Make Money with Web Design: 7 Powerful Passive Income Ideas

What if your web design skills kept earning – even while you slept?

You’ve built great websites. Delivered for clients. But let’s be honest: trading hours for income has its limits.

The real freedom comes when your work continues to pay off long after it’s done.

Whether you’re a freelance web designer, running a small agency, or just getting started, passive income helps you move beyond the project-to-project grind.

And if you’re ready to make money with web design beyond client work, this guide is packed with practical passive income ideas.

You’ll learn how to build once and earn on repeat – through templates, affiliate sites, online products, and more.

Plus, I’ll show you how smart tools like ZipWP can help you launch faster and scale without the busywork.

So why wait? Let’s get started.

7 Passive Income Ideas for Web Designers That Actually Work

The best part about passive income? You don’t need a decade of experience to get started. Even simple ideas can bring in your first few hundred dollars.

Here are the most effective ways to earn consistently from your design skills even when you’re not actively working.

1. Sell Website Templates and Themes

Selling templates is one of the easiest ways to turn your design skills into recurring revenue. You design once, and sell again and again.

Whether it’s a WordPress theme, Framer template, or a clean Figma UI kit, you’re creating assets people want – especially solopreneurs and small businesses who need quick, professional designs.

Bundling templates with design systems, tutorials, or embedded affiliate links can boost each sale’s value. The more useful your product, the more it sells.

Stay on top of web design trends to ensure your templates remain fresh and in demand.

Skill required:

• Strong layout and visual design skills, plus a sense for niche demand.

Real-world example:
Hamza Ehsan built and sold over 1,500 Framer templates in just 19 months, earning more than $200,000. His niche-first approach and polished layouts made his work stand out.

Helpful platforms and tools:

• Framer: Build and list no-code templates directly.
• Figma + UI8 or Creative Market: Sell design systems and kits.
• ZipWP: Create reusable WordPress templates with Site Blueprints.

Income potential: High

2. Launch Affiliate Content Sites

Affiliate content sites are one of the easiest ways to start earning passively especially if you enjoy writing and sharing what you know.

These are ideal for web designers wondering how to make money from a website without offering client services.

Pick a niche you understand, like design tools, WordPress plugins, or hosting platforms. Then, create helpful content: tutorials, reviews, comparisons, and resource lists.

When someone clicks your affiliate link and buys, you earn a commission. With decent SEO and traffic from platforms like Pinterest or Reddit, this can turn into a steady revenue stream over time.

Skill required:

• Ability to write useful content and apply basic SEO strategies.

Real-world example:
Ryan Robinson, a former Senior Product Designer, turned his blog into a full-time income source. With detailed guides and smart SEO, he attracts over 4 million readers annually – most of his revenue comes from affiliate commissions.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• Affiliate programs: ZipWP, Astra, Envato Elements
• SEO plugins: Rank Math or Yoast SEO for WordPress
• Promotion tools: Pinterest + Tailwind for visual content reach
• Link managers: ThirstyAffiliates or Pretty Links

Income potential: Medium to High

3. Create Courses or eBooks for Aspiring Designers

If you’ve built websites or designed in Figma, Webflow, or WordPress, you already have skills others want to learn – and a great way to make money as a web designer.

Packaging that knowledge into a course or eBook lets you earn passively while helping beginners get started.

Topics could range from “Web Design Basics” to “Creating a WordPress Site for Clients” or “Designing UI Kits in Figma.”

You can even teach emerging skills like AI in UX design to stay ahead of the curve.

Once your content is live, it becomes a digital product you can sell over and over. It builds your authority, grows your audience, and adds a steady stream of income.

Skill required:

• Ability to simplify design knowledge and teach it in a relatable, step-by-step way.

Real-world example:
Soren Iverson, a product designer known for his quirky fictional UX patterns, compiled 100 of them into a self-published book. He sold out all 2,000 copies at $30 each and made over $60,000. His success proves you don’t need to follow a traditional path to make an impact.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• Teachable / Gumroad / Podia: Sell courses or downloads with ease
• Skillshare / Udemy: Access large audiences for live or recorded lessons
• Canva / Notion: Create worksheets, templates, or bonus content
• Loom / ScreenFlow: Record and polish your tutorials

Income potential: High

4. Offer Productized Web Design Services

Sick of rewriting proposals or negotiating scope every time? Many freelancers are turning this into a web design side hustle by offering pre-packaged services that clients can buy instantly.

Productized services let you package your skills into clear, fixed-price offers that clients can buy like a product.

Think “Landing Page in 48 Hours” or “Shopify Setup for Coaches.” No surprises, no scope creep – just a streamlined service with set timelines and pricing. Use smart web design cost and pricing strategies to make your offers irresistible and profitable.

Once your systems are dialed in, you can deliver faster, eliminate client back-and-forth, and even automate parts of your process. It’s a clean, scalable way to earn more while working less.

Skill required:

• Ability to create repeatable systems that deliver consistent design results.

Real-world example:
Brett Williams built DesignJoy as a solo designer offering unlimited design requests for a flat monthly fee. No meetings. No hourly billing. That focus helped him scale to over $1 million per year – and inspired a wave of productized micro-agencies.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• SureCart: Set fixed, variable, or installment pricing with ease
• ThriveCart / WooCommerce / Gumroad: Automate checkout, upsells, and delivery
• Calendly + Stripe: Let clients book and pay without manual invoicing
• Trello / Notion: Manage workflows, assets, and client communication

Income potential: High

5. Provide Hosting and Maintenance Plans

Launching a website is just the beginning. Most clients don’t want to deal with plugin updates, backups, or performance issues – and that’s your opportunity.

By offering hosting and maintenance plans, you turn a one-time build into reliable monthly income.

You keep their site secure, fast, and up-to-date while they stay focused on their business.

There’s no need for new designs or constant pitching. Just steady, recurring income from web design work you’ve already done.

Skill required:

• Solid understanding of WordPress, hosting, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting.

Real-world example:
Agencies like GoWP and WP Buffs built six-figure businesses around care plans, charging $79 to $199 per site monthly. Their model is simple: keep things running, earn on repeat. Freelancers can do the same with just a few clients.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• ZipWP Cloud: Manage hosting, updates, and client sites in one place
• ManageWP / MainWP: Automate backups, plugin updates, and reporting
• Stripe / Bonsai / Plutio: Set up recurring billing and streamline communication
• UptimeRobot / Better Uptime: Monitor site health and get alerts if anything breaks

Income potential: High

6. Build and Sell Niche Websites

Think of this like flipping digital real estate. You pick a focused niche – maybe budgeting for freelancers, eco-friendly living, or productivity for creators – then build a small, targeted website around it.

Add valuable content, monetize it with affiliate links or lead forms, and grow its traffic. Once the site starts gaining traction, list it for sale on platforms like Flippa or Motion Invest.

A clean, optimized site with proven traffic can sell for thousands. It’s one of the smartest ways to get paid to build websites using the skills you already have.

Skill required:

• Research-driven thinking and the ability to build fast, SEO-friendly websites that look professional.

Real-world example:
Mushfiq Sarker, a well-known website investor, has flipped over 200 sites. Many sold for $10,000 to $45,000, thanks to solid traffic and monetization. He treats each site like a mini business, refining it before passing it on.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• Flippa / Motion Invest / Empire Flippers: Trusted marketplaces for site flipping
• SEMrush / Ubersuggest: Find low-competition keywords to attract buyers
• Google Search Console: Showcase real traffic data to increase site value
• ZipWP: Launch niche sites quickly with AI-powered WordPress builds

Income potential: High

7. Set Up Membership or Subscription Sites

If you’ve been building websites or working in UI/UX, chances are you’ve got knowledge others would pay to access.

A membership or subscription site turns that expertise into steady income—and an ideal model if you’re looking to make money designing websites once and monetizing forever.

You can offer gated content, private tutorials, live Q&A sessions, or downloadable resources – all inside a paywalled site. Start with a niche your audience cares about, like “Design Systems for Freelancers” or “Client Communication for Creatives.”

With tools like WordPress, Teachable, or Podia, it’s easy to set up and scale. Members subscribe, and you keep earning while doing what you love.

Skill required:

• The ability to teach clearly and create content that keeps members engaged.

Real-world example:
Michael Riddering turned his Figma skills into Figma Academy. Hosted on Maven, it earned over $300,000 in four months, combining premium content with his strong design reputation.

Helpful tools and platforms:

• Teachable / Skillshare / Podia: Host your courses and manage memberships
• YouTube + Gumroad: Build your audience with free content, then sell premium access
• Loom / ScreenFlow: Record high-quality tutorials and walkthroughs

Income potential: High

How ZipWP Helps You Earn Passive Income

ZipWP is a lightning-fast, AI-powered website builder made for WordPress users who want results without the heavy lifting.

Whether you’re building templates to sell, launching niche affiliate sites, or spinning up demo stores for clients, ZipWP gets you from idea to live site in under a minute.

It’s more than a site builder – it’s your shortcut to scaling without the burnout. You focus on creating and earning. ZipWP handles the setup.

Here’re a few features that make ZipWP a passive income engine:

• AI Site Generation: Launch a complete WordPress site inclusive of content and design in less than 60 seconds.
• Site Blueprints: Create and reuse your favorite layouts for landing pages, portfolios, or services. Build once, deploy anytime.
• White Label Support: Brand everything under your name or agency. Perfect for selling templates or delivering to clients.
• One-Click Hosting: Fast, secure hosting built right in. No extra setup, no switching platforms.
• Chrome Extension: Launch new sites instantly while browsing or brainstorming. Great for capturing ideas on the fly.

Want to see ZipWP in action? Watch this video: [Insert Video Link]

Final Thoughts: Turn Skills Into Systems

Passive income isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a smarter way to work – especially if you want to make money building websites for others or create repeatable systems to sell website design.

When you turn your web design skills into digital products, recurring services, or niche websites, you create long-term assets.

These assets earn beyond the project-to-project grind and help you truly make money with web design in a scalable way.

Tools like ZipWP make it easier to launch, scale, and simplify your workflow.

That means building income streams feels less like a hustle and more like momentum.

Start small. Stay consistent. Keep learning.

If you’re serious about building a web design business, passive income streams are your best foundation.

The sooner you systemize, the sooner you stop trading hours for income.

FAQs

Can you make passive income as a web designer?

Absolutely. By creating digital assets, automating delivery, and selling repeatable services, you can build multiple income streams that don’t rely on constant client work.

How do I make money by making websites?

Start by offering freelance services, then scale with templates, courses, or hosting plans. Learn more about finding and managing web design clients to build a strong foundation.

What are the easiest ways to earn recurring income from websites?

Hosting and maintenance plans or productized services are the simplest to set up. They’re predictable, scalable, and perfect for building steady monthly income.

Is it profitable to build and sell websites?

Yes. Well-designed niche sites with SEO value or lead generation potential can sell for thousands. With ZipWP, launching and scaling them is faster than ever.

Do you need coding skills to create passive income websites?

No. ZipWP takes care of the layout, content, and structure using AI, so you can focus on strategy, branding, and growth.

How can ZipWP help me make money with web design?

It saves hours on setup, automates repetitive tasks, and helps you build and monetize faster. Whether you’re selling templates or launching affiliate sites, ZipWP helps you do more with less effort.