So, you’ve set up your Joomla! website, tested its functionality, polished the design, and filled it with great content. Now you’re probably asking yourself: what’s next? Well, the exciting part begins here—making money!
Joomla is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. While WordPress may get more headlines, Joomla has a strong global user base, a loyal community, and tons of opportunities for developers who know how to tap into the ecosystem. Working with Joomla isn’t just fun and rewarding—it can also become a serious income stream.
In this guide, I’ll break down every possible way you can earn money online as a Joomla developer. Whether you’re into coding, designing, writing, teaching, or simply leveraging your Joomla skills for business, there’s a way for you to turn your expertise into profit.
Let’s dive in.
1. Selling Joomla Extensions and Templates
Why Extensions and Templates Are Big Business
One of the most lucrative ways to make money with Joomla is by creating and selling extensions (plugins, modules, and components) and templates (themes). Think of them as the building blocks that expand Joomla’s capabilities and improve design.
Thousands of businesses, bloggers, and organizations run Joomla websites, and they’re always looking for solutions to make their sites look better, run smoother, and perform specific tasks. That’s where you step in.
How to Start
- Identify a Problem: The best-selling extensions solve specific pain points. For example, tools for SEO, security, booking systems, or e-commerce add-ons.
- Build a Template: If design is your strong suit, you can create responsive, modern Joomla templates tailored for niches like restaurants, real estate, or e-learning.
- Sell Globally: Thanks to marketplaces like Joomla Extensions Directory, ThemeForest, TemplateMonster, and JoomShaper, your products can reach a worldwide audience.
Monetization Tips
- Sell directly on your website (higher margins).
- Use marketplaces for exposure (more reach, less profit per sale).
- Offer free “lite” versions of your product to attract users, then upsell premium versions with advanced features.
2. Freelancing as a Joomla Developer
Why Freelancing Works
Freelancing is one of the fastest ways to start earning money online. Businesses that don’t have in-house web developers often hire freelancers for custom Joomla work.
Platforms to Find Work
- Upwork – One of the largest freelancing platforms where Joomla projects are regularly posted.
- Fiverr – Great for smaller Joomla gigs like template customization or extension installation.
- Freelancer.com – Similar to Upwork, with a mix of short- and long-term Joomla jobs.
- PeoplePerHour & Toptal – Good for higher-end clients.
What Services to Offer
- Joomla installation & setup
- Custom template development
- Extension development or modification
- Site speed optimization
- Joomla upgrades & migration
- Joomla to WordPress migration (yes, people pay a lot for this!)
Pro tip: Specialize in something (like Joomla SEO or e-commerce development with VirtueMart). Niches make you stand out and command higher rates.
3. Offering Joomla Maintenance & Support Packages
Many website owners don’t want to deal with updates, backups, or security patches. That’s your opportunity to sell ongoing maintenance plans.
Examples of Services You Can Package
- Regular Joomla core & extension updates
- Security monitoring & malware removal
- Website backups & disaster recovery
- Performance optimization
- Technical support via email or chat
How to Charge
- Monthly Retainer: $50–$500 per client depending on scope.
- Pay-As-You-Go Support: Charge per hour for troubleshooting.
The beauty of support plans is recurring revenue. A single client paying $100/month adds up to $1,200 a year. Imagine having 20+ clients on board—that’s a full-time income.
4. Building and Flipping Joomla Websites
What It Means
Website flipping is like real estate investing, but online. You build or buy a Joomla website, improve it, grow its traffic and revenue, then sell it for profit.
Steps to Flip Joomla Sites
- Pick a Niche – Choose industries like travel, food, education, or local services.
- Build and Rank – Use SEO and content marketing to grow traffic.
- Monetize – Add ads, affiliate links, or sell services through the site.
- Sell – Platforms like Flippa or Empire Flippers are great for selling established sites.
Profit Potential
- Starter Joomla sites: $300–$1,000
- Established Joomla businesses: $5,000–$50,000+
5. Joomla Consulting
Not every business needs hands-on development—they might just need guidance. If you’re an experienced Joomla pro, consulting can be very profitable.
Services You Can Offer
- Advising businesses on Joomla hosting and setup
- Helping with migration from outdated CMS systems
- Creating technical documentation and project roadmaps
- Auditing Joomla websites for performance, SEO, or security
Consultants often charge $50–$200/hour, and high-level corporate consulting can go beyond that.
6. Creating Joomla Online Courses & Tutorials
People love learning online. Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and Teachable are filled with courses teaching web development, but Joomla is still an underserved niche compared to WordPress.
Course Ideas
- “Joomla for Beginners” – Setting up a website from scratch
- “Joomla Extensions Development” – Coding custom add-ons
- “Advanced Joomla SEO & Performance” – Helping businesses get traffic
You can also start your own YouTube channel and monetize it with ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.
7. Blogging About Joomla
If you enjoy writing, blogging about Joomla can become a steady income stream.
Ways to Monetize a Joomla Blog
- Ads (Google AdSense, Mediavine) – Display ads on your blog.
- Affiliate Marketing – Recommend hosting services, Joomla tools, or related software and earn commissions.
- Sponsored Posts – Joomla providers may pay you to review or promote their products.
- Digital Products – Sell your own templates, extensions, or e-books through the blog.
SEO is key here. Write about Joomla tips, tutorials, troubleshooting guides, and comparisons to attract organic traffic.
8. Joomla Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is where you recommend products and earn a commission when people purchase through your referral links.
Examples of Joomla-Related Affiliate Programs
- Web hosting companies (SiteGround, A2 Hosting, InMotion Hosting)
- Joomla template providers (JoomShaper, RocketTheme, TemplateMonster)
- Joomla extension developers offering affiliate payouts
Combine affiliate marketing with a blog, YouTube channel, or email list, and you can generate passive income.
9. Donations, Sponsorships & Memberships
Donations
If you release free Joomla products (templates, extensions, or tutorials), add a “Donate” button using PayPal, Stripe, or Buy Me a Coffee.
Sponsorships
Businesses may sponsor your Joomla projects if they get visibility in return.
Membership Sites
Offer premium Joomla content (exclusive templates, in-depth guides, private forums) behind a subscription paywall. Tools like Membership Pro for Joomla make it easy to set this up.
10. Building SaaS Products with Joomla
This is a more advanced route, but incredibly profitable. By combining Joomla with custom development, you can create Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tools.
Examples:
- Appointment booking platforms
- E-learning solutions
- Community portals
Charge monthly fees, and you’ll build a scalable recurring income stream.
11. Creating a Joomla Agency
Once you’ve freelanced and gained experience, the next step is building an agency.
What an Agency Can Offer
- Joomla web design & development
- SEO and digital marketing services
- Branding & graphic design
- Joomla training for staff
Agencies scale because you can hire other Joomla developers, designers, and marketers. Instead of trading hours for dollars, you manage projects and keep profits.
12. Partnering with Businesses
Partnerships can be more profitable than client work. For example:
- Partner with a local marketing agency to handle their Joomla projects.
- Partner with non-technical entrepreneurs to build online businesses on Joomla.
- Partner with hosting companies to bundle your Joomla services with their plans.
Final Thoughts
Joomla is more than just a CMS—it’s an ecosystem full of opportunities for developers, designers, marketers, and entrepreneurs. From selling templates to freelancing, consulting, creating courses, or even building SaaS products, there are countless ways to turn your Joomla skills into a full-time online income.
The key is to start small, test what works best for you, and scale from there. You don’t need to master every method at once—pick one or two, put in consistent effort, and watch your income grow.
If you’re serious about making money online as a Joomla developer, now’s the time to take action. Your skills are valuable, and businesses all over the world are waiting for the solutions you can create.
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