How to Get Started as a Web Developer - With a Busy Schedule

If you’ve been thinking about breaking into tech but aren’t sure where to start - especially as a woman balancing work, family, or both - you’re not alone. The world of web development can seem overwhelming from the outside, but here’s the truth: you don’t need a tech degree, 8 hours a day, or thousands of dollars to get started.

In fact, you can begin your journey to becoming a web developer right now, on your own terms.

Here’s how to get started - step by step.

👩🏽‍💻 Step 1: Understand What Web Developers Actually Do

There are two main sides of web development:

• Front-end: What users see and interact with (buttons, layouts, colors, etc.)

• Back-end: What makes the site work behind the scenes (databases, servers, logic)

You don’t have to choose one right away - but understanding the roles helps you pick your path.

🔎 Pro tip: Start with front-end if you’re a creative thinker or visual learner - it’s beginner-friendly and lets you see your results quickly.

📚 Step 2: Learn the Essentials (No Degree Needed)

Start with these core skills:

• HTML (structure)

• CSS (styling)

• JavaScript (interactivity)

💡 Great (and free!) platforms:

• freeCodeCamp.org

• Codecademy

• W3Schools

✨ Busy? Just 30 minutes a day adds up. Use your lunch break, early mornings, or wind-down time at night.

🧪 Step 3: Practice by Building

You don’t have to wait until you’re “ready.” Practice by creating:

• A personal website or portfolio

• A landing page for your side hustle

• A simple blog layout

Not only does this build your skills - it builds your confidence.

💼 Step 4: Create a Simple Portfolio

Once you’ve got a few small projects, put them together in a portfolio site. Employers and clients love to see what you can do, and this helps you stand out.

You can build it yourself or use a free platform like:

• Wix (beginner-friendly)

• Netlify

• GitHub Pages

🌱 Step 5: Find Community & Support

Tech can be isolating - but you don’t have to go it alone. Look for online spaces that are built for women and minorities in tech:

• Black Girls Code

• Latinas in Tech

• Women Who Code

• Tech Ladies

Surrounding yourself with people who look like you and share your values matters.

💪🏽 Final Words of Encouragement

You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one.

✅ You can learn this.

✅ You do belong in tech.

✅ Your story, your perspective, your presence is needed.

Take one small step today - that’s all it takes to start a powerful journey.

🛠 Tools to Help You Show Up Online with Purpose

📺 Want design and strategy tips in real time?

Subscribe to Taylor The Creator Studio on YouTube — where I share tutorials, audits, and strategy sessions to help you grow with confidence.

📘 Free & Premium Digital Resources to Support Your Growth:

• ✨ The Launch Roadmap – A step-by-step guide to starting your brand or website project with clarity

• 🧠 Branding Mini-Guide – Define your visual identity and connect with your ideal audience

• 🔧 Website Maintenance Checklist – Keep your site updated, secure, and running smooth

• 💼 Business Marketing Homework – Build a real marketing plan, not just to-do lists

• 💬 Digital Marketing 101 Course (Free Sample) – Get the basics of intentional digital marketing

• 📎 The Agency Pamphlet – Learn what it’s like to work with TTC on a full-service project

  
  

🎨 Need Creative Support?

Whether you're launching a brand, auditing your website, or upgrading your digital presence, we're here to help:

→ Book a Free Discovery Call

→ Explore Design & Strategy Services

→ Visit the TTC Shop

Demystifying Business Credit & Funding for Creatives Without Investors

Breaking into the world of business funding can feel like decoding a secret language — especially for creatives who want to maintain full control over their vision without bringing in outside investors. But here’s the good news: you don’t need venture capital or angel investors to fund and grow your creative business. There are powerful alternative options that many entrepreneurs overlook — and they could be exactly what you need.

Why Traditional Investors Aren’t the Only Answer

The myth that you have to secure investors to scale your business is just that — a myth. While investors can bring capital, they often expect a stake in your company and influence over decisions. For creatives, this can sometimes mean compromising your vision or your values.

Instead, consider alternative funding paths that give you financial support without giving up ownership or control.

Exploring Business Credit: Your Untapped Resource

One of the most underrated funding tools is business credit. This means establishing a credit profile for your business separate from your personal credit. Why does this matter?

• Access to Capital: With good business credit, you can qualify for lines of credit, credit cards, or loans designed specifically for businesses.

• Flexibility: Business credit lets you fund projects, manage cash flow, or invest in equipment without dipping into personal savings.

• Build Your Business Reputation: A solid credit history builds trust with suppliers, landlords, and partners.

How to Start Building Business Credit

1. Register your business officially (LLC, corporation, etc.).

2. Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS.

3. Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances.

4. Apply for a business credit card and use it responsibly.

5. Pay all bills and debts on time to build a positive credit history.

   
   

Community Loans: Funding that Supports Your Network

Community loans are another fantastic alternative — these are funds pooled by community organizations, nonprofits, or local groups aimed at uplifting entrepreneurs within specific demographics or industries.

• Often come with lower interest rates.

• Include educational resources and business coaching.

• Foster community connections and support systems.

Look into local nonprofits, chambers of commerce, or organizations focused on supporting Black creatives, women entrepreneurs, or mission-driven businesses.

Bootstrap Strategies: Growth on Your Own Terms

Bootstrapping means growing your business using your own revenue and resources, which requires creativity and discipline but keeps you fully in control.

• Start small: Launch MVPs (minimum viable products) to test ideas without overspending.

• Reinvest profits: Use earnings to fund growth rather than seeking outside money.

• Barter and collaborate: Exchange services with other creatives to save cash.

• Leverage free or low-cost tools: From Canva for design to WordPress for websites — there are plenty of options that won’t break the bank.

The Takeaway: Funding Your Creative Business Your Way

Navigating business credit, community loans, and bootstrap strategies might feel daunting at first, but these options empower you to build your brand and scale on your own terms — without giving up control or mission.

If you’re ready to take the next step, start small, educate yourself on these options, and remember: the right funding path is the one that aligns with your goals and values.

🛠 Tools to Help You Show Up Online with Purpose

📺 Want design and strategy tips in real time?

Subscribe to Taylor The Creator Studio on YouTube — where I share tutorials, audits, and strategy sessions to help you grow with confidence.

📘 Free & Premium Digital Resources to Support Your Growth:

• ✨ The Launch Roadmap – A step-by-step guide to starting your brand or website project with clarity

• 🧠 Branding Mini-Guide – Define your visual identity and connect with your ideal audience

• 🔧 Website Maintenance Checklist – Keep your site updated, secure, and running smooth

• 💼 Business Marketing Homework – Build a real marketing plan, not just to-do lists

• 💬 Digital Marketing 101 Course (Free Sample) – Get the basics of intentional digital marketing

• 📎 The Agency Pamphlet – Learn what it’s like to work with TTC on a full-service project

🎨 Need Creative Support?

Whether you're launching a brand, auditing your website, or upgrading your digital presence, we're here to help.

What I’d Learn First If I Had to Start Over in Tech (No Degree, No Budget)

If I had to start over in tech today - no degree, no fancy laptop, and no budget - I wouldn’t waste time on fluff or overwhelm myself with a hundred different tools. I’d focus on the foundational skills, free resources, and mindset that actually build confidence and momentum. Whether you're pivoting careers, building something of your own, or just curious about where to begin - this is the roadmap I wish someone had handed me.

Here’s what I’d do (and what you can start doing right now).

💡 Step 1: Get Clear on What “Tech” Means to You

“Tech” is a massive industry. Before jumping in, I’d take 30 minutes to journal or Google around and explore:

• Do I want to build websites?

• Am I curious about UX/UI design, data, or automation?

• Do I like visual creation or solving logical problems?

🔑 Why this matters: Clarity gives your learning purpose. You don’t have to have it all figured out - but knowing your interests helps cut out the noise.

👩🏽‍💻 Step 2: Learn the Core Web Building Blocks (Free)

If I was starting from scratch, I’d begin with:

• HTML – the structure of web pages

• CSS – the styling (colors, fonts, layouts)

• JavaScript (basics) – simple interactivity

Free platforms I’d use:

• freeCodeCamp.org

• The Odin Project

• W3Schools

• Frontend Mentor

I’d spend 20–30 mins/day practicing. Nothing fancy. Just real progress over perfection.

🔧 Step 3: Build Small Projects, Not Just Take Courses

Courses are helpful, but projects teach you how to think and solve problems. I’d build:

• A personal landing page (like a digital business card)

• A simple “about me” site

• A mock product page or portfolio

🛠 Pro tip: Start with CodePen.io or use the free tier of Wix to practice drag-and-drop + code edits side by side.

🌐 Step 4: Learn No-Code Tools Too

I’d learn Wix, Notion, or Canva Websites - tools that help you build fast without needing to code everything.

Why? Because businesses are looking for people who can help them launch, not just code.

No-code = faster delivery, better client communication, and more portfolio pieces.

🧠 Step 5: Work on Mindset, Not Just Skillset

Tech can feel isolating and intimidating - especially if you don’t see yourself represented. Here’s what I’d tell myself:

• You don’t need to be “naturally techy.” Practice wins.

• You belong in this space, even if you’re still learning.

• Find community — it changes everything.

📢 Join spaces like:

• Women Who Code

• Black Girls Code

• Tech Twitter & YouTube creators who reflect your vibe

📸 Step 6: Document the Journey Publicly

If I could do it over, I’d start sharing my journey online early - even if I only had one follower.

Documenting your learning builds community, shows growth, and opens doors. You don’t have to be an expert to add value.

Use Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok to say:

• What you’re building

• What you just learned

• What you’re struggling with

Your voice will attract your people.

📎 Bonus: Tools I’d Bookmark From Day One

• VS Code – Free code editor

• Canva – For easy graphics and mockups

• Notion – Organize your learning + projects

• Figma (free tier) – For UI/UX practice

💬 Final Word: Start Before You're “Ready”

No degree? No problem. No money? You don’t need it to start. No clear direction yet? You’ll figure it out as you move.

What matters is that you start.

Take 30 minutes today to:

• Pick one platform

• Learn one skill

• Build one simple thing

That’s it. That’s how this journey begins — and trust me, it’s worth it.

🛠 Tools to Help You Show Up Online with Purpose

📺 Want design and strategy tips in real time?

Subscribe to Taylor The Creator Studio on YouTube - where I share tutorials, audits, and strategy sessions to help you grow with confidence.

📘 Free & Premium Digital Resources to Support Your Growth:

• ✨ The Launch Roadmap – A step-by-step guide to starting your brand or website project with clarity

• 🧠 Branding Mini-Guide – Define your visual identity and connect with your ideal audience

• 🔧 Website Maintenance Checklist – Keep your site updated, secure, and running smooth

• 💼 Business Marketing Homework – Build a real marketing plan, not just to-do lists

• 💬 Digital Marketing 101 Course (Free Sample) – Get the basics of intentional digital marketing

• 📎 The Agency Pamphlet – Learn what it’s like to work with TTC on a full-service project

  
  

🎨 Need Creative Support?

Whether you're launching a brand, auditing your website, or upgrading your digital presence, we're here to help:

→ Book a Free Discovery Call

→ Explore Design & Strategy Services

→ Visit the TTC Shop