Master the essentials, land clients, and launch your dream business. No coding required.
Introduction
Starting from scratch or pivoting from design? This guide will show you how to launch a web design business that brings in clients and income – without needing to learn code.
You’ll learn how to:
- Set up your business and branding
- Design with Elementor
- Price your services
- Find and manage clients
- Build repeatable systems for growth
Why Elementor?
Elementor is a drag-and-drop website builder for WordPress. It’s perfect for beginners and powerful enough for pros.
Why I recommend it:
- No coding required
- Fully customizable
- Pre-made templates
- Works with e-commerce, marketing tools, and forms
- Big support community
👉 Pro tip: Elementor Pro is totally worth it for features like forms, motion effects, and premium templates.
What Is Freelance Web Design?
Freelance designers work independently.
You can:
- Work from anywhere
- Set your rates and schedule
- Serve small business owners, coaches, creatives, and more
Popular site types:
- Personal brands
- Portfolios
- E-commerce stores
- Service-based businesses
Step 1: Define Your Brand
Target Audience:
Who are your ideal clients? (Example: coaches, beauty pros, artists)
Problem You Solve:
They want a site that helps them book clients and make sales.
Mission & Vision Example:
- Mission: Help entrepreneurs grow with smart, strategic web design.
- Vision: Build beautiful websites that convert.
Branding Elements:
- Name
- Colors + fonts
- Logo
- Voice/tone
Step 2: Domains & Hosting
What You Need:
- Domain: Your web address (like yourname.com)
- Hosting: The space where your website lives
Client Tip:
Have clients purchase hosting in their name so they own their site. Then they can:
- Add you as a user
- Or share temp access (use LastPass)
Hosting Options
Option 1: Elementor Hosting (Premium + Easy)
- $9.99–$99.99/mo
- Includes domain, SSL, hosting, Elementor Pro
Option 2: Hostinger (Budget-Friendly)
- ~$2.99/mo
- Includes free domain, email, SSL
Setup:
- Choose a plan
- Register domain
- Install WordPress + Elementor
- Start designing!
Step 3: Web Design Basics (UX + Templates)
Before you dive into design, sketch your page layout (wireframe):
- Hero section
- Services
- About
- Contact
Then use Elementor templates to speed things up. Customize with drag-and-drop tools to match your client’s brand.
Step 4: Build Your Website
Must-Have Pages:
- Home
- About
- Services
- Portfolio
- Contact
Design Tips:
- Choose a starter template or design from scratch
- Customize fonts, colors, layout
- Keep it mobile-friendly
- Add clear CTAs like “Book a call”
Step 5: Write Clear Website Content
No need to overthink.
Include:
- Who you are
- What you do
- Who you help
- Your process
- Call to action
Step 6: Price Your Services
Don’t lowball. Start small but smart.
Examples:
- One-page site: $300–$600
- 5-page site: $1,000–$3,000
- VIP Design Day: $500–$1,200/day
✅ Use a contract
✅ Always collect a deposit
Step 7: Find Clients
Start with your network!
Ideas:
- Offer beta sites in exchange for testimonials
- Post work on Instagram and Pinterest
- Join online groups where your dream clients hang out
- Try platforms like Upwork or Contra
Step 8: Manage Projects & Clients
Use tools to stay organized:
- Notion: Track deadlines, content, feedback
- HoneyBook: Contracts, payments, automations
- Google Drive: File sharing
Create a repeatable workflow:
- Discovery call
- Proposal + contract
- Deposit
- Content collection
- Design
- Feedback + revisions
- Launch
- Offboarding
Step 9: Communicate Like a Pro
Have templates ready:
- Welcome email
- Onboarding steps
- Weekly updates
- Feedback requests
- Offboarding email + testimonial ask
Step 10: Get Paid
Use professional payment platforms:
- Stripe
- PayPal Business
- HoneyBook
✅ Require a deposit before starting
✅ Send invoices with clear terms
Step 11: Build Your Portfolio
Even one solid project builds trust.
Include:
- Screenshots or mockups
- A quick write-up: What you built + why
- Client testimonial
Step 12: Simple Marketing Strategies
You don’t have to be everywhere. Pick 1–2 channels and show up consistently.
Ideas:
- Instagram or LinkedIn
- Mini case studies
- Blog with SEO tips
- Pinterest traffic
- Referral rewards
- Join communities
Legal Checklist
(Not legal advice, just basics!)
✅ Choose Sole Prop or LLC
✅ Get an EIN (IRS.gov – free)
✅ Open a biz bank account
✅ Track income/expenses (Wave, Notion, QuickBooks)
✅ Use contracts
✅ Understand your freelance tax situation
My Go-To Tools
- Elementor Pro – Site builder
- Elementor Hosting – Fast + simple
- HoneyBook – Proposals, payments, contracts
- Notion – Project/client management
- Canva Pro – Branding assets
- Google Workspace – Pro email + storage
Final Words
Start small, stay consistent, and trust the process. Every site you build is a stepping stone to the business (and freedom) you want.
You’ve got this. Now go build your dream website and your dream life.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend tools I genuinely love and believe will support your business.
