So you want to make money with software development? You aren’t alone. The vast majority of people who set out to make their first dollar from the comfort of their home want to do just that, and a lot of them choose a career in software development as their method.
As a software developer, the most important thing that you need to focus on is not just creating good output but also making money off your development skills. However, if you don’t know where to begin, the process of making money off software development might seem quite daunting.
If you have a few minutes to spare, I’d like to help you solve this problem and show you how to make money with software development in this post.
So how can you make money with software development?
1. Become a Mobile App Creator
The smartphone revolution has nearly completely reshaped the mobile industry, but it hasn’t hurt the mobile app market. In fact, it’s thriving. According to Bussines of App, the mobile app market of iOS generated $47.6 billion while Google Play made $31.9 in revenue in 2020. And that’s just the beginning.
So if you’re interested in making money with software development, creating mobile apps is one of the best ways to go. Whether you’re a newbie or a veteran developer, you can offer your expertise to startups looking to create app prototypes or apps from scratch.
If you’ve never created an app before, it’s in your best interest to familiarize yourself with what goes into it. Creating an app is a lot of work and requires a lot of patience and skills.
Some mobile app ideas you can start with include:
- Navigation app
- Booking app
- Exam study app
- Recommendation app
- Security control app
- Language translation app
- Finance and bill management app
- Productivity app
It is important your app’s functionality works across all devices. It’s not enough just to write code; you also need to design your app in a way that functions correctly, runs smoothly, and is user-friendly.
2. Become a WordPress Website Consultant
WordPress powers nearly 37% of all websites, and about 60% of content management systems known as CMS. Therefore, there is a huge market for you as a WordPress website consultant if you know what you’re doing.
In fact, according to Indeed, as a WordPress website consultant, you can make $28.84 to $59.987 per hour depending on your skills and expertise.
While you can work as a full-time employee for a company, working as a freelancer may bring in more money. You can charge by the hours or per project. You get to choose how you want to work and what you want to get paid.
To get started, you can check popular freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or SimplyHired. These sites have more than enough jobs waiting for you if you have the necessary skills and experience.
3. Work as a UI/UX Designer
If you’re interested in programming, but don’t want to commit to the full-time work of a developer, there are still plenty of ways for you to make some money on the side while still learning and exploring your interests.
Software development is a booming industry, so demand for designers is at an all-time high. And while you don’t need a degree to get started, it helps to have a portfolio and relevant experience. There are plenty of work-from-home options, so your lifestyle doesn’t have to be dictated by a 9-to-5 office.
As a UI/UX designer, you can work as an independent contractor, or for companies that specialize in providing design services. When it comes to freelancing, the best option is to seek out jobs on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
You can also find local clients by advertising your services on Craigslist, LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Twitter. Once you’ve honed your skills and built up a portfolio, you can start looking for full-time positions. Companies like Google, Facebook, and IBM are always looking for talented designers.
4. Create Themes
If you’re a developer, creating themes can be a great way to make money. There are a variety of themes you could create and sell to make money. For example, here are a few themes that you might be able to monetize:
- eCommerce websites themes
- Learning Management Systems themes
- Themes for web applications
- Themes for mobile applications
Of course, not all themes can be successful, and you’ll need to do your research before developing and monetizing a theme.
The great thing about creating themes is that you don’t have to market them yourself. You can use platforms like Theme Forest, Elegant Themes, Theme Chooser, Themeforest.net, and Code Canyon to sell your themes.
5. Offer Web Design Services
Web design is no longer just a hobby for web designers. In fact, it has become a recognized profession. Web design companies around the world are hiring good web designers to create attractive, functional websites for clients. You can join them and work as a freelance web designer.
As a web designer, some of your main tasks are creating layouts for web pages, designing and maintaining websites, making sites accessible for users, testing websites for usability, and applying web standards.
You can work in collaboration with other designers, developers, business owners, and content creators. You will be using visual communication tools such as typography, color, images, and page layout and navigation to convey ideas, messages, and emotions to their target.
6. Become Landing Page Specialist
If you’d like to make money with software development then becoming a landing page specialist is one of the ways to achieve that. A landing page specialist refers to someone who creates landing pages for online advertising campaigns to promote the company’s products, services, websites, etc.
Landing pages are web pages that drive traffic to other pages, usually other web pages. These pages typically focus on a single objective. For example, a landing page promoting a vacation rental house might feature a photograph of the house, its price, and the type of amenities it offers.
Furthermore, these pages can be used for virtually any purpose. The main benefit is that landing pages can be inexpensive to produce, and that saves time and money. So companies and businesses are always in need of a landing page specialist.
To make money as a landing page specialist, you will have to work as a freelance. While you may get jobs on freelance jobs sites, you can also pitch to companies and business owners in need of your service.
7. Flip Websites
Flipping websites is the process of buying and selling websites or domains. People buy and sell websites for many reasons. Usually, it is because of a change in personal or business circumstances, or because the person wants a financial windfall.
Many website flippers are making a living by selling websites. Websites being flipped can be anything from blogs to news sites to eCommerce websites.
Since you already possess the necessary skill, you can work on these sites after purchasing them to make them more professional and appealing or even repurpose them. So, this way, you will be able to sell them to companies and businesses at higher prices and make profits.
However, before you price the websites, ensure you consider the work and time you’ve put into them to make them look better. Be careful not to cheat yourself when reselling the websites.
Platforms, where you can make money flipping websites, include:
- flippa.com
- trademysite.com
- webhostingtalk.com
- afternic.com
- freemarket.com
- websitebroker.com
- forums.digitalpoint.com
SEE: How To Make Money Flipping Domains
8. Provide Web Development Services
Web development is a huge industry. There are millions of projects, and every day new ones are started. Developers are needed to create these new projects, and the demand is extraordinarily high.
Looking to make money with software development? Then, you should consider offering web development services. This can be a lucrative way to make some extra money, especially if you already know the ins and outs of web development.
Of course, you’ll need to have some experience writing code, and you’ll need to have spent time developing websites before. Some of the web development services you can offer include:
- Web support and maintenance
- QA and testing
- Content Management Systems (CMS) services
- Custom web applications
- Content migration
- Complete server setup
- Theme installation
- Domain name registration & hosting servicesng
The interesting is, you don’t need a degree or certificate to make money offering web development services. All you need is the necessary coding skills and first-hand experience. However, it’s easier to get jobs when you have a presentable portfolio to showcase your work.
9. Build a Chrome Extension
If there’s one thing all programmers have in common, it’s the dream of being paid for their time. But for many, freelancing and full-time development jobs aren’t enough to make a living. If you want to make money with software development, the answer may lie in a Chrome extension.
A Chrome extension is an application that’s downloaded and installed into your Chrome browser. The biggest selling point of extensions is that they provide users with extra functionality that they couldn’t otherwise get from a browser.
Using Google’s Chrome Web Store, you can monetize your extension by providing it to people and charging them a small fee for it.
To get started, you will need a chrome extension template. You can get one for free from Google’s Chrome Web Store. Once you have your template, you can start building your extension.
10. Build Custom Software for Freelance Clients
One way to make money with software development is to build software for clients. Not only does this enable you to generate recurring revenue, but it allows you to work with larger software development firms and specialized consultants.
A lot of people build software and make next to nothing. I’m sure you don’t want to be one of those because there are a lot of companies and organizations in need of custom software ready to pay you.
Not only is this option flexible and fun, but it also means you can dictate your hours. A good software developer is a valued commodity. You can work on a wide range of projects, from developing complex web applications to simple apps.
Industries that pay awesomely for custom software includes:
- Biomedical Industry
- Defense Contractors
- Banking and Finance Industries
- Health Care
- IT Service Providers Industry
- Pharmaceuticals
- Telecommunications
- Automation Software
FAQs
Can you make money with software development?
Yes, you can make money with software development. Just like with most things, if you develop high-quality products and make them available at an attractive price, you will be able to generate revenue.
How much can you make money with software development?
A software developer working at a medium-sized company straight out of college may earn anywhere from $60,000-$110,000 per year. But a contractor with 5-plus years of experience may earn $180 per hour while those with 10 years of experience or more can easily earn $250 per hour.
What do you need to make money with software development?
You need a computer, software and the internet. However, getting started with software development takes more than just a computer and technical skill. It is important to have the right tools, the right technology, and the right environment for success.
Conclusion
Anybody can click a mouse and write a few lines of codes, but there is a big difference between making something that actually makes you money and just creating a bunch of functionality that’s not going to bring in a monetary reward.
There is a lot of clutter out there when it comes to making money with software development, but I have cut through as much of the clutter as possible by showing the best, most reliable ways I’ve found for making money with software development.
If you’re just starting out, I will advise you to begin as a landing page specialist or offer web design services. However, if you have good software development skills set and valuable experience, you will earn more by creating mobile apps or custom software for freelance clients.
Finally, if you think sitting behind a computer for hours trying to write some lines of code is too much for you but have a knack for social media stuff, you may want to check out this post on how to make money as a social media manager.
I hope you found this post helpful. Thanks for reading.
