One of the most frequent questions I get in my inbox and private messages, and honestly, one of the questions I most frequently see posted in Facebook groups is “how much should I charge to build a website?”.
For obvious reasons, this is a question that tons of aspiring web designers ask or think about. It’s a question that holds a ton of people back from chasing their dreams and starting a web design business.
Taking this one step further, another limiting belief that holds a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs back is the question of “can I make enough money building websites to pay my bills and support my lifestyle?”
This is a question that needs to be answered and you need to accept the answer before you can move forward with starting your web design business.
So what I’m going to do today is answer both of those questions for you – how much should you charge to build a website AND can you make enough money building websites to pay your bills and support your lifestyle.
What might shock you is that I’m actually going to answer these questions without giving you any definitive financial numbers. So if you’re reading this, hoping to walk away with an exact package price in mind or an exact amount of money you’re going to make each year… I’m sorry to disappoint you but those numbers aren’t going to come from me. Not to say you won’t walk away from this with a package price or yearly financial goal, but if you do, it will come from you, not me.
Alright, so let’s dive in!
Web Design Business Revenue Varies
I want to start off by saying that any amount that you can comprehend and that feels good to you is attainable.
There are web design business owners who are making 4-figures per year.
There are web design business owners who are making 5-figures per year.
There are web design business owners who are making 6-figures per year.
And yes, there are web design business owners who are making 7-figures per year.
We can break this down even further and realize that there are web design business owners making $500 per month, $1000 per month, $5000 per month, $10,000 per month, and even $25,000 or more per month.
If you do your research, you can find web designers who fall into each of these brackets and see that it is possible to design websites for profit. That profit is totally dependent on you, your drive, and your goals.
Your Goals and Effort Determine Your Revenue and Prices
Maybe you want to start freelancing as a web designer just as a side hustle so that you have some extra cash to go on vacation. Your goal may be to only make $500 or $1000 per month. To you, that’s achievable.
Or maybe you want to start freelancing as a web designer and turn it into a full-time business so you can work from home and spend more time with your kids. Your goal might be to make $5,000 per month. To you, that’s achievable.
You might even have the goal of starting off as a freelance web designer to learn more about running a business so that you can turn your side hustle into a full-time job where you’re bringing in $15,000+ per month. To you, that’s achievable.
All of these goals are different and along with it, the strategy behind the businesses will be different.
The side hustle dreamers will market themselves less and most likely just bid for projects on freelancing platforms.
The full-time solo entrepreneur will market themselves more, build relationships with other business owners, and bring in referral clients.
The agency achievers will use paid ads, hire a team to help burden the load, and work with higher-paying clients.
All of these are options for you and there is nothing holding you back from reaching these goals other than yourself.
The amount of money you charge for a website and the amount of money you make per year is an outcome of your efforts, your marketing, your processes, your designs, and your relationships.
You can (and probably will at some point in time) charge anywhere from $200 USD for a website up to $10,000+ for a website. More effort and drive on your part will allow you to raise your prices. Better and more strategic marketing will allow you to raise your prices. A more efficient process will free up your time so you can take on more clients. Better designs will bring in more leads that vibe with your aesthetic. And better relationships will bring in more referral clients.
Maximum Effort Provides Maximum Return
What you can’t expect to happen is that one day you put up your website, make one social media post, and all of a sudden, you’re booked out and making $100K per year. A minimal effort will provide a minimal return.
Which means maximum effort provides a maximum return. The sky is the limit. There is no cap on how much money you can make as a web designer.
When you see someone say “I’ve had a hard time landing web design clients recently” I want to make sure you don’t see that and immediately think, “great, I’m doomed. I shouldn’t start my business because even this ‘experienced’ web designer is struggling.”
Instead, I want you to think about where they may have relaxed their efforts. Their website copy may need to be improved. Their marketing efforts may have been slacking.
My best months in business, when I’ve made $10K in a single month, have been when I’ve been visible. When I’ve marketed myself well, reflected on what’s working and what isn’t, and made adjustments where necessary. My worst months in business, when I’ve made $2K have been when I’ve slacked off and just wished for the best.
This isn’t to say you always have to go, go, go all the time. It is to say that if you hope to snap your fingers and made 6-figures, that’s unrealistic. Making 6-figures isn’t unrealistic though! It’s totally doable if it feels achievable to you.
Real-Life Examples
Honestly, this applies to any industry.
Take business coaches for instance. There are business coaches who charge $2K for a 6-month program. My business coach charged $10,000 for a 4-month program. Marie Forleo… when I bought B-School, she charged $2,000 USD for it and I have access to the course contents for life. You can guarantee that she brings in millions and millions of dollars per year.
The difference between these three people is that one may be just starting out with minimal marketing. My business coach had experience under her belt and put in a lot of effort to charge what she did. Marie Forleo has a team of people who help burden the load so she can reach more people and make a bigger profit.
There is no cap on how much revenue you can make as a web designer unless you put a limit on yourself. Over time, as your money mindset shifts to more positive thoughts and you put the effort in the do your best, you can go from 4-figure to 5-figures to 6-figures or even to 7-figures per year by just designing and building websites.
You can’t do this without getting started though!
