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How to Start a Web Design Business in Massachusetts

Web design is a low-cost, home-based business you can start with a computer and strong portfolio. Clear contracts, reliable project management and recurring maintenance plans turn one-off projects into steady income. Building accessible sites is good practice and helps clients meet their own obligations.

Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Sources linked inline

Massachusetts requirements for this business

  • Under Massachusetts regulation 830 CMR 64H.1.3, sales of custom software are generally exempt from sales tax, and designing computer systems is generally not taxable when not part of a sale of hardware or prewritten software. [source]
  • Web site hosting is generally not taxable in Massachusetts unless it is a mandatory part of a taxable sale of hardware or prewritten software. [source]
  • Charges for access to or use of prewritten software on a remote server are generally taxable, so reselling software subscriptions or licenses to clients may require collecting sales tax. [source]
  • Custom modifications to prewritten software are generally not taxable if separately stated, but the underlying prewritten software remains taxable. [source]

Statewide steps for every Massachusetts business — forming an LLC or registering a business name with the Massachusetts Housing and Economic Development — are on our state licensing directory.

FirstBizGuide is not a government agency: any license or registration fees are paid directly to the agency named in each source. These are the Massachusetts facts we have verified so far, not a complete list. City and county rules vary — check with your local government before opening.

Startup costs

We haven't found a reliable published cost range for this business, so we don't show one. Costs vary widely by market, equipment and whether you buy new or used. Plug your own quotes into the worksheet:

Open the web design cost worksheet →

SBA 7(a) loans in this industry

Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511): 889 loans approved in FY2024–FY2026. Median loan $185,000; middle half $95,000–$350,000.

Loan size is not startup cost — these loans also fund acquisitions, real estate and working capital. Full breakdown and caveats →

How much competition is there?

Census industry: Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511)

In Massachusetts: 1,736 employer establishments (2023) and 7,750 businesses without employees (2024). Nationwide: 68,051 employer establishments (2023) and 334,886 businesses without employees (2024).

The count of businesses without employees is for the broader Census group “Computer Systems Design and Related Services” (NAICS 54151), so it includes related businesses, not only this one.

See counts for your county → Counts aren't a measure of saturation — see the caveats on the tool page.

Equipment and supplies

  • Reliable computer and second monitor
  • Design and code editing software
  • Testing devices or browser testing service
  • Password manager and multi-factor authentication
  • Project management and invoicing software

Licenses and registration

  • Web design generally does not require a state professional license, but check whether your city requires a business license or home-occupation permit.
  • The Justice Department has issued guidance explaining how businesses open to the public (entities covered by ADA Title III) can make sure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities. [source]
  • The U.S. Access Board points to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), issued by the World Wide Web Consortium, as a resource, and notes that the federal Section 508 Standards reference WCAG 2.0. [source]
  • If you write or post reviews or testimonials for clients, the FTC says endorsements must reflect the honest opinions or experiences of the endorser; fake reviews from people who never used the product are deceptive. [source]
  • If you resell software, hosting or digital products, ask your state revenue department whether those sales are taxable.
  • Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire employees or form an LLC or corporation. Beware of sites that charge for this. [source]
  • To find your state's business registration office, use the SBA's state-by-state registration lookup. [source]

Insurance to consider

  • Professional liability (errors & omissions)
  • Cyber liability
  • General liability (if meeting clients in person)

Get quotes from several carriers or an independent agent; coverage needs depend on your contracts, state and staff.

Financing options

  • SBA 7(a) loans — the SBA's main guaranteed loan program, made through participating lenders. [source]
  • SBA Microloans — smaller loans delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. [source]
  • SBA Lender Match — a free tool that connects you with interested SBA lenders. [source]
  • Free counseling from your local SBDC or SCORE chapter can help you build the business plan lenders ask for. [source]

Estimate payments with the loan calculator, then check runway with the cash flow projection.

Ongoing operating expenses

  • Software subscriptions
  • Hosting and domains
  • Insurance
  • Continuing education
  • Marketing

Use the break-even calculator to see how many jobs or sales cover them.

Common mistakes

  • No written contract defining scope and revisions
  • Unlimited revisions on fixed-price projects
  • Holding client logins without good security
  • Ignoring accessibility until a client complains
  • No maintenance plan for recurring income

Finding customers

  • Portfolio site with case studies
  • Referral partnerships with marketing agencies and printers
  • Niche focus (e.g., restaurants, contractors)
  • Local business groups and chambers of commerce

Startup checklist

Ticks are saved on this device and appear on My plan.

Compare with other businesses

Sources