Become A Freelance Website Designer in 3 Months
From Corporate Job to $5K Extra Per Month: The Complete Website Design Side Hustle Blueprint
Jul 6, 2025
Mental Models
7 min
Learn to bet on yourself.
This post went semi-viral on YouTube with hundreds of comments from people ready to make the leap. Watch the full video here for the complete walkthrough, but this written guide gives you every detail, link, and action step you need to start earning $5K monthly while keeping your day job.
Look, I get it. You're scrolling through another "make money online" post thinking this sounds too good to be true. But here's the thing - I've personally built over 250 websites, consulted on nearly 1,000 more, and helped countless people make this exact transition.
The first time I tried freelancing? Complete failure.
Gave up. 6 months later, tried again.
When I tried again (March 2017), within 100 days I'd paid off $20,000 in debt and was completely debt-free.
So if you're sitting in that corporate cubicle wondering if there's a way out, or if you just want to stack some serious side cash, this is your roadmap. (Plus checkout the list of tools below to get started)
Want to follow this system step-by-step? I've created a complete digital checklist that breaks down every action item, timeline, and tool you need for the next 90 days. Access the 90-Day Freedom Checklist here- it's the same roadmap I used to go from corporate employee to debt-free in 100 days.
The Reality Check: What You Actually Need
Before we dive in, let's get real about what this takes:
Money Required: $100-$500 (domains, hosting, tools - not a coding bootcamp) Time Commitment: 4 focused hours per week minimum (10 hours = faster results) Coding Skills: Zero. Nada. None required. Design Background: Not necessary at all.
The biggest requirement? Persistence. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme - it's a proven system that works if you stick with it.
The 5-Step Freedom System (90 Days & Beyond)
The Success Timeline Breakdown
Month 1: Build three practice websites Month 2: Build portfolio site + start marketing Month 3: Land consistent clients + refine process Month 4+: Scale to $5K monthly or transition full-time
Step 1: Build Your First Three Websites (Month 1: Week 1-5)
This is where most people get stuck, so I'm going to be very specific here.
Your Mission: Build three websites for anyone who needs one - small businesses, nonprofits, friends, family, even fake businesses if you have to.
Timeline: 30 days. Yes, that's aggressive. That's the point.
Why This Works: You're not trying to make money yet. You're building expertise and creating portfolio pieces that will land you real clients.
Confidence doesn’t come from success but mistakes. You need to try and make websites and make mistakes. Make them ugly to make them beautiful. Just do the hard work.
Pro Tips for Your First Three Sites:
Steal Like an Artist: Go to Squarespace templates and build sites that look just like these. Don't reinvent the wheel.
Pro tip: If you can recreate Rotate Studio you are set ahead of 90% of people who are getting started with Squarespace.
If you need a free starter template that is the same template I use for every project, fill out this form: https://tally.so/r/npNbN8
Keep It Simple: Logo top left, menu top right, big hero image with headline and button. That's it. No fancy animations or creative layouts yet.
Use Parkinson's Law: Give yourself 7-10 days per site max. The time you allocate is the time it takes.Let me repeat myself, don’t overthink it. Just do. As a beginner, your biggest issue isn’t design, it’s action. Learn to take action. I love this quote, “It’s better to do it and suck, then live with inaction aiming after perfection.” Just get it done.
Can't Find Clients? Build fake websites with real domains from GoDaddy ($8-12 each). Make them live so people can see your work.
Tools You'll Need:
Website builder options
Squarespace: Save an extra 20% with code ISKANDER20
Framer: Save extra 25% with code: partner25proyearly
Step 2: Build Your Portfolio Website (Week 6)
Now you're building site number four - the one that's going to land you paying clients. Each of these pages/sections are to help your visitors turn into clients.
The Five Essential Pages:
Homepage: Clear value proposition and what you do
Services: Three simple packages (more on pricing below)
About: Why should people work with YOU specifically?
Portfolio: Show all four sites (including your own)
Contact: Booking system, not just a contact form
Some notes on key pages you will have on your website:
Your Service Packages (Start Here):
Basic: 3-5 pages - $749
Standard: 5-8 pages - $949
Premium: 8-12 pages or e-commerce - $1,449
Don't go lower than $500. You're a professional, not doing charity work.
The About Page That Converts:
People hire humans, not robots. Share your story. When I started, clients chose me because they saw I did charity work and genuinely cared about helping people. Your humanity is your competitive advantage.
Contact Page Game-Changer:
Skip the basic contact form. Use Calendly or Acuity Scheduling so prospects can book calls immediately. That first phone conversation is pure gold.
Timeline: One week max. Follow the 80% rule - don't perfectionism yourself to death. Just launch! My first website was garbage, for real, but it landed me clients.
One pro tip: Make yourself as available as possible. If someone goes to book a call on your website, don’t be particular, give as much availability as possible!
Step 3: The Client-Getting Machine (Month 2 - Week 7-10)
This is where most people fail because they don't want to "be salesy." Get over it. You have a valuable service that helps businesses succeed.
Your Client Acquisition Toolit:
1. Facebook Groups Join every Squarespace and small business Facebook group you can find. Be helpful, answer questions, build relationships.
2. Freelance Platforms Create profiles on:
3. Paid Advertising I started with Google Ads and spent $30-80 to land $1,500 projects. The math worked then. I don’t think it works now. It’s way more saturated now. I share this because maybe there are new avenues to consider! The goal here is test!
4. Social Media Blast Post on all your platforms that you're now designing websites. Someone you know needs this service. And don’t forget to post it multiple times.
5. Personal Network Text everyone in your phone. Seriously. Someone knows someone who needs a website. Gary Vee has great advice on this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ_sGgEu1JE/?hl=en
When you get on the call, here is a list of questions I ask to land $1k to $30k projects (free): https://davidalex.gumroad.com/l/client-discovery-call
The Mindset Shift That Everything:
Yes, charge like a professional, but, stop focusing on the money. Focus on delivering incredible results and building relationships. The money follows naturally.
Step 4: Create Your Client Process System (Ongoing)
Professional freelancers have systems. Amateurs wing it. Here are rules and processes I consider to be a professional. This isn’t a comprehensive list; but will get you started!
Your Non-Negotiable Process:
Payment Structure:
50% upfront to start
50% before launch (not after)
Pro-tip: This payment schedule means I've never not been paid for a project. Ever.
Clear Scope: "I'll build your site for $1,500. It includes up to 10 pages and 2 rounds of revisions."
Communication Protocol: Always be ahead of your client. Never let them wonder what's happening next.
"Thanks for the content! I'm reviewing everything and will have your first draft to you by [specific date]. I'll reach out if I have any questions before then."
Tools for Payments (be professional):
PayPal (free and professional)
QuickBooks (if clients prefer)
Skip Venmo unless it's friends and family.
Learn to Say No:
As you start landing clients, this might be the hardest part, but it's crucial. Stick to your scope. Stick to your process. Clients will respect you more for it.
Step 5: The Rule of 10 (Month 3 and Beyond)
Want to get ahead of your collegue at work who is stressed financially?
Here's the secret sauce: Build 10 websites before you question anything.
Don't ask if you're good enough after project 3. Don't wonder if you should raise your rates after project 5. Get to 10 first.
By website 10, you'll know if this works for you. You'll have systems down. You'll understand client management. You'll be ready to scale or adjust. Any judgement before website 10 is judged inaccurately.
Ready to Start Your 90-Day Transformation?
You've got the complete roadmap. Now you need to execute it systematically.
That's why I created The 90-Day Freedom Checklist - a digital, step-by-step action plan that includes:
✅ Week-by-week tasks with specific deadlines
✅ All the tools and links mentioned in this guide
✅ Pricing templates and client communication scripts
✅ Portfolio building checklist
✅ Client acquisition tracker
✅ Monthly milestone markers
No more wondering "what do I do next?" Just follow the checklist.
Get Your Free 90-Day Freedom Checklist Here
This is the exact system that helped me pay off $20K in debt. Now it's yours.
Common Questions (Because I Get These A Lot)
Q: "Do I really not need to learn coding?" A: Correct. Kids learn to speak before they read and write. You can build websites before you code. Especially with AI and YouTube, you can do anything.
Q: "What if I fail like you did the first time?" A: Then you try again. I failed completely in September 2016. Started again in March 2017 and landed my first client in 4 days. Persistence beats perfection.
Q: "Is this market too saturated now?" A: There are millions of small businesses that need websites. The market is huge and growing. So, no, it’s not overly saturated.
Tools and Resources to Get Started
All my favorite tools and resources: https://davidalex.com/stack
Website Builders:
Squarespace - Easiest for beginners
Webflow - More advanced, higher pay potential
WordPress - Most flexible
Domains and Hosting:
GoDaddy - Domain registration
Bluehost - WordPress hosting
SiteGround - Premium hosting
Client Management:
Calendly - Appointment scheduling
PayPal - Payments and invoicing
Google Workspace - Professional email
Marketing:
Google Ads - Paid advertising
Canva - Social media graphics
Buffer - Social media scheduling
The Truth About Making This Work
This isn't about becoming the world's greatest designer overnight. It's about providing a valuable service to businesses that need it while you build skills and income.
I've consulted on over 1,000 websites. Now, my goal is to create 1,000 pieces of content to help people like you make this transition. Because when you experience the joy of creating wealth through something you've built, everything changes.
Your Next Steps (Do This Today)
Bookmark this post - You'll reference it multiple times
Watch the full video for additional context and examples
Choose your website builder and create an account
List 10 people who might need a website
Set your 30-day deadline for three practice sites
Remember: The hardest part isn't long-term discipline. It's building the initial habit. But once you find a system that works for getting clients consistently, it will radically change your life.
Ready to get started? The next 90 days could completely transform your financial situation. But only if you actually start.
Drop me an email (hello@davidalex.com) if you made it this far - you're my type of people. And if this helped you, share it with someone else who's ready to make the leap from corporate life to freelance freedom.
