🚀 Build Websites for Local Businesses: A Smart Side Hustle for 2025

Introduction

Okay, let’s chat about a side hustle idea that’s genuinely exciting, especially right now in 2025. Forget the usual online noise – I want to share a simple and practical way you could start earning good money(think potentially $500 a day!) by using smart AI tools to build websites for local businesses. The best part? You don’t need to be a coding genius, and the initial investment is really low(around $25).

I’m using a smart AI tool called Replit to build websites for local businesses super fast and sell them using a really clever method. This isn’t about learning complex code or spending months building a portfolio. It’s about using AI to do the heavy lifting and focusing on finding businesses that desperately need your help (and are happy to pay for it!).

There are tons of local businesses – restaurants, mechanics, accountants, you name it – who either have terrible websites or no website at all. They’re losing customers simply because people can’t find them easily online or aren’t impressed when they do. That’s where you come in. You can learn how to build websites that solve their problem.

In this guide, I’m going to break down the exact steps into easy-to-follow instructions. We’ll cover:

• The super-smart “build it first, sell it later” way to approach clients.

• How to find the right kind of businesses that will gladly pay you.

• Using the Replit AI tool to build websites like a pro in just minutes.

• The simple “magic words” (a prompt) to tell the AI exactly what to create.

• Showing off the website you built to easily impress and make the sale.

• Pricing your work and setting yourself up for monthly recurring income (yes, get paid while you sleep!).

If you’ve been looking for a real way to earn extra money online, using skills you can learn quickly, this might be it. Let’s explore how you can build websites and turn them into a profitable venture.

The Old Way vs. The Smart Way: Why We Build Websites First

Think about how people usually sell websites:

1. You find a business.

2. You call or email them (cold outreach – yikes!).

3. You try to convince them they need a new website and that you are the person to build it.

4. You wait… and wait… maybe they say yes, maybe no.

5. If they say yes, then you start building, hoping you understood what they wanted.

6. Then come the changes, the back-and-forth emails… it can take weeks or months!

Sounds tiring, right? My method today flips this completely upside down:

1. You find a business that needs help.

2. You use Replit AI to build a beautiful website for them first (this takes minutes!).

3. You send them a quick message showing them the finished website.

4. They see it, they love it (the “wow factor” is huge!).

5. You make the sale, often much faster and easier.

Showing someone a finished product is way more powerful than just promising them something. They can see exactly what they’re getting right away. It removes doubt and makes the decision easy for them.

Who Should You Help? Finding Your Ideal Customers

Okay, you can build websites fast, but who should you build them for? Not all businesses are good targets for this strategy. You want to focus on businesses that:

• Make Good Money: They need to be able to afford your $500 fee without blinking.

• Get High Value from New Clients: If one new customer makes them $1000, spending $500 on a website that helps get that customer is an easy decision.

• Often Have Bad Websites: Many successful local businesses are great at what they do, but terrible at the internet stuff.

I recommend targeting businesses like:

• Accountants / CPAs: They deal with money, and they charge good fees.

• Real Estate Agents: One house sale is big money; a good website helps.

• Auto Detailers (especially high-end): People pay a lot for fancy car cleaning.

• Law Firms: Lawyers charge high hourly rates.

• Specialized Doctors/Dentists: Think cosmetic surgeons, orthodontists – high-value services.

The Golden Rule: Look for UGLY Websites!

This is key. Your ideal client is someone whose current website looks like it was made in 1998 (or they don’t have one at all!). Why?

• They Aren’t Picky: They probably don’t care about tiny design details. They just want something clean, professional, and working.

• They See the Improvement Immediately: Going from an ugly site (or no site) to the modern one you built is a massive jump.

• Easy Sale: They’re less likely to argue about features or price. They just want the problem solved.

You’re looking for business owners who are too busy running their actual business to worry about complex web design. They just want a good-looking online presence built for them. When you build websites that solve this pain point, they’ll be thrilled.

Let’s Build Websites! Your Step-by-Step AI Action Plan

Ready to start? Here’s the exact process, broken down into easy steps anyone can follow.

Step 1: Find Your Target Business

This is where you put on your detective hat.

1. Open Google Maps: Go to Maps or use the app on your phone.

2. Search Locally: Search for one of those target business types in your city or area. For example, search for “Coffee shop near me” or “High-end auto detailing France“.

3. Inspect Their Websites: Click on the businesses listed. Look for a website link.

• No Website? Bingo! Write down their name and Google Maps link.

• Ugly Website? Jackpot! Click the link. Does it look old, broken, or hard to use? Great! Write down their name, Google Maps link, and the address of their ugly website (the URL).

4. Make a List: Aim to find 5-10 businesses with these types of issues. This list is your starting point for whom you will build websites for. (Quick tip: Might be worth a quick phone call to make sure the business is still operating before you spend time building).

Step 2: Get Your Magic Wand – Set Up Replit

Now you need the AI tool that does the building.

1. Go to Replit: Open your web browser and go to here.

2. Sign Up: Create an account. There might be a free trial, but the plan you’ll likely need costs around $20-$25 per month. Think of this as your small business investment. It gives you access to the AI website builder.

3. Start a Project: Once you’re signed in, find the option to create a new project or specifically use the AI feature designed to build websites.

That’s it! You’re now ready to give the AI its instructions.

Step 3: Speak the Magic Words – The AI Prompt

This is where you tell the Replit AI what kind of website you want it to build. You don’t need complicated code, just clear instructions. Justin shared a great starting prompt – copy and paste this into Replit‘s chat or prompt area:

Build me a one-page website.
I want the navigation menu at the top to say Home, About, Services, Reviews, Contact.
When a user clicks on any of those, don't go to a new page, just scroll to that section.
Make the website for this business: [PUT THE BUSINESS NAME HERE]
Use this Google Maps link to get their information: [PASTE THE GOOGLE MAPS LINK YOU FOUND]
Also pull information for the About, Services, and Contact section from their old website: [PASTE THE UGLY WEBSITE URL HERE]
Use HTML, CSS and JS for this build.
Make the design modern and responsive.

Important:

• Replace [PUT THE BUSINESS NAME HERE] with the actual name of the business.

• Replace [PASTE THE GOOGLE MAPS LINK YOU FOUND] with the link you copied from Google Maps.

• Replace [PASTE THE UGLY WEBSITE URL HERE] with the link to their old website if they have one.

What if they don’t have an old website?

Use this slightly changed prompt instead:

Build me a one-page website.
I want the navigation menu at the top to say Home, About, Services, Reviews, Contact.
When a user clicks on any of those, don't go to a new page, just scroll to that section.
Make the website for this business: [PUT THE BUSINESS NAME HERE]
Use this Google Maps link to get their information: [PASTE THE GOOGLE MAPS LINK YOU FOUND]
Use the details from their Google Maps page for the About, Services, and Contact sections. Try to create some example services based on the business type.
Use HTML, CSS and JS for this build.
Make the design modern and responsive.

What does this prompt do?

• It tells the AI to create a simple one-page website (which is common for local businesses).

• Sets up the standard menu items (Home, About, etc.) and makes them scroll smoothly.

• Tells the AI who the site is for.

• Gives the AI sources for information (Google Maps link and the old website, if available). This is super important! The AI will try to grab their phone number, address, maybe even service descriptions.

• Using HTML, CSS and JS are sufficient for building small projects for websites and applications.

• Asks for a “modern and responsive” design (meaning it looks good on phones and computers).

*Note: You could also add screenshots of the website and use the “Get text content” feature for more context.

Now, hit “Enter” or click the button to let the AI work its magic! It might take a few seconds or a minute.

Step 4: Add Your Sparkle – Quick Customizations

Replit will generate a website based on your prompt. It will probably look pretty good already! But you can easily make it even better using simple chat commands. Talk to the AI like you’re talking to a helpful assistant:

• Change Colors: “Can you please change the main color from blue to dark red?” (Try to match their business colors if you know them).

• Add Their Logo: If you can find their logo online (maybe on their Facebook page or the old site), save the image. Then upload it to Replit and say: “Please add this logo to the top left of the page“.

• Improve Text: Maybe the headline is boring. Say: “Please change the main headline to ‘France’s Best Car Detailing – We Make Your Car Shine!‘”

• Add Small Features: “Please add a simple contact form in the Contact section so people can email us” or “Can you make the phone number clickable?“.

Pro Tip: If you want a specific visual change, take a screenshot, circle the part you want to change, and upload the picture with your request. Visuals help the AI understand better!

Just chat with the AI naturally. Spend 5-10 minutes tweaking things. Your goal isn’t perfection, just a solid, professional website that’s a massive upgrade for the client. Making these tweaks is part of learning how to build websites effectively with AI.

Step 5: Lights, Camera, Action! – Record a Quick Demo Video

You now have a great-looking website you built! Don’t just email a link – that’s boring. Record a short video (1-2 minutes max) showing it off. It’s personal and much more impactful.

• Use a Tool: Loom is great for this (it has a free plan). It records your screen and your face (optional). You could even just use your phone to record the screen if needed.

• Keep it Simple & Friendly:

  1. Intro: “Hi [Business Owner Name], my name is [Your Name]. I saw your business online and noticed you didn’t have a website/you might need an updated website, so I quickly built this new modern one for you! Just wanted to show it to you quickly“.

  2. Quick Tour: Scroll through the page. “Here’s the home section, a bit about your business, the services you offer based on your Google Maps info, some space for customer reviews, and the contact details“.

  3. Highlight Benefits: “I made sure the design looks great on phones too. And the phone number here is already clickable so people can call you easily“.

  4. Mention Customization: “This is just a starting point, of course. We can change any colors, pictures, or text you like“.

  5. Call to Action: “No pressure at all, but if you like it and think it could help bring in more customers, just let me know! Here’s a link where you can look at it yourself. Have a great day!“.

• Be Enthusiastic! Show that you’re genuinely trying to help them.

Save the video and get the shareable link (Loom makes this easy).

Step 6: The Moment of Truth – Sending Your Message

Time to show them what you made! A short, friendly text message often works best for busy local business owners.

Look for their business phone number (usually on Google Maps). Send a simple and friendly message like this:

Hi [Business Owner Name], this is [Your Name]. I built you a new website and made this quick video to show you! Let me know what you think: [PASTE YOUR LOOM VIDEO LINK HERE]

Why text? It’s direct, includes a valuable video, and has a clear call to action. Now, see what they say! Many will be impressed by the initiative and the quality of the website you build.

Now, you wait for their reaction. Many will be surprised and impressed!

“Looks Great! What’s the Cost?” – Pricing Your Work

They liked the video! They looked at the site! Now they ask the inevitable question: “How much does it cost?“.

You have options, depending on your confidence:

• The Beginner Approach: “Honestly, just pay me whatever you think it’s worth to your business“. This is low pressure. You might get $100, $300, $500 – it’s all profit for minimal work! Not bad! Remember, learning how to build websites quickly is key here.

• The Confident Approach: “It’s a one-time fee of $500 for the website design and setup“. Be clear and state your price. For the value you’re providing (a modern website done instantly), $500 is very reasonable for many businesses.

But Don’t Stop There! The Magic of Monthly Money

Getting paid $500 once is great. Getting paid every single month is even better! This is where you turn this side hustle into a real, stable income stream. Here’s how:

1. Website Hosting Fees (Affiliate Income):

   • Explain: “Great! To get this website live on the internet with your own address (like YourBusiness.com), it needs ‘hosting’. It’s like renting space online. I can help you get set up“.

   • Your Link: Sign up for an affiliate program with a web hosting company (like SiteGround, Bluehost, etc. – do some research). They give you a special link. When the business owner signs up for hosting using your link, the hosting company pays you a commission, often every month or year they stay hosted!

   • Make it Easy: Guide them through the signup process using your link. They get hosting, you get recurring passive income. It’s a win-win!

2. Monthly Maintenance Package:

• The Offer: “For just $200 a month, I can be your website guy/gal. I’ll make any small updates you need – change text, update photos, add seasonal offers – and make sure everything keeps running smoothly. You just focus on your business“.

• The Value: Many business owners hate dealing with website stuff. Offering to handle it for a reasonable monthly fee is very attractive. It saves them time and hassle.

• The Income: Imagine getting just 5 clients on this $200/month plan. That’s $1000 in recurring revenue every month! Get 10 clients, and that’s $2000/month. See how powerful this is?

This recurring income is the secret sauce that makes this more than just flipping websites – it builds a sustainable business.

Does This Actually Work? Success Rates & Proof

Okay, sounds good in theory, but what results can you realistically expect? Based on experiences shared online:

• If you’re Newbies: Expect maybe a 10% success rate. That means if you build websites for 10 businesses, you’ll likely land 1 client.

• If you are “Okay Communicators”: You might close 20-30% (around 1 out of every 3-5 businesses you approach).

• If you’re a Sales Natural (experienced salesperson): You could close 33% or even more (1 out of 3 or better).

Think about the math: Let’s say you’re a beginner (10% rate). Building 10 websites might take you, what, 3-4 hours total using Replit AI? If you land just one client at $500, plus maybe $20-$30/month from hosting affiliate fees, and potentially $200/month for maintenance… that’s an amazing return for just a few hours of work!

People are genuinely getting results with this. Imagine trading a website you built in an hour for valuable services or products, like someone who reportedly got a brand new MacBook!

Tips from the Trenches: How to Succeed

Here are some extra tips:

1. Keep Prompts Simple: Don’t overcomplicate your prompts for the AI. Talk normally.

2. Be Polite (Really!): Using “please” and “thank you” might actually help AI learn faster what works. Worth a try!

3. Show, Don’t Just Tell (AI Edition): If you want a specific visual change, use screenshots and point things out.

4. Build Basic First: Get the main website done, then ask the AI to add extra features like forms or galleries one by one.

5. Quick Call Check: Before building websites, call the business phone number quickly just to make sure they are still operating.

6. Spot DIY Websites: Businesses with clearly homemade websites (maybe Wix or GoDaddy site builder) are often great targets. They tried, but could use your help.

7. Scaling Up (Later): Once you get good, you could explore tools like Make.com or even n8n (hey, we know that one!) to automate finding businesses on Google Maps or even parts of the website generation (this is advanced stuff for later). Here is my workflow for Google maps webscraping, If you want to know how to build it, check this.

Why This is a Golden Opportunity Right Now (in 2025)

This strategy is particularly powerful right now for a few key reasons:

• Easy to Start: Replit AI makes the tech part simple. The cost ($25/month) is very low compared to traditional businesses.

• AI is Good Enough: The website Replit makes it look professional and modern. They aren’t junky templates anymore.

• Not Many People Doing This: Most web designers still use the old, slow method. Using AI to build first for local businesses is still rare. You have an advantage.

• Clients Stick Around: Once a business has its website hosted and maybe pays you for maintenance, they are unlikely to leave. It’s easier for them to just keep paying you.

• Seeing is Believing: Showing a finished website is just way more effective than making promises.

Your Turn! Start Building Websites Today!

Feeling inspired? Want to give this a shot? Here’s your simple plan:

1. Sign Up for Replit: Get your account.

2. Find 5-10 Targets: Use Google Maps to find local businesses (CPAs, lawyers, high-end services) with bad or no websites in your area.

3. Build Their Websites: Use the Replit AI and the magic prompt from Step 3 for each target. Spend 5-10 mins customizing each one.

4. Record Short Videos: Make a quick Loom video for each website, showing it off.

5. Send Simple Texts: Text the business owners with the link to their video.

6. Follow Up & Close: When they reply, answer their questions, explain the pricing ($500 or “pay what it’s worth”), and offer the hosting help + maintenance package.

7. Get Paid! Land your first client, set up the recurring revenue, and repeat!

Seriously, with just a few hours of focused work this week and that small Replit investment, you could land your first paying client and start building a $500/day side business. You’re not just selling websites; you’re building relationships with businesses that can pay you month after month.

Give it a shot! What type of business are you going to target first? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about your journey as you build websites and land your first clients.

If you are interested in other topics and how AI is transforming different aspects of our lives, or even in making money using AI with more detailed, step-by-step guidance, you can find our other articles here:

• Click, Create, Cash In: My 30-Second AI Money Hack

• Earn Money with MCP in n8n: A Guide to Leveraging Model Context Protocol for AI Automation*

• Make Money with Sora AI: 10 Ways to Profit in 2024*

• Write Custom eBooks in Minutes with AI Automation

• You’re Missing Out If You’re Not Using Gemini’s Gems? No Coding Needed*

*indicates a premium content, if any