Web Pro Savvy
Web Pro Savvy is a podcast for freelance web designers and developers, hosted by Cathy Sirvatka. You'll hear interviews with experienced freelance web pros about their business operations, the services they offer, and the types of clients they work with. They openly share their stories and pull back the curtain on how they achieve success so that you can boost your own business. Cathy also shares her own experiences and insights that help other freelancers skip past the trials to achieve satisfaction and success.
Web Pro Savvy
Breaking Free from Feast or Famine: Building Recurring Revenue Streams
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Feeling like your freelance web design business runs on a constant cycle of booking, building, and yet stressing about money? In this episode of Web Pro Savvy, Cathy talks about why the traditional project-to-project model feels so unpredictable—and how to build more stability into your business.
You’ll learn how to shift from a hustle-heavy cycle to a model that provides consistent, reliable income, all without overhauling your entire business. Cathy shares practical ways to turn the work you’re already doing into ongoing services, create stronger client relationships, and finally feel like you’re starting each month with a foundation you can count on.
Whether you’re new to freelancing or ready to move beyond the feast-or-famine grind, this episode will help you rethink your business model and create a freelance life that feels sustainable—and enjoyable.
Hey there, savvy friend, welcome to another episode of Web Pros Savvy where we talk all things freelance web design, building a sustainable business and actually enjoying the work we do. I'm Cathy Sirvatka, your freelance cheerleader and fellow WordPress designer in the trenches. Welcome to the Web Pros Savvy podcast. This is your host, Cathy Sirvatka S. as in Sam I-R V, as in Victor A-T-K-A, have you ever looked at your bank account and thought, well, I better get another project? Yeah, you're not alone.
Cathy Sirvatka:Why does freelance life feel so unpredictable, so unbudgetable? Freelance life feel so unpredictable, so unbudgetable? I know that's not a word, but it should be. I've definitely struggled with this over the years and have come to learn that it doesn't have to be this way.
Cathy Sirvatka:A business built on one-off project work is, by its nature, unpredictable. You have to constantly find new clients and once their project is complete, that's it when most of us start freelancing. We do it project by project. That's how the money comes in right. The client hires us, we build the site, we get paid and then that's the end Until the next one comes along. It's a cycle that works to a point. It's difficult to live on in the best situations, let alone when you're just starting out. Rather than having a nice, even pace of work, you may find yourself in one of three modes booking, building or panicking. The problem isn't the work itself, it's the business model. When every dollar you hope to bring in depends on a new project, your income is tied directly to your ability to hustle, and the hustle is exhausting. I've been there. I've spent many a night up till 2, 3, and even 4 am trying to crank through those projects. This type of work bender on a routine basis left me tired and frustrated. I felt unprofessional. I felt like my business and even my clients were controlling me. I needed to take charge and make my business more sustainable. I needed it to work for me rather than the other way around. The missing piece was having multiple revenue streams. What I discovered, and what I want to share with you, is that you don't need a ton of clients. You just need some clients to pay you in a few different ways. For instance, what if you have one client who pays you $4,000 for a new website and then they also get on your website maintenance plan for $100 a month and they host their website on a service that you offer for $250 a year? That's $1,450 per year in addition to the project price. Now what if you did this with each and every one of your clients? The project work is great, but you don't want it to be the end of the line. Instead, look at it as an intro to a continuous relationship with your clients.
Cathy Sirvatka:We know that WordPress websites need technical maintenance to keep them secure, fast and properly functioning. The client doesn't know that and handing a brand new website over to them can seem daunting and risk the overall health of the site. This is where a maintenance plan comes in. It is the ongoing nutrient. Websites need to be healthy and robust, and the income from maintenance clients can be your bread and butter, that monthly income you can count on.
Cathy Sirvatka:Let's go through the potential numbers and we'll keep it simple. Count on let's go through the potential numbers and we'll keep it simple. You get 10 clients to join your maintenance plan for $100 a month. That's $1,000 a month of income. Times 12 months, that's $12,000 per year. That's not project work. Now say those 10 clients also get on your hosting plan for $250 a year. Times 10 clients, that's $2,500 per year. Plus the 12,000 you're already getting from the maintenance plan, that's $14,500 per year of income you can count on. That's good news, right, and more good news is that that number could very potentially be a lot higher, depending on the type of clients you serve and how many.
Cathy Sirvatka:What this does is give you a foundation, a sense of okay. I'm not starting at zero this month. You still build websites, but you're not solely relying on that one-off project cycle. It's about creating something sustainable, something that supports you even in the slow seasons. This doesn't require a big overhaul of your business either. First, just pay attention to what you're already doing for free. Are clients emailing you months after launch with quick questions or update requests? Are you logging in to fix a plugin issue because it's no big deal? That's unrealized recurring value. You're already providing ongoing support. You just haven't packaged it.
Cathy Sirvatka:Take a look at all your recent and current clients. These are the people who already trust you. Is there something simple you could offer them monthly, like a maintenance plan? Maintenance plans usually include things like security scans, backups, software updates, small content edits. Offering this service is a reassurance to your clients and a huge value. And stop assuming your client doesn't want to pay you.
Cathy Sirvatka:This one took me a while to learn. I didn't want to bother clients with extra services or feel like I was being pushy, but in reality I was doing them a disservice. Clients want to know you're still there. They want someone they can rely on, and you are that person. So here's something I want you to reflect on today If you stop taking on any new clients right now, would your business still make money next month? If the answer is no, that's okay. That was my answer for years. But if you'd like to change that, even just a little, you can. You don't have to rebuild your business from scratch. Just start thinking differently about the value you already provide.
Cathy Sirvatka:You're not just a web designer. You're a trusted expert. You're someone who can offer peace of mind, consistency and support month after month. If anything in this episode sparked an idea for you, write it down. Is there something you already do that you could turn into a small recurring service or maybe a client you could reach out to? We'll keep talking about this idea of stability over stress in future episodes, because it's something so many freelance web designers struggle with and you don't have to figure it out alone. Hey, if you're enjoying these episodes, would you do me a favor? Leave a quick review or share this with a fellow web pro. You never know who's feeling stuck in that feast or famine cycle right now and just needs to hear that there's another way. You've got this and I've got your back. Talk soon, my savvy friend.
