Is theme development for Shopify a viable side hustle?

Hello!

I'm exploring the idea of developing WordPress or Shopify themes to sell on online platforms like ThemeForest and Etsy, etc... I wanted to get some insights on whether this could be a viable side hustle.

I think the biggest obstacle might be marketing, taking into account I have 0 audiences to sell to at the moment.

Thank you for any advice you can share!

Do 3-5 themes for shopify, then see where they get you, but make sure you put extensive research into what works, and check what the most popular are there already.

I plan to sell WP plugins, and I have 1 90% old finished theme, that i'd like to sell, once I convert it to wp also. Checkout this guide on writing wp plugins I've been updating while I build a site filled with them.

https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/t...ress-plugins-fast-with-the-help-of-ai.1608261

I think there is a difference between wanting to do this and making money and actually doing it full-time to make money. I've been working for 7 weeks full time on wordpress plugins, and mostly JS, but a lot of refactoring to get single function/file in place, and I wouldn't still be employable yet by an agency to write in house code, which I think is the measurement, maybe another 4 months of doing it full time to equal 6 months, then you'd be in a good position to "start" lol as you would have more failed experience then.

Thing with shopify is I'm not sure if you can develop locally without a site, like you can with wp? Maybe you can download the shopify framework?

Panther28 said:

Do 3-5 themes for shopify, then see where they get you, but make sure you put extensive research into what works, and check what the most popular are there already.

I plan to sell WP plugins, and I have 1 90% old finished theme, that i'd like to sell, once I convert it to wp also. Checkout this guide on writing wp plugins I've been updating while I build a site filled with them.

https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/t...ress-plugins-fast-with-the-help-of-ai.1608261

I think there is a difference between wanting to do this and making money and actually doing it full-time to make money. I've been working for 7 weeks full time on wordpress plugins, and mostly JS, but a lot of refactoring to get single function/file in place, and I wouldn't still be employable yet by an agency to write in house code, which I think is the measurement, maybe another 4 months of doing it full time to equal 6 months, then you'd be in a good position to "start" lol as you would have more failed experience then.

Thing with shopify is I'm not sure if you can develop locally without a site, like you can with wp? Maybe you can download the shopify framework?

Click to expand...

I am a Lead Developer for an S&P 500 company, specializing in the JavaScript stack. I've considered developing themes using Next.js or React.js. However, these frameworks often require clients to be more tech-savvy. In contrast, WordPress and Shopify have broader adoption and appeal to a wider audience.

I'm also intrigued by the idea of developing plugins and might explore that avenue. My first step will be to analyze top-performing themes on various platforms and develop niche-specific themes based on that research.

Regarding Shopify, I'm uncertain about the ability to develop locally without an active site, as you can with WordPress.

I plan to investigate this further. I believe you can also integrate React.js as a headless storefront for Shopify, but I need to explore this in more detail.

All in all i will create a journey thread when i am done with research and see what will happen, i do not believe that this will be like a big profitable venture, but i will be happy if i earn my first online $ that is not from my job or crypto and other investments, but something i made

Thank you for the input!

banezr94 said:

Hello!

I'm exploring the idea of developing WordPress or Shopify themes to sell on online platforms like ThemeForest and Etsy, etc... I wanted to get some insights on whether this could be a viable side hustle.

I think the biggest obstacle might be marketing, taking into account I have 0 audiences to sell to at the moment.

Thank you for any advice you can share!

Click to expand...

Are you a Theme developer or you have experience in develop theme?

Developing themes can be a profitable side hustle, but marketing will be key. Consider showcasing your themes on platforms like Dribbble or Behance, utilizing social media, and optimizing for SEO on theme marketplaces to build visibility. You can also offer customizations or support to attract more customers.