Quick answer: Kenyan small businesses need simple websites that load fast on phones and bring WhatsApp enquiries. To freelance in web design you need HTML/CSS basics, a website builder or WordPress, design sense and good communication. Price in packages that cover design, domain and hosting (paid yearly) and maintenance, and always register the domain in the client’s name.
Skills and Tools
- HTML and CSS basics ({shn("how-to-learn-coding-in-kenya", "how to learn coding")}).
- WordPress or a website builder for fast delivery.
- Design: layout, fonts, colours, images ({shn("canva", "Canva")}, {shn("graphic-design", "graphic design")}).
- Basic SEO: titles, descriptions, speed, Google Business Profile.
- Writing clear page text, or working with a writer.
What Goes Into a Website Price
| Cost | Paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain (.co.ke or .com) | Yearly | Register in the client’s name with an accredited registrar |
| Hosting | Monthly or yearly | Shared hosting is enough for most small sites |
| Design and build | Once | Your main fee |
| Content and photos | Once | Charge extra if you write or shoot them |
| Maintenance | Monthly | Updates, backups, small changes |
| Email accounts | Yearly | Optional |
Packages to Offer
| Package | Includes |
|---|---|
| Starter | One-page site, WhatsApp button, map, 1 revision |
| Business | 5 pages, contact form, basic SEO, Google Business Profile setup |
| Shop | Product catalogue or online store, payments, training |
For product sellers, a free Buy More Mall shop can be a quicker, cheaper option than a custom store; offer to set it up and manage it as a service. See how to price freelance work.
Finding Clients
- Build 3 sample sites (a salon, a restaurant, a hardware shop).
- Search Google Maps for businesses with no website and visit or call them.
- Post before-and-after examples on LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Ask every happy client for a referral.
- List services on {shn("fiverr", "Fiverr")} and {shn("upwork", "Upwork")}.
Hand Over Properly
- Give the client domain, hosting and admin logins.
- Write a one-page guide on updating the site.
- Agree maintenance in writing.
- Never hold a domain hostage over payment disputes.
Example: A Salon Website in One Week
A designer builds a one-page site for a salon: services and prices, photos of real styles, opening hours, a map and a WhatsApp booking button. She registers the domain in the owner’s name, sets up the Google Business Profile, and charges a small monthly fee to update prices and photos. Bookings by WhatsApp rise, and the salon refers two other businesses.
Speed Matters
Most Kenyan visitors use phones on mobile data. Compress images, avoid heavy sliders, and test every site on a mid-range phone before handover.
Contracts and Payments
Write down the pages, features, number of revisions, delivery date and price before you start. Ask for 50% upfront, 50% on launch, and bill domain and hosting renewals a month before they are due so the site never goes offline. Keep a simple record of every client’s renewal dates.
Stay safe: never pay a "registration", "activation" or "withdrawal" fee to get paid, and never share your password or M-Pesa PIN. Real online income comes from people paying for your content, products or skills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a website cost in Kenya?
It depends on pages and features; budget for domain, hosting, design and maintenance.
Do I need to know coding to design websites?
Basics help; WordPress and builders let you start faster.
Whose name should the domain be in?
The client’s.
How do I find web design clients in Kenya?
Contact businesses without websites, show samples and ask for referrals.
What should a small business website have?
Mobile-friendly pages, contact details, WhatsApp button, map and clear services.
Should I charge for maintenance?
Yes, as a monthly or yearly fee.
Cover photo: Website wireframes sketched on paper. Photo: Wireframes by INPIVIC, CC BY 2.0.
