Many people wonder can you make money online without a website? It’s one of those questions that lands in my inbox almost weekly, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might hope. Let’s have a proper chat about it, just as if we were catching up over a cuppa.
That Sinking Feeling of Being Left Behind
If the phrase “you need a website to make money online” has ever made you feel like you’re already miles behind before you’ve even started… you’re definitely not alone.
I remember staring at my laptop screen three years ago, wondering if I needed to become some kind of tech wizard overnight just to start offering freelance writing services or publishing my puzzle books. That thought alone was enough to make me close my laptop and reach for the biscuit tin instead.
Starting Without a Website (Yes, It’s Possible)
You can absolutely start earning online without having a website. Really. Plenty of people do, especially when they’re just testing the waters.
I started my own journey as a freelancer on Fiverr. No website, no fancy tech setup. Just me, my writing skills, and a platform someone else had built. It was liberating to focus solely on creating content rather than worrying about hosting and SSL certificates.
Think of it like this: starting without a website is like setting up a stall at the local car boot sale or farmers’ market. You can show up, offer your services, and see if people are interested. Low commitment, low tech.
Where You Can Begin Making Money Today Without a Website
These platforms require zero website knowledge and can start generating income relatively quickly:
- Instagram or Facebook Marketplace (brilliant for local services or products).
- Fiverr or Upwork (where I landed my first three freelance writing gigs).
- Amazon KDP or Lulu (perfect for self-published books and puzzle books).
- Gumroad or Ko-fi (ideal for digital products or if you’re building a following).
Each one comes with built-in audiences and payment processing. You simply need to show up with something worth buying.
The Hidden Cost of Building on Someone Else’s Land
Remember MySpace? Or that brief period when everyone was on Google+? Platforms come and go, and even the stable ones change their rules constantly.
I’ve seen this firsthand. A friend who built her entire business selling handmade jewellery on a popular marketplace watched her sales drop by 40% in a week when they changed their algorithm. She had put all her eggs in one basket, and suddenly that basket had a hole in the bottom.
When I was publishing puzzle books on Amazon, I experienced similar anxiety. Any change to their discovery algorithm could potentially make my books disappear from search results overnight. It was a constant worry.
This is the uncomfortable truth about platform dependence:
- You don’t own your audience, the platform does.
- Fee increases can erode your profits with no warning.
- Account suspension can happen for reasons outside your control.
- Your competitors are a single click away.
A website, even a very simple one, gives you a stable home base that no algorithm change can touch.
When I Realised Something Had to Change
About six months into my freelancing journey on Fiverr, something frustrating kept happening. Potential clients would message me asking for custom work or service packages, but the platform’s messaging system was limiting our conversations. I was repeating myself constantly and struggling to showcase my full portfolio.
Out of sheer necessity, I spent a weekend setting up a simple one-page site with my name, examples of my writing, and a contact form. Nothing fancy! Just the basics.
The shift was immediate. Not only did my enquiries become more focused, but people started treating my freelance business with more respect. When someone asked what I did, showing them my website (rather than my Fiverr profile) changed the conversation completely. It was like acquiring instant credibility overnight.
Similarly, when I moved my puzzle books, having a place where readers could learn more about upcoming releases and the story behind the books gave me an edge over other publishers who relied solely on their Amazon listings.
Websites Without the Headache
If you’re picturing weeks of coding or expensive designers, I promise it’s not like that anymore. There are brilliantly simple website builders that basically work like digital Lego:
- Wix – Drag-and-drop simplicity, popular in the UK.
- Squarespace – Stylish templates with excellent customer service.
- WordPress.com – More flexible but slightly steeper learning curve.
Most offer free plans to start, and when you’re ready to upgrade, basic hosting and a domain name typically cost between £3–£8 per month. That’s less than a cinema ticket or a fancy coffee.
And if you want to wait? That’s completely fine too. Many successful businesses start without a website and add one when they’re ready to level up.
My Three-Step Getting Started Plan
When I help friends begin their online earning journey, here’s the simple plan I suggest:
- Pick just one platform: Choose where your ideal customers already hang out. If you are someone who makes custom baby clothes, start with Instagram because that’s where new parents spend hours scrolling. When I began freelance writing, I chose Fiverr because clients were actively searching for content creators there.
- Create a consistent profile: Write a clear, friendly bio explaining exactly what you offer and who you help. Use the same profile photo and description across all your online spaces. This consistency builds recognition and trust. I used the same headshot and tagline across my Fiverr profile, social media, and eventual website.
- Start collecting email addresses: Even without a website, you can use free tools like Google Forms to capture contact details from interested people. This list becomes invaluable when you eventually build a website or if a platform suddenly changes its rules. For my puzzle books, building an email list of puzzle enthusiasts proved more valuable than any other marketing channel.
Start Messy, Improve Later
You don’t need all the pieces perfectly in place before you start making money online. Most of us successful online entrepreneurs started messy, figured things out along the way, and gradually built more professional systems.
I still cringe when I think back at my first listings and social media posts. But had I waited until everything was “perfect,” I’d still be stuck, dreaming about someday starting a side hustle.
Even without a website, you can start helping people, offering services, or selling something meaningful today. Just stay open to growing and adapting as you learn what works.
Looking Ahead: When You’re Ready for Your Own Space
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from helping beginners start online, it’s that action beats perfection every time. You can absolutely begin without a website and start generating income through platforms like Fiverr, Amazon, or social media.
But I’ve also noticed a pattern. As online businesses grow, most reach a point where having their own website becomes not just useful, but essential for continued growth. For me, that moment came when I wanted to showcase my portfolio beyond what Fiverr allowed and create a proper home for my puzzle book readers.
There’s also a fine line that means you want to add a website before you become too successful. And busy. If you keep putting it off because you are too busy, you will miss the opportunity to expand. It will become too difficult and so you will never get round to it.
A website gives you freedom that third-party platforms simply can’t match:
- Complete control over how you present yourself and your offerings.
- The ability to collect and nurture email subscribers directly.
- Protection from sudden platform changes or account issues.
- The space to tell your full story and build deeper connections.
Think of platforms as training wheels – incredibly helpful when you’re starting out, but eventually limiting how far and fast you can go.
When you’re ready to take that next step (which might be sooner than you think), I’ll guide you through the process in upcoming articles, starting with how to choose the perfect domain name.
I’d love to know: Where are you in your online business journey? Are you already using platforms like Fiverr or Amazon, or are you just starting to explore your options?
Share your thoughts in the comments below – I personally respond to every comment, and your experience might help someone else who’s just starting out!
👉 Next in the Beginner Roadmap series: How to Choose a Domain Name for Beginners: 7 Simple Tips
👈 Or go back to: Learn How to Make Money Online – A Beginner’s Guide