How I Built A $6,000/Month Web Design & Marketing Service For Small Businesses
Who are you and what business did you start?
My name is Cameron Denny, and I'm the founder of Cairde Designs, a web design company serving 40 clients across the United States, primarily in the home-service industry.
Before Cairde Designs, I started a streetwear clothing brand, Bromaid Cleaning Services, and Hilltop Bikes, a brick-and-mortar bicycle repair shop.
Running those businesses taught me firsthand how much time business owners can lose trying to figure out websites, SEO, and online marketing instead of focusing on what they do best.
Today, we help small businesses build professional websites without large upfront costs. Our five-page website package is $150 per month for 24 months, followed by a $50 monthly maintenance plan. That includes hosting, security, updates, and ongoing support.
My goal has always been to make professional web design more accessible while building genuine, long-term relationships with the people we serve.
How do you come up with the idea for Cairde Designs?
The idea came from building websites for my own businesses and later working in marketing and lead generation. I saw firsthand how small business owners were spending thousands of dollars on websites and marketing, often without getting the results they expected. Some agencies charged $3,000 upfront, while others charged upwards of $20,000.
When I started Cairde Designs, my first website sold for $500 with no ongoing maintenance. As I gained experience, I gradually increased my pricing.
Eventually, I came across The Side Hustle Show podcast, which introduced me to a different approach: subscription-based web design.
I realized that spreading the cost over monthly payments could make professional websites more accessible while creating an opportunity to build lasting relationships with clients.
The recurring revenue was appealing, but what really interested me was being able to stay involved in my clients' businesses. One of my favorite parts of what I do is watching a business grow over time and knowing I helped make that happen.
How did you build the initial version of Cairde Designs?
Cameron already knew how to build websites from his own businesses, so his first client project was a $500 site for an appliance repair company in Dallas, which he delivered a few weeks after closing the deal. While he was building it, he learned the agency side by watching YouTube videos on running a web design agency, writing contracts, and hiring designers. The sources don't name the specific development tools or tech stack used for the sites, but the finished product is a five-page website that includes hosting, security, updates, and ongoing support. The biggest build-phase challenge he describes is trying to handle everything himself, from project management to admin work, and he says he wishes he had hired a virtual assistant much sooner.
How did you launch Cairde Designs and get initial traction?
My first client came from knocking on doors, almost by accident. I was selling windows at the time when I noticed a guy standing outside his house next to a freshly wrapped business truck. We started talking, and I learned he'd recently started an appliance repair business in Dallas, Texas.
On the spot, I offered to build him a website. He said yes!
I met with his business partner, worked out the details, and closed the deal for $500. I remember going home and watching every YouTube video I could find about running a web design agency, writing contracts, and hiring designers. I knew how to build websites, but running an agency was completely new to me.
A few weeks later, I delivered the website, and they were happy with the result. They eventually relocated and closed the business about two years later, but they were great people to work with.
My next few clients came from cold calling, which eventually became our biggest source of new business.
The funny part is that I signed my first three or four clients before Cairde Designs even had its own website. I had very little proof of what I could do, but I had plenty of confidence and sales experience. Looking back, I think that's one of the biggest lessons from starting out. You don't need everything perfectly in place to get started.
What was the growth strategy for Cairde Designs and how did you scale?
Cold calling has been our biggest source of growth. I've always had a background in sales, and I've learned that having genuine conversations with business owners is one of the most effective ways to build a business.
Today, my team helps source leads, primarily through Facebook. We look for businesses that are actively posting, check whether they have a website, and identify opportunities where we could improve their online presence.
One strategy that's worked particularly well is creating free website mockups before contacting potential clients. We use AI to take information about their business, along with photos of their actual work, and create a visual preview of what their website could look like. Instead of just telling someone they need a better website, we show them. This approach has brought in many paying clients and helped grow our monthly recurring revenue.
When I'm actively cold calling, I'll typically set a goal of 10, 20, or even 50 calls depending on my schedule. On average, I book an appointment for every 10 conversations, and I close around 45% of the appointments where the prospect actually shows up. I've spent years developing my sales skills, so those results won't necessarily be typical for everyone.
Organic growth has also played an important role. We've gained clients through our own website, search engines, and even the websites we've built for other businesses. Including our company name in the footer has helped potential customers discover us through our work. We've also attracted nonprofit organizations organically, which has been especially rewarding.
For our own SEO, we use tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Semrush, and Screaming Frog to monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve.
One client that stands out is San Diego Pool Tech. We've helped them build a strong online presence, and their website now ranks well for relevant search terms and generates leads for their business. Seeing results like that is one of my favorite parts of what we do.
We've grown to 40 clients over two years, with roughly a year and a half of that spent actively working 30–40 hours per week.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned along the way is the importance of staying connected with existing clients. We now make an effort to communicate with them at least once a week, whether that's checking in, offering advice, or finding ways to help their businesses grow. Since making that a priority, I've noticed significantly less client churn.
The subscription model has also made it easier for business owners to give us a chance. Rather than making a large upfront investment, they can spread the cost over time. Our responsibility is to consistently provide enough value that staying with us becomes an easy decision.
Ultimately, I've learned that growing a business isn't just about finding new customers. It's about building relationships, delivering results, and taking care of the people who have already put their trust in you.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Cairde Designs?
One of my biggest mistakes was not hiring sooner. Early on, I tried to handle almost everything myself, from sales and client communication to administrative work and managing projects.
My first hire was a general virtual assistant who helped with repetitive tasks like setting up business profiles, sending emails, and posting on social media. Looking back, I wish I'd made that decision much earlier. Delegating those responsibilities allowed me to spend more time on the things that actually grow the business.
Another mistake was not communicating with clients often enough. I used to think that as long as we delivered a great website and everything was running smoothly, clients would be happy. What I've learned is that people also want to know you're there for them.
We started making a conscious effort to check in with clients at least once a week. Sometimes it's just asking how business is going. Other times, it's offering advice or identifying something we could improve. Since making that change, we've noticed significantly less client churn.
If I could give one piece of advice to someone starting a business, it would be to get comfortable talking to people. You can have the best product or service in the world, but if nobody knows about it, you're going to have a hard time growing.
I'd also encourage people to focus on building something that genuinely helps others. The money matters, of course, but I've found that the most rewarding part of running Cairde Designs is seeing the difference our work makes for other business owners.
My long-term goal is to help 1,000 formerly incarcerated individuals start and grow their own businesses. Having experienced what it means to rebuild my own life, I understand how valuable a second chance can be. I want to use the skills, resources, and business I've built to help others create opportunities for themselves.
Giving back is also something I want to remain a permanent part of Cairde Designs. We provide our services to nonprofit organizations at no cost, and that's something I intend to continue regardless of how large the company becomes.
Ultimately, I don't want to look back and measure our success only by how many websites we've built or how much money we've made. I want to see how many people we've genuinely helped along the way.
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More about Cairde Designs:
Who is the owner of Cairde Designs?
Cameron Denny is the founder of Cairde Designs.
When did Cameron Denny start Cairde Designs?
2018
How much money has Cameron Denny made from Cairde Designs?
Cameron Denny started the business in 2018, and currently makes an average of $72K/year.
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