How Much Money Can You Make as a Squarespace Web Designer?
Breaking down project difficulty and pricing strategies
If you’re thinking that a freelance career as a Squarespace designer might be a great way to work from home, be your own boss, and make a living – you’re right. In this article, I want to give you a realistic picture of how much Squarespace designers are actually making and what you can charge for Squarespace-based projects. I want to share facts and numbers to help you make an informed decision about your career path.
A Little Bit of History and My Credentials
I’ve been doing web design for ten years now. I started as a web designer back in 2015 when I landed my first client. At the time, I wasn’t intentionally practicing custom design – I was customizing WordPress templates for clients. The most expensive project I worked on back then was $1,500. It was a large website, but I built it using a WordPress theme, and my client was really happy.
From 2015 to 2018, I took on various jobs and charged anywhere from $300 to $1,000 per website. I built websites for the company I worked for, created landing pages, and worked on interactive projects. Of course, the web design market is different in every country. While I worked with international clients, I charged lower rates because I was based in Ukraine.
After moving to the United States, I raised my prices. Now, I feel that for someone with my level of experience, a standard 5-page Squarespace website with no extensive CSS customizations should start at $5,000. Over the last three years, the most common rate I’ve charged for a website has been $3,000, with my largest project coming in at around $14,000.
The takeaway here is this: if you want to make a sustainable income as a Squarespace designer, you need to book at least two to three projects per month and charge anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per project.
Not All Projects Are Equal
Every project is different. The simplest project can end up costing more than a complex one, just because the client is difficult to work with. What I mean by this is that some clients drag the projects for weeks and months, and time equals money. On the other hand, a more advanced project might end up being less expensive if the client is cooperative, provides clear instructions, diligent with his tasks, and makes the process efficient.
The way I price my projects is based on the time I anticipate they will take. It’s not always 100% accurate, but it helps set expectations. I always make sure clients understand that extra work and additional revisions will be charged separately. This prevents a closed-scope project from turning into an open-ended arrangement where a client expects unlimited work after a one-time payment.
Project Types & Pricing
1. Template Customization ($1,000–$2,000)
This is the simplest Squarespace project. It involves customizing an existing template without creating custom mockups in the designing tool (Figma for me). Everything is built directly in Squarespace, and the client is highly involved, providing quick feedback so the project moves efficiently.
2. Fully Custom Design ($2,000+)
This type of project is not a customization of an existing template from our shop but a custom work. However, in this case, the client already has branding and a clear design direction, which makes it faster to work with. You take their branding and preferences and create a completely custom design for their Squarespace website.
3. Branding + Copy + Custom Design ($5,000+)
If the client has no branding or copywriting, the project becomes more complex. You’ll need to send questionnaires, develop a branding strategy, help refine their messaging, and then proceed with the custom design. These projects require more research and strategy, so the pricing starts at $5,000.
4. Complex or E-Commerce Projects ($6,000–$7,000 and up)
These projects involve multiple pages, extensive CSS customizations, or e-commerce functionality. If custom web development is needed, that adds to the cost. Developers typically charge $50–$100 per hour, and even a relatively simple project might require at least 10 hours of development. Because of this, these projects include an hourly cost, and clients have the option to adjust the scope to fit their budget. Some clients also opt for a retainer arrangement to cover ongoing development work.
This is how I structure and price different projects in my studio. The more complex the project, the more detailed the pricing model needs to be to account for additional work, development time, and revisions.
Although it feels like the market is filled with Squarespace designers, making you doubt whether you want to become one, let’s talk facts. The demand for Squarespace design is growing every year, with over 3.5 million people using the platform and needing custom work, ongoing support, and various design services.
There are multiple ways to get clients as a Squarespace designer. You can partner with design agencies and white-label your work, providing a steady stream of projects. Or, you can build your own website and attract leads directly through your content, SEO, or platforms that connect clients with designers.
I’ve been teaching Squarespace designers since 2020, and I truly believe there’s a lot of opportunity for all of us. The market isn’t oversaturated – there’s always room for designers who provide quality work. I also believe in community over competition – supporting each other helps everyone grow.
If you’re looking to level up your skills, check out my courses for Squarespace and web designers:
Squarespace Mastery – Learn how to build professional, high-quality Squarespace websites.
Squarespace CSS Mastery – Learn Squarespace CSS coding and break free from copying someone else’s code!
Brand Evolution – A deep dive into branding and design strategy.
Client Work Remastered – Master the client process, from onboarding to final delivery.
The Template Shop Business – The Complete Business Strategy for Running Your Squarespace Template Shop
Each of these courses is designed to help you build a sustainable and profitable design business – whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills.
