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What the side hustle is
The old version meant learning design and code first, then looking for clients. With AI doing the build in minutes, the work shifts. You spend your hours finding local businesses that need help, showing them their finished website, and looking after the ones who sign up.
The business pays you each month at the price you choose. Your costs are listed on our pricing page. Because you set the rate, you control your margins on every client you bring in.
33%
In a 2026 LendingTree survey of US adults, 33 percent said they have a side hustle. 1
Do you need to know how to code?
You do not need to code. The AI builds the site using public details from the business. If you want to make edits, you type plain request lines like "move the hours to the top" or "add a page for catering". An eye for neat design helps, but code experience is not required.
You need patience when talking to local owners. Take care with facts, using only details the business published or shared with you directly. Make a habit of reading every site on your phone before showing it to anyone else.
How many hours it takes
5-10 hours
In the 2026 LendingTree survey of US adults, 32 percent of side hustlers spend five to 10 hours a week on it, and 24 percent spend 11 to 15 hours. 1
A realistic week fits around a main job. Spend two or three evenings finding businesses and building sites. Reserve one block of daytime hours for calls or visits, since shop and café owners are easiest to reach during business hours. Finish with quick daily checks for client requests.
Client changes take only a few minutes because you make them using plain words, so most of your work happens in conversations. You can set your own hours, but local business owners keep regular business hours. Plan your visits and calls around when those owners are open and available to talk.
Your first week
You can run your first week around your existing job. Focus on one short task each day to keep moving forward.
Pick one business type and town
Choose a business type where customers search online before calling, like roofers or florists. Pick your own town or one nearby so you can drop by in person.
Find ten businesses with a gap
Look for ten local places that have no website, an outdated site with broken links, a social profile only, or a security warning. Ten is plenty for your first push.
Build three finished websites
Run the AI to build three finished sites in a few minutes. Check every phone number and address, then view each site on your phone to confirm it looks right.
Show them to the owners
Visit the owner in person during a quiet hour of the day, or make a brief phone call. Leave them the link to the finished website so they can review it on their own time.
Follow up once and count
Send one short message a few days after your first conversation. Keep track of how many owners saw their site while you were with them, who asked questions, and who bought, because you cannot see who opens a link in an email.
What you need to start
- A phone and a laptop
- A business type and a town
- An account on the Free plan to build your first website
- A monthly price decided before the first owner asks
- A postal address you can put in sales emails, such as a PO box, if you email owners
A storefront is your own page with your name and prices where local businesses can request a site. This feature comes with our paid plans, which you can read about on the pricing page.
Mistakes that waste your hours
- Sending hundreds of identical emails instead of showing a few owners their own finished website
- Trying to build for every business type at once instead of focusing on one niche
- Waiting for a perfect site before showing anything to an owner
- Promising specific search rankings or a fixed number of calls.
- Forgetting to take care of the clients you already have
Each of these mistakes wastes your spare evenings. The fix is to focus on fewer businesses, show them clean work, and provide reliable support after they buy.
Another way to take part
If selling directly to local businesses is not a fit, you can join the Affiliate program. We pay you for referring people who sign up as partners. You can find all the details on our affiliate page.
Where to go next
Read our guide on how to sell AI websites to local businesses for a detailed breakdown of each step. If you want an honest look at what to expect before you begin, read our post on whether selling websites to local businesses works.
Frequently asked questions
Is web design a good side hustle?
Selling websites can be a great fit if you like talking to local business owners and treating your work as a helpful service. The AI builds the website in a few minutes, so you spend your time finding businesses and taking care of your clients.
Can you make money building websites with AI?
The business pays you each month at the price you set. Whether the business works for you depends on your rates, your monthly costs, and how many owners agree to buy. We do not publish earnings figures.
How many hours a week does a web design side hustle take?
It depends on your schedule. Many side hustlers spend five to 15 hours a week on their work. You should plan for a few evenings of building, plus one block of time during business hours to reach owners.
Do I need a portfolio to start?
You do not need a traditional portfolio to get started. Showing an owner the finished website built specifically for their own business serves as your proof of work.
Is an AI web design side hustle hands-off?
No. Owners will ask you to update their hours, swap photos, and add new services over time. AI builds the website in a few minutes, but staying reliable and answering your clients is what keeps them paying you.
Do I need a business license to sell websites?
Licensing rules depend on your specific city and state regulations. Check your local government requirements before you accept payments from your first client.