Websites for small businesses
Build and maintain simple websites and online shops on WordPress, Shopify, Wix or similar.
- To startR0 to R2 000
- First randabout 6 weeks
- WhereOnline or in person
- Effort Some skill needed
Is this for you?
Best for
Comfortable with website builders or code; can explain things plainly to owners.
In South Africa: Good.
What you need
- A laptop or computer
- Reliable internet
- No camera needed
- Approaching people yourself
- At least 6 hours a week · age 16+
- Software development (competent or better) or No-code tools & automation (competent or better) or Graphic design (proven or better)
The money
What it can earn
- Pocket money
- A top-up
- A second income
- Can become a full income
This can grow into a full income for people with strong skills and steady customers, but that usually takes months.
What people charge
No reliable SA figure yet
No reliable current SA data; quote per scope.
Costs to plan for
- Start-up
- R0 to R2 000
- Every month
- Hosting is usually passed on to clients.
- Payment fees
- EFT deposits; PayFast/Yoco links if needed.
- Margin
- High on build; retainers add recurring income.
How it is paid: Project fee plus monthly maintenance/hosting retainer. Our viability score for it: 60 out of 100 (how we score).
How to start
Test it cheaply Before you spend
- Build one demo site for a real business type
- Pitch 10 businesses with a specific fix list
- Success signal: one deposit paid
First week Days 1 to 7
- Pick one platform and one niche
- Build a demo site
- Draft a one-page proposal with three packages
First month Days 8 to 30
- First paid project with 50% deposit
- Maintenance plan offered to every client
By three months Days 31 to 90
- 3 maintenance retainers
- Process for content collection
Projects need a deposit; first build often takes 2–4 weeks. First income usually takes 14 to 90 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.
Websites for small businesses: from your first demo site to your first paid project
23 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.
See what is insideCustomers and demand
Who pays
Small businesses, professionals, NGOs, schools.
Credible web presence and online orders/bookings.
Is there demand?
Web design is a long-standing service category; many SA SMEs still lack a functional site.
UpworkLocal referralsHosting company partner lists
Getting customers
Referrals, networking, direct outreach to businesses with poor sites, marketplaces.
In-person networkingCold emailDirect messagesFreelance marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr)Word of mouth and referralsPartnerships with other businessesSales meetings or calls
Risks and rules
Watch out for
- Scope creep
- Clients who do not supply content
- Security updates on WordPress
Competition: High; cheap DIY builders compete at the low end.
Room to grow: Retainers scale; builds are time-bound.
Legal and tax in South Africa
Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every payment received.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start websites for small businesses in South Africa?
Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R2 000. Recurring costs: Hosting is usually passed on to clients.
How long until the first income?
Typically about 45 days, and between 14 and 90 days. Projects need a deposit; first build often takes 2–4 weeks.
Can I do it with only a phone?
Not really. You will need a laptop or computer for most of the work.
What about tax and legal rules?
Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every payment received.
Sources (3)
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Read next
- How to make money online in South Africa
- How much to charge as a freelancer in South Africa
- Provisional tax for freelancers in South Africa, simply explained
- Getting paid from overseas in South Africa
- Ideas by situation
Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy