11 Freelance Web Developer Success Stories [2024]
Are you passionate about technology and looking for a way to earn extra income while working on your terms? How about becoming a freelance web developer? Firstly, web development is a highly sought-after skill in every industry. Secondly, the pay rate is higher than freelance writers, and freelance graphic designers earn. As a freelance web developer, you put yourself in a high-value proposition. However, it would be best to learn languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript to get started. Find a niche and start building anything and everything. Create a personal brand and build up your portfolio.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a freelance web developer:
1. Cantilever Web Design & Development ($1.78M/year)
Ty Fujimura, founder of Cantilever Web Design and Development, came up with the idea for his business while freelancing and building a robust list of clients. After hiring Nevan Scott, a talented designer/developer, they successfully pitched and won a large project, prompting the formal incorporation of Cantilever. With a few thousand dollars in the bank and a $20,000 check from their first project, they slowly built momentum and focused on delivering top-quality work to build a strong client base.
How much they make: $1.78M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 9
Cantilever Web Design and Development, with clients including IBM and small businesses, reached a revenue of over $750k last year with a gross margin of 50% by prioritizing Digital Hospitality, fostering high-quality relationships, and constantly improving their process and philosophy.
2. Up And Social ($300K/year)
Scott, the founder of Up And Social, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the need for web design and SEO services specifically tailored to small businesses. With his background in marketing and technology, he saw an opportunity to provide affordable but high-quality services to small business owners. Through networking events and online initiatives, Up And Social has been able to attract and retain customers, and they continue to grow at a comfortable pace, with over $20,000 in sales each month.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
Current team size: 1
How a founder turned his passion for marketing and technology into a successful Boston-based web design and SEO company, generating over $20k in sales each month by focusing on serving the niche market of small businesses through affordable and personalized services, while establishing his reputation through B2B networking and online initiatives.
So... can you actually make money with a freelance web developer?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. La Teva Web ($900K/year)
Francesc, the founder of LA TEVA WEB, came up with the idea for his web agency after realizing that there was a gap in the market for websites that could sell and achieve objectives in Barcelona. With his background in management and strategy, he combined his skills in coding and design to create a company that focuses on web design and online marketing. Today, LA TEVA WEB has grown to a team of 20 professionals and continues to enjoy growth and profitability, helping clients increase sales through their websites, e-commerce, and social media profiles.
How much they make: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 19
LA TEVA WEB, a web design and online marketing agency in Spain, started with just one person and has grown to a team of 20 professionals, becoming profitable and achieving growth every year with the key to success being a good academic background that helps to devise a sound strategy, love for the work, and a good team committed to the project in the long term.
4. The Locksmith Agency (1-800-Unlocks) ($360K/year)
Samuel Wilson, the owner of The Locksmith Agency, came up with the idea after recognizing the need for digital marketing services in the locksmith industry. Growing up in a locksmith family, he saw firsthand how locksmiths often lacked the time and expertise to focus on their online presence. Combining his background in locksmithing with his love for marketing, Wilson created The Locksmith Agency to help promote genuine locksmiths and provide them with effective digital marketing solutions.
How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 3
The Locksmith Agency, run by Samuel Wilson, a licensed locksmith with over 10 years of digital marketing experience, is making $30k+ per month by providing digital marketing services such as Website Development, SEO, and Google Listing optimization services specifically for the locksmith industry.
So... can you actually make money with a freelance web developer?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. HTMLG ($72K/year)
Ferenc Denes, the founder, started his business by developing websites and online tools that generate passive income. He came up with the idea for his online HTML editor when he was working at an internet marketing agency and needed a tool to convert Word documents to HTML. After realizing the potential of the tool, he launched it on a separate domain and it started ranking first on Google. He monetized the site with Google Ads and later launched a premium version with paid subscriptions. Now, he has over 40 websites and continues to build passive income sites.
How much they make: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50
Current team size: 1
This case study is about an engineer who developed a free online HTML editor that generates a passive income of $6K per month and owns over 40 websites with a total of roughly 8-10 million monthly visitors.
6. Self-Made Web Designer ($79.2K/year)
How much they make: $79.2K/year
Current team size:
This case study follows a UX web designer who has earned an impressive $80k through Upwork and has built the Self-Made Web Designer website to help aspiring web designers on their journey.
So... can you actually make money with a freelance web developer?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Shirley Ansley ($94.2K/year)
How much they make: $94.2K/year
Current team size:
Aspiring founders can learn from Shirley Ansley who quit her engineering job to create customized websites for award-winning podcasts and POC-women-led businesses after almost 2 years of running her freelance side hustle part-time.
- 4,818 founder case studies
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
