Studio Notes 9.0–My First Year Running a Template Business (The Real Numbers)
My worst month was $49. My best was $5,958.32. The only difference? I didn't quit.
A year ago, I was still doing client work. Chasing meetings, dealing with endless revisions, and getting stressed every time I wanted to take a day off.
Today, I earned $32.9k from my website template business whilst living in Dubai, working from cafes, and taking time off whenever I want.
Here’s the honest breakdown of my first full year running a Framer template business.
The Numbers (No BS)
In 2025, here’s what I accomplished:
Content & Products:
Launched 11 new templates
Uploaded 18 YouTube videos
Wrote 5 newsletter articles
Made a YouTube course in partnership with Framer
Audience Growth:
4,339 followers on X
1,233 subscribers on YouTube
Revenue:
Earned $14,443.8 in template sales
Earned $18,464.23 in partner commissions
Total earnings = $32,908.03
These numbers may not seem life-changing to some, but to me, they’ve changed everything.
I’m now looking forward to scaling this digital product business further in 2026.
What the Monthly Breakdown Actually Shows
Here’s what most people don’t talk about when they share their “I made $X selling templates” posts – the reality of how inconsistent passive income can be when you’re building.
Selling Framer templates in 2025:
Jan - $470.42
Feb - $342.21
Mar - $338.08
Apr - $139.13
May - $49
Jun - $592.29
Jul - $682.07
Aug - $1,811.98
Sep - $3,259.4
Oct - $3,092.32
Nov - $3,820.58
Dec - $5,958.32
Look at that progression. I started the year making $470 in January.
By May, I was down to $49. My worst month.
Then something shifted. August jumped to $1.8k. September hit $3.2k. And by December, I closed the year with near to $6k.
That’s not luck. That’s what happens when you keep showing up, keep launching, and keep marketing even when the numbers look discouraging.
The Turning Point (And What Changed)
May was brutal. $49 for an entire month. I could’ve quit right there and gone back to client work.
But instead, I doubled down on the three things that actually move the needle in this business:
1. Launched more templates. I went from sporadic launches to consistent monthly releases. More templates = more ways for customers to find you.
2. Posted consistently on X. I committed to showing up daily, sharing my process, being transparent about the numbers (even when they were low), and connecting with other designers.
3. Created more educational content. YouTube videos, newsletter articles, and the Framer partnership course. The more I taught, the more trust I built. The more trust I built, the more sales came in.
That’s it. No secret strategy. No paid ads. Just consistency and transparency.
By September, I was earning over $3,000 per month. By December, over $5,000.
Why This Business Model Changed My Life
Selling Framer templates has completely changed my life. I’m able to take time off whenever I want and still earn.
When I was doing client work, taking a day off meant no income. The stress of that kept me working even when I was burnt out.
Now? I travel to see family, take mini-vacations or just take a day and watch Netflix on the couch. And money still comes in.
That’s the power of building systems that work for you.
And here’s the thing: I’m not special. I’m not a coding wizard. I didn’t have a massive following when I started, in fact I started with 97 followers.
I just committed to one business model and stuck with it.
What I’m Doing Differently in 2026
Looking forward to scaling this digital product business further in 2026.
Here’s what that actually means:
More templates. I’m aiming for 12 new launches this year, one per month. The more quality templates I have in my catalogue, the more passive income streams I create.
Better marketing. Last year, I learned what works. This year, I’m doubling down on the channels that convert – X, YouTube, and email.
Systematizing everything. I’m building better processes for design, launch, and customer support so I can scale without burning out.
Teaching more. The Framer course partnership was one of the best decisions I made. The more I teach, the more I build trust. The more trust I build, the more my business grows.
If You’re Thinking About Starting
If you’re tired of the 9-5, or if you’ve been thinking about starting an online business but haven’t pulled the trigger yet, let me tell you something:
The best time to start was a year ago. The second best time is today.
You don’t need a massive following. You don’t need to be the best in the world. You just need to start, stay consistent, and keep showing up even when the numbers look discouraging.
Because here’s what I learned: May was $49. December was $5,958.32.
The only difference? I didn’t quit.
And if you need a faster way to get started without building everything from scratch, that’s exactly why I created my template collection. Pick one, customise it, launch your business, and start building your own passive income stream.
Just like I did.
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