Squarespace Development

TL;DR

What it is: Building and customizing websites for clients using Squarespace, a website builder platform known for sophisticated design templates. You create professional sites for businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs who want a polished online presence without custom coding.

What you'll do:

• Consult with clients to understand their brand, audience, and website goals
• Design and build sites using Squarespace templates and customization tools
• Add custom CSS for unique styling when needed
• Set up e-commerce, portfolios, blogs, or service booking systems
• Configure domains, SEO, analytics, and third-party integrations
• Train clients on managing their sites after launch

Time to learn: 2-4 months to become proficient with consistent practice (10-15 hours per week). Basic sites can be built within the first month of learning.

What you need: Eye for design, understanding of layout and typography, basic web concepts, client communication skills. CSS knowledge is optional but valuable for customization beyond templates.

What This Actually Is

Squarespace development is building professional websites for clients using Squarespace's website builder platform. Unlike custom web development where you code everything from scratch, Squarespace provides design templates, drag-and-drop editing, and built-in features that let you create polished websites without extensive coding knowledge.

Your typical clients are creative professionals, photographers, artists, boutique businesses, restaurants, consultants, wellness practitioners, and small business owners who prioritize design quality. Squarespace is known for its sophisticated aesthetic, so clients who choose it often care deeply about how their site looks and feels.

The work involves translating client vision into functional websites, selecting and customizing templates to match their brand, configuring pages and navigation, integrating features like online stores or appointment booking, and ensuring the site works seamlessly across devices. You're bridging the gap between what clients imagine and what the platform can deliver.

Squarespace handles technical backend concerns like hosting, security certificates, software updates, and server maintenance. You focus on design, user experience, content strategy, and client relationships. Some developers also offer ongoing support services like content updates, design tweaks, or technical troubleshooting.

This differs from WordPress, which offers more flexibility but requires more technical knowledge, and from platforms like Wix or Weebly, which have different interfaces and design philosophies. Squarespace is positioned as a premium option with stronger default design and built-in features, though with less flexibility than open-source alternatives.

What You'll Actually Do

The work spans client collaboration, design execution, technical configuration, and project handoff.

Client discovery happens before any building begins. You'll conduct calls or meetings to understand their business model, target audience, brand identity, desired features, and budget constraints. You'll ask about existing branding materials, competitor sites they admire, specific functionality requirements, and content readiness. This conversation determines whether you're building a simple portfolio site or a complex e-commerce platform.

Design work starts with template selection. Squarespace templates are sophisticated and opinionated, so choosing the right starting point matters. You'll customize colors, fonts, spacing, and layouts to align with the client's brand. You'll arrange content blocks, select and optimize images, ensure visual consistency across pages, and make decisions about button styles, navigation structure, and how users flow through the site.

Customization often requires CSS for designs beyond template defaults. You'll write or adapt CSS code snippets to adjust spacing, change hover effects, modify font sizes, hide or show elements, or create unique styling that distinguishes the site from other Squarespace sites. This is where having some coding knowledge significantly expands what you can offer.

Technical setup includes connecting custom domains, configuring email addresses through Google Workspace or other providers, setting up SEO elements like meta descriptions and page titles, installing integrations for email marketing, social media, or analytics tools, configuring e-commerce settings like shipping and taxes, and testing all forms and interactive features before launch.

Content organization means working with client-provided text and images, optimizing photos for web performance without quality loss, creating or sourcing graphics and icons, and sometimes writing or editing copy depending on your service offering. You'll build product catalogs, portfolio galleries, blog archives, or service pages based on site type.

Training and handoff close each project. You'll walk clients through the Squarespace interface, show them how to add or edit content, explain analytics dashboards, demonstrate how to add blog posts or products, and provide documentation or recorded tutorials. Some clients want full management control, others prefer you handle everything ongoing.

Ongoing maintenance can become a recurring revenue stream. This includes content updates like text changes or image swaps, adding new pages or sections, troubleshooting technical issues, updating integrations when they break, and making seasonal design adjustments. Some developers offer monthly retainer packages that provide steady income.

Skills You Need

Design sensibility is the most important skill for Squarespace development. You need to understand visual hierarchy, how color palettes create mood, typography basics and font pairing, whitespace and breathing room, and what makes navigation intuitive. Squarespace's strength is design, so your ability to create beautiful, functional layouts determines your success.

Squarespace platform expertise comes from hands-on practice. This means understanding template structures and limitations, the differences between Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1, available blocks and sections, built-in SEO and analytics tools, e-commerce features and settings, and mobile editing for responsive design. You learn this by building multiple practice sites in different template families.

Basic CSS knowledge separates beginner from intermediate developers. Understanding CSS selectors and properties, how to find and adapt code snippets, browser developer tools for inspecting elements, and where to add custom CSS in Squarespace allows you to customize beyond template defaults. You don't need to be a CSS expert, but basic literacy lets you charge higher rates and take on more demanding projects.

Web fundamentals help even though Squarespace abstracts technical details. Understanding domain names and DNS records, how SSL certificates work, basic SEO principles like keywords and meta descriptions, image optimization and file formats, and how forms and databases function helps you troubleshoot issues and communicate more professionally with clients.

Client management skills determine whether you build a sustainable business. You need to ask discovery questions that uncover real needs, set clear expectations about timelines and revision policies, communicate progress updates proactively, handle feedback and change requests professionally, and recognize when to push back on unrealistic demands. Managing difficult clients and scope creep is learned through experience.

Photography and image curation enhance your value. Many clients provide poor-quality images or nothing at all. Being able to source appropriate stock photography, edit and optimize images for web use, crop photos with proper composition, and ensure visual consistency across the site makes you more valuable than developers who just place whatever clients provide.

Optional JavaScript knowledge through Squarespace's code injection features allows advanced customization. Adding custom functionality, integrating third-party tools not available through plugins, creating interactive elements or animations, and connecting external APIs lets you charge premium rates for specialized work, though it's not required to start earning.

Content strategy and copywriting skills differentiate you from pure designers. Many clients struggle with website copy. Being able to write compelling headlines, clear service descriptions, persuasive calls-to-action, and engaging about page content makes you significantly more valuable and allows you to charge more per project.

Getting Started

Start by learning Squarespace through hands-on building. Create a Squarespace account and build 4-6 practice websites across different template families. Try a creative portfolio, an e-commerce store, a restaurant site, a service business site, a blog, and a photography portfolio. This exposes you to different features, template structures, and use cases. Experiment freely, break things, rebuild them, and develop platform fluency.

Build your own portfolio website on Squarespace. This serves dual purposes as your portfolio and a demonstration of your capabilities. Include case studies of your practice projects, show your design process, explain the problems you solved, list your services and pricing tiers, and make it easy for potential clients to contact you. Your portfolio is your most powerful marketing tool.

Learn web design principles through free resources. Search YouTube for web design fundamentals, study websites you admire to understand why they work, analyze successful Squarespace sites to see what techniques they use, and join design communities to see what others are creating. You don't need expensive courses, though structured learning helps if that's your preference.

Study CSS basics if you want to go beyond templates. There are free resources for learning CSS fundamentals. Focus on practical skills like changing colors, adjusting spacing, hiding elements, and modifying fonts. You can learn by finding code snippets others have shared and adapting them to your needs. Start small and build confidence.

Set initial pricing based on your experience and market research. Beginners often start at $1,000-$2,000 for basic sites to build experience and gather testimonials. As your portfolio strengthens, raise rates toward market averages of $2,000-$5,000 for standard projects. Decide whether you'll charge hourly or per project. Per-project pricing is more common and easier for clients to understand.

Create service packages that simplify decision-making. A basic package might include template customization, 5-7 pages, mobile optimization, basic SEO setup, and one revision round for $1,500. A premium package could add custom CSS, e-commerce setup, content creation, advanced SEO, and training sessions for $4,000. Clear packages make it easier for clients to commit.

Find your first clients through personal networks. Tell friends, family, and professional contacts what you're doing. Offer discounted rates in exchange for testimonials and portfolio pieces you can showcase. Local creative businesses often need help. Attend networking events, join professional groups, and reach out to businesses with outdated websites. Your first clients come from direct outreach and hustle.

Join freelance platforms but don't depend on them exclusively. Create profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, and apply to Squarespace Circle. These platforms provide client access but take a cut of earnings and create price competition. Use them to gain experience while building toward direct clients who provide higher margins.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

Consider joining Squarespace Circle, their professional community. After building three active Squarespace sites, you can apply for Circle membership. Benefits include discounted subscriptions for client sites, referral opportunities, professional community access, and credibility through verification. This legitimacy helps when you're building your reputation.

Income Reality

Income varies widely based on skill level, services offered, client quality, and whether this is part-time or full-time work. These are market observations, not guarantees.

Project-based pricing is the standard model. Basic websites with template customization, content upload, and basic SEO typically range from $1,000-$2,500. These include 5-10 pages, contact forms, mobile optimization, and one revision round. Projects at this level take 15-25 hours including client communication and revisions.

Mid-range projects with more customization and features fall between $2,500-$4,000. These might include custom CSS styling, more complex site structures, e-commerce setup with product imports, blog integration, advanced SEO configuration, and email marketing setup. These projects require 30-50 hours and intermediate skills.

High-end or complex projects run $4,000-$6,000 or more. This includes extensive custom design, large e-commerce stores with many products, custom code integration, multiple revision rounds, content creation, photography services, and premium support packages. These take 50+ hours and require advanced skills and business positioning.

Hourly rates for Squarespace developers range from $15-$125 per hour based on experience and market positioning. Entry-level developers on platforms like Upwork average $15-$38 per hour. Experienced developers with strong portfolios charge $50-$75 per hour. Developers offering custom CSS and JavaScript work can reach $75-$125 per hour for specialized projects.

Monthly retainer services provide recurring revenue. Some developers offer ongoing support packages at $200-$800 per month per client. This covers content updates, design adjustments, technical troubleshooting, monthly analytics reports, and SEO monitoring. Building 5-10 retainer clients creates predictable baseline income.

Realistic monthly earnings depend on project volume and rates. Working part-time completing 2-3 projects monthly at $1,500-$2,000 each generates $1,000-$2,500 monthly after expenses and platform fees. Full-time developers completing 4-6 projects monthly at higher rates can earn $4,000-$10,000 monthly. Adding retainer clients increases income predictability and reduces the hustle for new projects.

Your income depends on several variables including marketing effectiveness, how efficiently you work, and your ability to upsell additional services. Developers who find clients directly rather than through platforms keep more of their earnings. Those who develop reusable design systems and workflows complete projects faster. Those who bundle services like photography, copywriting, or SEO earn more per project.

Geographic location affects rates less for remote work but still matters. Developers in high-cost areas often charge more, though clients can hire globally. Price based on the value you provide and your skill level, not just your location or what competitors charge.

The income ceiling for Squarespace development is moderate compared to custom development. Platform constraints limit what you can charge compared to developers building fully custom solutions. Some developers transition to custom development for higher rates, others scale by building agencies or hiring subcontractors rather than doing all work themselves.

Where to Find Work

Freelance platforms offer the easiest entry point. Upwork consistently posts Squarespace projects ranging from small customizations to full site builds. Create a detailed profile emphasizing your Squarespace-specific experience, start with competitive rates to build reviews, and apply to projects matching your current skill level. Fiverr works on a gig model where you list specific services at different price points. Create packages for basic sites, custom design, and premium services, then optimize your profile for Squarespace-related searches. Freelancer also posts Squarespace projects, though competition often focuses heavily on price.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

Squarespace Circle connects you with potential clients. After joining Circle, you gain access to the partner directory where clients searching for help can find you. Advance to higher Circle tiers by building more sites and you unlock additional visibility. This is worth pursuing once you have some experience and portfolio pieces.

Direct outreach to businesses works particularly well. Identify businesses with outdated websites or no web presence at all. Focus on industries that value design like creative services, wellness, boutique retail, professional services, and hospitality. Send personalized emails explaining how a better website could help their specific business. Offer free audits of their current sites to start conversations.

Social media marketing builds your visibility and credibility. Share your work on Instagram and LinkedIn with before-and-after comparisons. Post design tips, common website mistakes, and platform insights. Join communities where your target clients spend time. Engage authentically rather than constantly selling. Your social media presence acts as an extended portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.

Networking and referrals generate quality leads. Attend local business networking events, chamber of commerce meetings, and industry-specific gatherings. Connect with complementary service providers like brand designers, photographers, copywriters, and marketing consultants who can refer overflow work. Previous clients become your best referral sources when you deliver excellent work and maintain relationships.

Content marketing establishes you as an expert. Start a blog or YouTube channel focused on website design tips for small businesses or specific industries. Create case studies showing your process and the results clients achieved. Offer free resources like website planning worksheets or design checklists in exchange for email addresses. This creates inbound leads from people already convinced of your expertise.

Partnerships with agencies create steady work. Marketing agencies and branding firms often get website projects they don't want to handle themselves. Reach out offering to be their Squarespace specialist. You might work on their client projects behind the scenes, or they might refer clients to you directly with a referral fee arrangement.

Cold outreach works when done thoughtfully. Research specific niches that commonly need Squarespace sites. Identify businesses that fit those niches but have weak web presence. Send personalized outreach explaining why you're contacting them specifically and how you can help their particular situation. Follow up once or twice but don't spam. Focus on starting conversations rather than immediately selling.

Squarespace professional communities lead to opportunities. Participate in Squarespace forums, Circle community discussions, and related design communities. Help others with questions, share your knowledge, and build visibility. Being known in these spaces leads to referrals from other developers who are overbooked or encounter projects outside their expertise.

Common Challenges

Client expectations often exceed what Squarespace can deliver. Clients see complex custom websites and assume Squarespace can replicate them exactly. You need to educate clients on platform limitations early in conversations. Managing this expectation gap prevents frustration and project failures. Some functionality genuinely isn't possible without extensive custom code, and even then Squarespace has constraints compared to fully custom solutions.

Scope creep happens when projects expand beyond initial agreements. Clients request additional pages, features, or endless revisions not included in your quote. Combat this with detailed contracts specifying exactly what's included, how many revision rounds you provide, and what triggers additional charges. Get comfortable saying no or requesting additional payment for out-of-scope requests.

Template switching breaks custom work. In Squarespace 7.0, if clients switch templates after you've added custom CSS, much of your customization breaks or disappears. Squarespace 7.1 improved this but still has limitations. Educate clients about this constraint upfront and make template selection a firm decision point before customization begins.

Platform updates occasionally break customizations. Squarespace updates its system regularly, and occasionally these updates conflict with custom CSS or code injections. Something working perfectly can suddenly break after an update. Build buffer time into project timelines for unexpected technical issues and stay informed about platform changes through official Squarespace channels.

CSS character limits restrict complex customizations. Squarespace limits custom CSS to 128,000 characters, which sounds like a lot but can be reached with extensive customization. This forces you to write efficient code or tell clients certain customizations aren't possible. Understanding these constraints before quoting projects prevents problems later.

Client content delays stall projects. Clients promise to provide text, images, and information but take weeks or forget entirely. Projects stall waiting for materials you can't proceed without. Set clear deadlines for content delivery in your contracts. Consider offering content creation services at additional cost to avoid this bottleneck entirely and maintain control over timelines.

Low-budget clients gravitate toward platform-based developers. Because Squarespace is positioned as a DIY tool, some clients expect very low prices since they could theoretically do it themselves. They want elaborate custom sites for $500. You'll spend time on discovery calls that go nowhere. Screen clients early by displaying clear pricing and asking about budgets before investing time in detailed proposals.

Competition on freelance platforms drives down prices. Many Squarespace developers compete on these platforms, some from regions with lower costs of living who bid very low rates. You can't win competing purely on price. Differentiate through specialization, demonstrable quality, communication excellence, and client results. Move toward direct clients as you gain experience to escape platform price pressure.

Technical support limitations create frustration. Squarespace support won't help troubleshoot custom code issues. When problems arise from your customizations, you're on your own. Build relationships with other developers in the community who can help with difficult problems. Document solutions to issues you solve so you can reference them later.

Imposter syndrome affects many beginners. You might feel like a fraud charging for work that seems "easy" because Squarespace does so much. Remember you're charging for your design expertise, technical knowledge, time, and the results clients receive. The fact that Squarespace makes it more accessible doesn't diminish your value. Clients hire you because they can't or won't do it themselves.

Tips That Actually Help

Develop a systematic workflow for every project. Create checklists for discovery calls, design phases, technical setup, testing, and launch. Use project management templates that track tasks and deadlines. This consistency speeds up your work, prevents forgotten steps, and appears professional to clients. You'll complete projects faster with fewer mistakes.

Build a library of reusable components and design systems. Save color palettes, spacing standards, section designs, and CSS snippets you use frequently. This isn't copying yourself, it's working efficiently. Customize these starting points for each client while cutting development time significantly. Faster completion means more projects per month without working more hours.

Specialize in a niche to differentiate yourself. Instead of being a generic Squarespace developer, become the Squarespace expert for restaurants, photographers, wellness practitioners, or professional services. You'll understand that niche's specific needs, create targeted marketing, command premium rates, and get referrals within that community. Specialists consistently earn more than generalists.

Set clear boundaries with clients from day one. Define revision limits, response time expectations, communication channels, and working hours in your contracts. Don't give clients your personal phone number unless you want texts at all hours. Train clients to respect your time by consistently respecting your own boundaries. This prevents burnout and problematic client relationships.

Collect testimonials and case studies after every project. Ask for testimonials while clients are happy, and request permission to showcase their site in your portfolio. Write detailed case studies explaining the client's problem, your solution, and measurable results. Social proof sells more effectively than any marketing copy you could write yourself.

Learn SEO fundamentals beyond Squarespace's built-in features. Understanding keyword research, meta descriptions, image alt text, site speed optimization, and content strategy makes you more valuable. Clients want their sites to be found in search results. Offering SEO setup as standard or as a premium add-on increases project value and delivers better client results.

Invest in quality resources that speed your work. Pay for stock photo subscriptions, icon libraries, and design tools that improve quality and efficiency. The cost is minimal compared to the professional results and time saved. Using cheap or free resources exclusively often produces work that looks cheap.

Keep learning through practice, not just tutorials. Build experimental sites for fun exploring new features or design techniques. Recreate designs you admire to understand how they work. Experiment with custom CSS to expand your capabilities. Hands-on experimentation teaches more than passively watching videos. Dedicate time to skill development separate from client work.

Track your time even when charging per project. Use time tracking tools to see how long different tasks actually take. This data helps you price future projects accurately, identify inefficiencies in your workflow, and understand your true effective hourly rate. Many developers undercharge because they don't track actual time spent including revisions and client communication.

Create clear contracts that protect everyone. Define scope, deliverables, timelines, payment terms, revision policies, and ownership rights. Use contracts even for small projects. This prevents misunderstandings and provides legal backing if disputes arise. Many freelance contract templates are available that you can customize for your services.

Communicate proactively throughout projects. Send regular updates even when nothing urgent is happening. Share work-in-progress screenshots. Ask questions before making assumptions. Clients who feel informed are more satisfied, leave better reviews, and refer more people. Most client complaints stem from feeling ignored or uncertain about project status.

Price based on value delivered, not hours worked. A website that generates thousands in new business for a client is worth more than one that's just an online brochure. Understand what results your work produces and price accordingly. Don't compete with low-budget developers, instead target clients who understand and can afford value-based pricing.

Learning Timeline Reality

The learning curve for Squarespace development is gentler than traditional web development but still requires focused practice. These timelines assume consistent practice, not passive consumption of tutorials.

Weeks 1-4 focus on platform fundamentals. Spending 10-15 hours per week, you can learn the Squarespace interface and navigation, template selection and basic customization, content blocks and page building, and how to publish and manage sites. Build 2-3 simple practice sites during this month. By week four, you can create functional basic websites, though they might not yet be portfolio-quality.

Months 2-3 develop professional-level capabilities. Continue practicing 10-15 hours weekly building increasingly complex sites. Experiment with e-commerce features, blog and portfolio layouts, advanced design customization, and mobile optimization. Study successful Squarespace sites to understand what makes them work. Learn basic SEO setup and analytics interpretation. By month three, you should have 4-5 portfolio-worthy sites and feel confident accepting simple paid projects.

Months 4-6 focus on business skills and advanced techniques. Start taking real client projects, even at discounted rates for experience. Learn client communication best practices, project scoping, contract basics, and pricing strategies. Begin exploring custom CSS for designs beyond template defaults. Start specializing in particular site types or industries. By month six, you should handle client projects independently from discovery to launch.

Beyond six months, improvement comes from volume and variety. Each project teaches something new about design, technical problem-solving, or client management. You get faster, handle edge cases better, develop your design instincts, and build confidence. Advanced skills like JavaScript integration, complex e-commerce setups, or deep specialization take additional focused learning time.

Factors that accelerate learning include previous design or web experience, consistent daily practice rather than sporadic effort, getting feedback on your work from experienced developers, and building diverse project types. Factors that slow learning include only watching tutorials without building, perfectionism that prevents project completion, and not seeking feedback or studying other developers' work.

You can technically start accepting simple projects within 6-8 weeks of beginning, though you'll learn significantly through those early projects. Don't wait until you feel completely ready because that moment never arrives. Start with small projects or heavily discounted work to build confidence and portfolio pieces while still learning.

Ongoing learning is part of the profession. Squarespace regularly releases new features and interface changes. Design trends evolve constantly. Client needs shift with market changes. Successful developers maintain curiosity and continue learning throughout their careers, not just during the initial learning phase.

Is This For You

This side hustle works well for people who enjoy visual design, problem-solving within constraints, and helping clients achieve their goals. If you like making things look good, figuring out how to work within system limitations, and collaborating with people, you'll probably enjoy this work.

Consider this if you want to start earning relatively quickly without years of training. Compared to traditional web development, the learning curve is much shorter. You can potentially land your first paid projects within 2-3 months of starting. The barrier to entry is low in both cost and time investment.

This suits people who want flexible work arrangements. You can do this part-time alongside other work, scale it to full-time income, or maintain it as steady supplementary income. Projects have defined endpoints, so you're not locked into ongoing commitments unless you choose retainer work. You control your schedule and workload volume.

You should be comfortable with technology but don't need to be a programmer. If you generally figure out new software without frustration, learn digital tools easily, and stay calm when things don't work as expected, you'll be fine. Patience and systematic problem-solving matter more than technical background.

This isn't ideal if you want very high income potential as a solo practitioner. Platform limitations cap what you can charge compared to custom development. Experienced custom developers earn significantly more. Squarespace development has an income ceiling unless you scale by building an agency, hiring subcontractors, or transitioning to custom development. It provides solid supplementary or moderate full-time income, not a path to six figures working independently.

Avoid this if you dislike client work and communication. A significant portion of your time goes to meetings, managing expectations, handling revision requests, and working with people who don't articulate what they want clearly. If you strongly prefer heads-down technical work without human interaction, this will frustrate you. Client management is at least half the job.

This might not suit you if you need cutting-edge technical challenges to stay engaged. Squarespace development is more about design thinking, creative problem-solving within platform constraints, and client service than pure technical innovation. If you need constant new technical learning to maintain interest, you might feel bored once you master the platform's capabilities.

Consider whether you can handle income variability. Freelance work means fluctuating monthly earnings, potential dry periods between projects, and the need to constantly market yourself. If you require steady predictable income, maintain this as a side hustle while keeping stable primary income until you build consistent client flow.

You'll succeed if you combine design sense with communication skills and business discipline. Technical platform skills can be learned, but combining design thinking, professional client interaction, and the discipline to market yourself consistently requires particular personality traits. Be honest about whether you have or can develop these characteristics.

Side hustle perspective: While some developers turn this into full-time work, it functions particularly well as supplementary income. The flexible nature and project-based structure make it easy to balance with other income sources. Approach it as a way to generate extra money and build valuable skills rather than expecting it to immediately replace a full-time salary.