Declan Maltman, a former hotel porter from Ayr, Scotland, transformed his life from earning minimum wage to generating an impressive £15,000 monthly by leveraging his passion for web design. Once feeling trapped in a job that left him drained, Maltman found a way to pursue his true interests while balancing family responsibilities. Today, he insists that anyone can achieve similar success by following his journey and tips.
In 2016, Maltman worked night shifts at a local hotel, earning around £30,000 a year. His wife, Megan, was on maternity leave, and they were raising their newborn daughter, Casey, in a modest one-bedroom bungalow. Despite his background in marketing and web design, he felt confined by the limited job opportunities in his small town. “Design was always my passion, but living in a small town in Scotland, it was really difficult to enter into that workspace,” he explained.
Realising he had downtime during his night shifts, Maltman decided to turn his situation to his advantage. While colleagues spent their breaks watching television or gaming, he brought his laptop to work and began building online stores for small businesses. This side hustle was made possible by his self-taught skills and a higher national certificate equivalent to a year of a Bachelor’s degree.
The pivotal moment came when Maltman discovered Fiverr, a platform connecting freelancers with clients seeking digital services. In 2018, he set up his profile as a website designer. His first order, from a jewellery case maker, marked the beginning of his transformation. “It felt like free money,” he recalled, noting the satisfaction of getting paid for work he enjoyed alongside his night job.
Initially, earnings from Fiverr were modest. In his first month, he made approximately £180 after commissions. However, as he completed more projects, positive reviews began to pour in, leading to increased demand for his services. Within four months, he earned the equivalent of a month’s salary from his hotel job, prompting him to consider a full-time transition.
After discussing the potential shift with Megan, Maltman took the leap, quitting his night porter position. “I made nearly £6,000 in that first month. It cemented that hard work does really pay off,” he noted. This financial boost allowed the Maltman family to move into a larger home, providing a dedicated office space for Declan.
As business flourished, he raised his fees significantly, with basic website projects starting at £800 and more complex sites reaching £8,000. Fiverr even assigned him a dedicated success manager to help him navigate the growing business landscape. By 2020, Maltman expanded his operations by hiring his first employee and officially establishing his company, Neat Digital.
The business quickly gained traction, generating over £45,000 monthly by offering a range of services, including social media management and search engine optimisation. The majority of clients were based in the United States, spanning various sectors, from artists to entrepreneurs. In just a few years, Neat Digital has generated approximately £1.4 million in revenue.
Despite the rapid growth, Maltman faced challenges in maintaining the work-life balance he initially sought. “I kind of created a nine-to-five hell hole for myself,” he admitted, noting that managing a large team diverted him from the creative work he loved. Over time, he made the decision to streamline operations, ultimately returning to a smaller team consisting of himself, Megan, and one other designer.
Today, the revitalised Neat Digital operates with a focus on quality over quantity, managing about six projects monthly and maintaining a steady income of around £15,000. The Maltman family has enjoyed the flexibility of their new lifestyle, allowing them to participate in their daughters’ activities without the constraints of a traditional job.
Declan Maltman’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and creativity in the pursuit of a fulfilling career. With the right mindset and approach, he believes that anyone can carve their own path to success. “It’s more than enough money we need to live a happy, stress-free life,” he said, emphasising the importance of time spent with family as the ultimate reward of his efforts.
