When I first built SkyBlueCanvas, I was a freelance web designer and developer. For seven years I struggled to make ends meet working on small projects that were not very profitable. I knew there had to be a way for me, and the thousands of other independent web professionals, to make a living working on the limitless number of small projects out there. If you are a freelance designer or developer, you know what I mean. I decided to make SkyBlueCanvas open source to help other people just like me to make a living.

SkyBlueCanvas is, first and foremost, a passion and labor of love. I spend many late nights and weekends working on the software and helping users at no charge. This is in addition to having a full-time job. I get to meet a lot of great people and to continually sharpen my skills as a software developer.

The ultimate dream is to earn a living doing something you love. That is my hope with SkyBlueCanvas. But cultivating that dream takes time and it also means that SkyBlueCanvas needs to make money. I know it is not considered polite or in good taste to talk about money, but it is a necessity in order to live.

How We Are Able to Give it Away

We are able to give SkyBlueCanvas away for free through three methods. The advertising on our web sites allows us to focus on the development of the software. We are also able to reach a wider audience because we can give the software away for free. We also make money by providing paid services in the form of SkyBlueCanvas implementations. And finally through donations by users who find the software useful and want to see it continue to grow.

HostICan Affiliate Program

Being a HostICan affiliate is a good way for us – and you – to earn passive income by helping users and clients find a reliable and affordable service that they would buy anyway. If you are a web designer, web developer or even just a web site owner, you can earn up to $90 per referral, by becoming a HostICan Affiliate.

I have been very satisfied with the program and regularly recommend it to others. If you sign up for the affiliate program by using the banner at the bottom of this page, you will also be helping SkyBlueCanvas development because we will also get a small commission for the customers you refer. And there is also good news for you – if you sign up other affiliates, you will also get a commission for their referrals.

It is free to sign up and HostICan provides many useful tools and support to help you get started and to earn extra income. You can put as much or as little effort into the program as you want. Affiliate programs in general can be a good way to add another service and aspect to your freelance business.