Ask HN: Is it still a good idea to start a web dev shop?

Maybe not web dev shops, but small groups of developers, operating in a partnership similar to what we see with lawyers in say a 9 or 10 (or less) person firm, is what this author argues is going to be the future: https://leanpub.com/developerhegemony

I know a few people who couldn't spell HTML who "design web sites" (i.e. drag-and-drop on Wix.com) for small local companies so apparently there is still money to be made.

As someone who has been in the field for a while, I would say it's difficult. You face a lot of competition, meaning there is someone out there who is younger and can do it for cheaper. You also face older people who can do it better and faster than you.

Like any other business, I'd only recommend it if you know your competitors and are convinced you can do it 10x better than them.

If you're decent you probably make enough to pay the bills and have a nice car, and it's more profitable than, say, running a restaurant. So I wouldn't say no.

Whether it's better than working for a web dev shop depends on how good you are at the business aspects.

most web dev shops are literally Wordpress shops. unless you want your career shortened or just locked in to doing that, id stay away if i were you.

I haven't seen any data on web dev shop profitability. But from what I am seeing, it really depends on how well you can sell. That is there are lots of small to medium businesses with managements that know very little and thus can be swayed by somebody who proposes a "solution" to whatever the management sees as being their problem or is convinced to believe their problem is.

In my experience, it is not about technology. If you can solve real problems in a particular industry and there are enough businesses in that industry then you have a chance. Of course, you might have to rise the bar to WebApps, etc.

It would be very hard to collect data. People, in general, do not disclose the P&L to outsiders. In fact, in many small businesses even the owners only know their P&L a year or so down the track when their accountant finally gets around to doing their books.

There is still money to be made in this but you have to network a lot because getting clients online is super hard and very competitive. So generally just be good at marketing yourself or business.

Been doing this for over 4 years.

Yes, but the thing is you can't just do web design. Most digital agencies are more that that. You have to be able to provide SEO, marketing, and other capabilities.