The idea I’m proposing here requires solid web development skills, but these can be gained through a few weeks or months of focused training. This activity involves creating and selling “skins” equipped with practical features for websites. Despite the rise of AI and fully automated creation tools blooming online, web design remains something that constantly needs freshness and renewal. I’ll explain in more detail what this involves in this article and give you all the info and advice you need to succeed.
- Here's the program
- What is a website template and why is it important?
- What are the main web languages to know?
- How to learn these web languages
- The different types of templates
- How to start creating website templates
- What are the essential tools for creating templates?
- How to set the price of your templates
- Is it possible to make a living from template creation?
- Tips and tricks
- Will AI kill this activity?
- Conclusion
- EcoTips
- Pros and Cons
- Information recap
What is a website template and why is it important?
A website template is a set of files that define the structure, design, and often some features of a website. Anyone who has built a website knows how much time and effort goes into the design process. This is where templates come in handy—they save you time while ensuring an optimal and professional outlook. You install it, customize a few elements (images, colors, text), and you have a functional site.
The demand for quality websites continues to grow, whether for businesses, freelancers, or bloggers. And not everyone has the technical skills or the budget for custom development. This is where the potential for creating themes or templates lies. By creating a flexible and aesthetic model, you meet an immediate need and allow non-developers to build sites at a lower cost.
Even better, once you’ve created your template or theme, you can sell it multiple times. Think of it as creating a digital product: you develop it once, but you can distribute it infinitely. It’s a kind of passive income, except you’ll need to regularly update each of your creations, in order to patch potential security flaws, fix bugs, adapt certain features, etc. Don’t worry, it’s not too time-consuming.
What’s the difference between a web template and a WordPress theme?
A web template is generally an independent model coded in HTML, CSS, and often JavaScript, intended to be used on any type of site. It provides the structure and visual design of one or more pages but doesn’t include dynamic features.
A theme, on the other hand, is specifically designed to work with a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, or others focused on e-commerce like WooCommerce, Shopify ou Prestashop. In addition to layout and design, a theme includes built-in features that interact with the CMS, enabling content management, plugins, and customization through the CMS admin interface.
What are the main web languages to know?
As you can imagine, this activity requires mastery of certain web programming languages. These languages allow you to build the structure, design, and features of your templates effectively and in a customized way. While you don’t need to be an expert in everything, knowing the basics of some key languages will allow you to create versatile and attractive templates. Here’s an overview of the main languages to know to get started in creating web templates.
- HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The foundation of any website. HTML is the language that structures the content of your pages, such as titles, paragraphs, images, and links. It’s like the skeleton of your template. Every visible element on a web page is first coded in HTML. To create a functional template, you’ll need to have a good grasp of this markup language. And the good news is it’s relatively easy to learn (a few days are enough to grasp the essential basics).
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): If HTML structures the content, CSS handles the formatting. With CSS, you define colors, fonts, margins, spaces, and the dimensions of elements. It’s what gives your site its look and style. Without CSS, a site would just be a bunch of unformatted text and images. HTML and CSS are therefore an inseparable pair. A bit more complex than HTML, CSS can still be learned in two or three weeks.
- JavaScript (JS) et jQuery: Here, we enter the realm of slightly more complex languages that require more than a few days to master. JavaScript is the language that makes your pages interactive. It allows you to add animations, dynamic forms, slideshows, or even advanced features like infinite scrolling. jQuery is a sub-language (a library, actually) widely used on the web, especially in WordPress, which “simplifies” JS integration.
- PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor): PHP is a server-side language that’s often used to create templates for CMS like WordPress. It allows for dynamically generating web pages based on user actions, such as filling out forms or managing databases. If you want to create themes for WordPress, for example, mastering PHP will be essential to integrating advanced features and interacting with the CMS core.
- SQL (Structured Query Language): If your templates need to interact with a database (which is often the case for blogs or online stores), you’ll need to understand the basics of SQL. This language allows you to manage, retrieve, and manipulate information stored in a database. Although you may not need to use it daily, understanding how PHP and SQL work together can help you create more complex and dynamic templates.
These languages are the cornerstones of template creation. Of course, there are others (Java, Ruby, Python, etc.) that can further enhance your skills, but with this solid foundation, you’ll have all the tools to design professional templates tailored to your future clients.
AI assistance
Artificial intelligence has become a valuable ally for web developers. Tools like GitHub Copilot, Codeium or Amazon Q (CodeWhisperer) can generate portions of code, suggest solutions to bugs, and significantly speed up development. These AI assistants help automate certain repetitive or complex tasks, which is a real time-saver, especially when working on large projects.
However, these tools do not replace basic knowledge of web languages. To effectively use AI, it’s crucial to understand the code it generates. Without a solid mastery of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP, you may find yourself facing errors or limitations that you won’t know how to fix.

How to learn these web languages
To master the essential web languages for creating templates, there are several paths you can take. The best option, especially if you want in-depth and structured training, remains to follow a course in a school or university.
These institutions offer comprehensive programs that go beyond simple languages, also teaching you best practices, development methods, and giving you access to valuable resources. If you have the time and budget, this path guarantees a solid foundation and a recognized degree in the field.
Not everyone has the time to spend several months or even years in formal education. You might already have a job, or maybe you’re looking to make a quick career switch. Fortunately, there are flexible and affordable alternatives, sometimes even free, to learn these languages directly online. These options allow you to train at your own pace with immediate access to the tools you need to start creating templates.
Here are some examples of platforms that offer both free and paid courses to help you learn quickly and efficiently:
- Codecademy is a free and interactive platform that lets you learn to code directly from your browser with practical exercises.
- OpenClassrooms offers dree and various courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, with practical projects and sometimes recognized certifications.
- freeCodeCamp is also completely free. This platform offers web development learning paths with real projects.
- Udemy offers a wide variety of paid courses on web development, often at affordable prices and with lifetime access.
- Coursera offers online courses in partnership with universities, often free, with the option of paid certification.
- YouTube is also an excellent platform for finding complete training courses or tutorials on specific subjects.
Whichever path you choose, remember that learning web development requires practice. Languages like HTML, CSS, or JavaScript are not hard to learn, but it’s by using them that you’ll really consolidate your knowledge. Dedicate time to real projects, whether personal or professional.
The different types of templates
The web template market is vast, and to stand out, it’s essential to know the different types out there and understand what users are looking for the most. Needs vary by sector, but some types of templates come up frequently due to their popularity and usefulness. Here’s an overview.
- E-commerce templates: Highly sought after with the growth of online stores, these templates must offer modern designs and intuitive navigation. Integrate features like product pages, a shopping cart, stock management, etc. The demand for this type of theme is high for e-commerce CMS like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Prestashop.
- Portfolio and creative site templates: Aimed at freelancers and artists, these templates should showcase visual content. Interactive galleries, “About” sections, and minimalist navigation are the most requested features.
- Blog and content site templates: Bloggers are looking for templates with a clear and readable layout. Customization options for comment sections and widgets for newsletters are often appreciated. This type of theme is highly sought after for WordPress.
- Multi-page business templates: These professional templates include pages for services, testimonials, and contacts. Businesses appreciate features like contact forms and CRM tool integration.
- Minimalist and modern templates: Users love clean, fast designs that focus on content. This style is ideal for portfolios, blogs, or e-commerce with fast, fluid navigation.
- Specific niches to exploit: Opportunities exist for niches like events, associations, or educational sites. These templates require specific features such as event calendars or online donation systems.

How to start creating website templates
Let’s now discuss the main steps to follow to get started effectively in this field.
1Acquire the necessary skills
As I explained above, it’s essential to learn the basics of web languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. You don’t need to be an expert from the start, but understanding these languages will allow you to create functional and quality templates. And as soon as you’re ready, start creating your first templates.
2Create a portfolio to attract clients
Once you’ve developed a few templates, showcase them in a portfolio. This portfolio is your storefront and often the first thing potential clients will see, so it must reflect your best quality work. A good portfolio demonstrates your skills but also reassures potential buyers by showing them what you’re capable of.
3Sell your templates and generate revenue
Once your templates are ready and your portfolio is set, it’s time to sell them. And for that, there are several options:
- Sell on marketplaces: Platforms like ThemeForest, TemplateMonster, or Creative Market are prime spots to sell your templates and WordPress themes. They already have a user base looking for ready-made models, and you don’t have to worry about basic marketing. Keep in mind that these sites take a commission on your sales.
- Create your own store: If you prefer to have full control over your sales, creating an online store is a great idea. You’ll be able to sell your templates directly without commission. However, this requires more effort in marketing and SEO to attract buyers.
- Offer subscriptions or packs: Another way to generate revenue is to offer your templates as subscriptions or packs. For example, you can offer access to a set of templates for a fixed price or a monthly subscription. This option can help you retain clients and guarantee recurring income.
- Collaborate with agencies: Web agencies often look to save time in creating sites for their clients. By collaborating with them, you can sell them licenses to use your templates or create designs, which can be highly profitable.
- Promote on social networks and blogs: Don’t overlook social networks! Share your creations on platforms like Twitter/X, LinkedIn or Instagram to attract a community interested in your products. You can also create a blog to publish articles on your creation processes, tutorials, or web design tips, which will enhance your visibility.
4Continuously improve and listen to feedback
The template market is constantly evolving, and to stay competitive, it’s important to keep learning and refining your work. Be open to feedback from clients and peers, and use their input to enhance your future designs. Over time, you’ll refine your style, better meet your customers’ needs, and build a solid reputation.

What are the essential tools for creating templates?
You’ll probably see all this in detail during your training, but let me introduce the main software and resources you’ll need to get started in template creation.
A code editor: The basic tool for any template creator is a code editor. This is the software where you’ll write and organize the HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other language code needed to create your template. A good code editor will make your job easier by offering features like auto completion, project management, and syntax highlighting to better visualize your work.
Examples: Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text and Notepad++
Design software: Having good graphic design software will help you create attractive layouts before coding them. These tools let you create wireframes (mockups) to visualize the appearance of your templates before diving into development. You can also design graphic elements like icons or banners.
A local development environment: Before publishing a template or selling it, it’s important to test it in real conditions. For this, you’ll need a local development environment. These tools simulate a web server on your computer so you can test your templates without having to host them online.
Testing and validation tools: To ensure the quality of your templates, it’s essential to test them on multiple browsers and devices. Validation tools help you verify that your code complies with web standards and works properly everywhere.
Examples: Google Chrome/Mozilla Firefox DevTools, W3C Validator and BrowserStack
Icon and font libraries: Finally, to enrich your templates and give them a more professional appearance, you’ll need graphic resources like icons and fonts.
Examples: Font Awesome and Google Fonts
How to set the price of your templates
Setting the price of your templates is a tricky step because it’s about finding a balance between the value you provide, your skills, and the market expectations. Start by analyzing the market. Look at what platforms like ThemeForest or Creative Market offer, and observe the prices of templates similar to yours in terms of features and design. This will give you an idea of the competitive price range to adopt.
Also consider your skills and the quality of your products. If you’re just starting, opt for lower prices to attract your first clients, but if your creations are sophisticated and highly customizable, a higher price is justified.
Finally, offer several pricing options like a basic license and an extended license. Be flexible and adjust your prices based on demand and feedback you receive. This way, you’ll find the ideal balance between competitiveness and profitability.
Is it possible to make a living from template creation?
Yes, but it depends on several factors, including your skill level, the quality of your products, and your sales strategy. The website template market remains dynamic driven by the ongoing need for fresh designs and features. To generate a stable income, you’ll often need to consistently create new templates, maintain a presence on popular platforms, and develop a solid understanding of digital marketing.
The business models in this field are varied. Some creators opt for direct sales on marketplaces like ThemeForest, which offer a massive audience but take commissions. Others prefer to sell through their own e-commerce site to maximize profits, but this requires more effort in terms of promotion and visibility. It’s also possible to generate recurring income by offering subscriptions to access multiple templates or by providing additional services like technical support.
Regarding income, a beginner creator can generally expect to earn a few hundred dollars per month by selling their templates on marketplaces. For more established creators who regularly offer products and have good visibility, earnings can reach $2,000 to $3,000 per month, or even more. Again, it depends on your ability to create attractive products and promote them to your prospects.

Tips and tricks
To finish, here are some practical tips that can help you succeed in this activity.
- Learn to read web trends: Regularly following web design trends and user expectations is essential. Visit sites like Dribbble or Behance to spot emerging trends and get inspired by the most popular designs.
- Create modular templates: Think about designing templates that allow easy customization. Users like to be able to adjust sections, move blocks, or change the layout without too many constraints. By offering flexible models, you’ll attract a wider clientele.
- Optimize loading speed: With the growing importance of SEO and user experience, a lightweight and fast template is crucial. Minimize file size, compress images, and eliminate unnecessary code.
- Anticipate accessibility needs: Including elements that make your templates more accessible to people with disabilities is an often overlooked asset. Use appropriate color contrasts, ensure navigation can be done via the keyboard, and think about integrating screen readers. This will make your templates more inclusive and attract users who are conscious of these issues.
- Provide clear documentation: Creating detailed and simple documentation to explain how users can customize and use your template is essential. This reduces support requests and improves customer satisfaction. Include screenshots, practical examples, and even explanatory videos.
- Offer regular updates: Users appreciate having access to continuous improvements, whether for additional features or bug fixes. By offering regular updates to your templates, you increase the chances that your clients will return for future purchases.
- Test your templates on various devices: Don’t just test your template on one screen. Make sure it displays correctly on different types of devices (computers, tablets, and smartphones) and browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.).
- Offer bonuses or extras: To stand out, offer extras with your templates, such as icon packs, ready-to-use color palettes, or style guides. These little additions add value to your product without much extra effort.
Will AI kill this activity?
It’s impossible to end this article without mentioning the growing popularity of site generation tools, especially those powered by AI. These solutions allow for the rapid and nearly fully automated creation of websites, posing undeniable competition for traditional template creators. The future of this activity is therefore inevitably affected.
However, these automated tools often lack the finesse and creativity that only a human can bring. Many users are still looking for unique designs tailored to specific needs. By developing high-quality templates that are original and focused on precise niches, it’s still possible to thrive in this field. Embracing the opportunity to integrate these new technologies into your creative process could even give you an edge over the competition.
Conclusion
Creating website templates, whether just in HTML/CSS or for WordPress and other CMSs, is an accessible activity for those who take the time to acquire (or already have) the necessary skills. Throughout this article, we’ve explored the basics of web languages, essential tools, sales strategies, as well as concrete tips for succeeding in this field.
To guarantee the success of this activity, you need to find a balance between creativity, technicality, and market knowledge. Analyzing user needs, the flexibility of your templates, and a strategic pricing management are key elements to succeed. But above all, it’s your ability to innovate and maintain the quality of your creations that will allow you to build a solid and lasting reputation.
Template creation can truly turn into a source of stable income, provided you invest time and stay alert to web trends. AI tools and design trends also represent opportunities to exploit to stay competitive. Those who can adapt to the ever-evolving needs of website creators will continue to thrive in this field.
What do you think of this idea? Do you feel ready to start creating templates? What attracts or holds you back from this activity? Feel free to share your comments.
EcoTips
Environmental and climate change issues are more than ever at the heart of the concerns of this 21st century, which is why I am proposing a few ideas that will enable you to limit the negative impact that the implementation of this idea could have.
These solutions that I suggest are sometimes largely insufficient to compensate for these negative impacts, such as carbon offsetting. Unfortunately, there is not always an ideal and 100% efficient solution, far from it. And if you have others, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments below.
This activity is not without environmental consequences. The development and management of digital resources require server infrastructure that consumes a significant amount of energy. Every file hosted online, every download, and every update relies on data centers that run 24/7 and are often cooled by powerful air conditioning systems.
To limit these harmful effects, you can start by optimizing your files to make them lighter. This reduces the necessary storage space and minimizes bandwidth consumption during downloads. By compressing images, limiting unnecessary resources, and optimizing code, you help make websites more efficient and less energy-consuming.
Another way to limit the environmental impact of your activity is to carefully choose your partners and sales platforms. Opting for hosting services that commit to an ecological approach, such as Greengeeks, Hostpapa, or DreamHost, by using renewable energy and carbon offsetting, can have a real impact.
Pros
- You can work from anywhere with just an internet connection.
- Great flexibility in schedules, allowing you to organize your time according to your needs.
- The possibility of generating passive income by selling templates online.
- You can easily find clients from all over the world.
- The pleasure of being able to work in pajamas in bed (don’t make it a habit 😅).
Cons
- Financial uncertainty due to fluctuations in sales and income.
- You have to manage all aspects of the business, including marketing and customer service.
- The need to stand out in a highly competitive sector.
- Long hours in front of the screen can lead to health issues such as eye strain or back pain.
- With coding, you’ll discover the joy of spending hours troubleshooting a bug only to find out a comma was missing. 😭
Info
- Location: This activity can be done from home, in a co-working space, or from anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Perfect for “digital nomads.”
- Investment: The initial investment is relatively low, limited to a good computer and design software.
- Earnings perspective: It is possible to earn between a few hundred and $3,000 per month depending on experience, template quality, and marketing efforts.
- Required: Creativity, rigor, the ability to quickly adapt to technological changes, and strong web design skills.
- Risk level: No particular financial risk.
- Implementation time: It takes a few weeks to a few months (especially if you have to train first) to create the first templates and see the first sales after they’re online.
- Material needed: A fairly powerful computer (Intel i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen, 16 GB RAM, 1TB SSD), a stable internet connection, and development software like Visual Studio Code.
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