How to Start a WordPress Website Consultant Business

WordPress is by far the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world – powering 35% of the internet as of 2020. With such a large user base, there are plenty of people in need of help with the WordPress platform. WordPress website consultants provide that help, assisting clients with their WordPress sites. They help clients solve problems and learn to better use WordPress to achieve their website goals.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)

Start a WordPress Website Consultant Business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your WordPress Website Consultant Business
  2. Form your WordPress Website Consultant Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your WordPress Website Consultant Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your WordPress Website Consultant Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your WordPress Website Consultant Business
  7. Get WordPress Website Consultant Business Insurance
  8. Define your WordPress Website Consultant Business Brand
  9. Create your WordPress Website Consultant Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your WordPress Website Consultant Business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.

What are the costs involved in opening a WordPress Website Consultant Business?

The cost of starting your own WordPress consulting business does not have to be high – especially if you already have the right training and experience. You can spend a little money creating and hosting your own consultant business website and go from there. However, if you are not well versed in WordPress yet, you will need to read books, take courses, and so on. There are plenty of free resources out there for this, but it may be faster to pay the money to take professional coursework.

What are the ongoing expenses for a WordPress Website Consultant Business?

When you are just starting out, your ongoing expenses are going to be minimal. You will have to pay for web hosting for your site and keep your equipment in good working order. You are probably already paying for a phone and internet service which can be used for your business. Of course, when your business grows, costs will increase. For example, web hosting costs go up when your website traffic increases beyond a certain threshold.  

Advertising is an additional cost that you will need to consider. You may or may not want to pay for advertising, but if you do, you will want to budget for it.

Who is the target market?

The target market for WordPress website consulting businesses is typically other businesses. For individual consultants just starting out, that usually means targeting small businesses that need help with their websites. Target markets can also include subsections beyond just small businesses, such as ecommerce businesses.

How does a WordPress Website Consultant Business make money?

Your business will make money through consulting fees. You can use different billing structures depending on what kind of consulting work you are doing. Some consultants charge a flat fee, others charge an hourly fee, and some use a mix of both. For example, if a client wants help setting up a WordPress site and you know about how long it will take, you could charge a flat fee for the service. However, if a client wants you to take them through the entire process of designing their own theme, it may be harder to estimate how long it will take. In that case, you could charge an hourly fee.

How much can you charge customers?

Some WordPress consultants charge $50 an hour, while others may charge $500 an hour. The rates vary so widely due to experience and the type of services offered. A consultant that serves mom and pop businesses will have a different rate than one that serves large corporations.

If you are unsure what to charge, research competitors that are offering similar consulting services to yours and are targeting a similar market. If you ask, many will tell you their rates.

How much profit can a WordPress Website Consultant Business make?

Just as the rate charged by WordPress consultants varies widely, so too does the profit potential of these businesses. Some consultant businesses that are just starting out may earn $20,000 to $30,000 in a year. Other consultants with a well-established client base of larger businesses may earn $200,000 to $300,000 a year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

The most effective way to make your business more profitable is to draw in more clients and/or better-paying clients. Initially, it is usually most effective to get more clients. Small businesses are not going to be as critical of your credentials as larger businesses will be. However, once you build a good reputation, you can earn more for your time by serving bigger businesses. They have larger budgets and are more willing to pay top dollar for your consulting services.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your WordPress Website Consultant Business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your WordPress Website Consultant Business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a WordPress Website Consultant Business

Most consultants start with – you guessed it – their own WordPress site. Ideally, the site should be flawless and customized so potential clients see what you are capable of. Other common marketing channels include content marketing like blogging and free video tutorials, as well as paid advertising through Google, trade journals, and other options specific to your target market.

How to keep customers coming back

The best way to keep customers coming back is to deliver on your promises – specifically, ensure that your clients leave you feeling like you have solved their problems. Some WordPress consultants offer a money-back guarantee. Whether you offer a guarantee or not, you should prioritize client satisfaction and go the extra mile to ensure you receive great reviews. Happy customers tell others about your services and help you grow your business.  

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

WordPress website consulting is right for detail-oriented people who have an in-depth knowledge of the platform (or who are willing to do the deep dive necessary to gain that knowledge). If you already know a lot about how to use WordPress or you are excited to become an expert on the platform – and you like teaching others – then you may be ideal for this business.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a WordPress Website Consultant Business?

A typical day as a WordPress website consultant begins with processing your communications from clients and potential clients. As with all consultant businesses, you have to balance serving current clients with getting new clients – otherwise, you can hit a dry spell without any work. That means that some days you will spend most of your time helping clients solve problems and learn to use WordPress. Other days, you will spend most of your time marketing your services to potential clients.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful WordPress Website Consultant Business?

You need significant WordPress skills and experience to be a consultant. Clients are going to expect you to know the platform inside and out. Many WordPress consultants are also developers who understand the code and systems behind the platform — but not all. Whether you know how to build your own WordPress site from scratch or not, the most important part is that you can teach others how to use the platform and help them solve their problems.

What is the growth potential for a WordPress Website Consultant Business?

There is significant growth potential for a WordPress consulting business. After all, there are millions of WordPress users and the number grows daily. It is the dominant CMS for websites, including business websites, and business website owners are often willing to pay for help. It may take some time to establish yourself as a trusted consultant and to attract bigger clients, but growing your business into a reputable brand can certainly be done.  

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a WordPress Website Consultant Business?

Your business needs clients. One area where many WordPress experts are not very comfortable is self-promotion, so it can be hard to get your first clients. If you find yourself in this type of situation, consider calling on your various connections to put the word out about your services. For example, if you worked at a website development business, let your colleagues know that you have set up your own shop. If they liked your work – or you in general – they may funnel clients your way.

How and when to build a team

You can only help so many clients before you run out of time. Some consultants fall into the common trap of spending all of their time consulting and none of their time running and growing the business. Once you reach the point where you have so many clients you can’t keep up with the other parts of your business, it’s time to hire help.

Some WordPress consulting companies hire more consultants that have a broad range of skills, while others hire specialists in specific aspects of WordPress. By the time you need to hire help, you should have a good idea of what skills your business needs.

Useful Links

Real World Examples

Further Reading