Learn Python/web.py. Powerful framework with no learning curve. More importantly, proportionate to how easy it is to learn, it gets the job done, <i>fast</i>.<p>Anything that saves you time is good, because there will be a lot of repetition. If you're doing web development, use single quotes instead of double quotes (to save shift keystrokes). Use Jade/Coffeescript/SASS instead of HTML/JS/CSS. Learn jQuery. Use Bootstrap instead of doing your own design, unless you also want to sell yourself as a designer, but tell clients you'll also provide design (they can't tell the difference). Build up a library of code that you can reuse (basically anything you find yourself copy/pasting or rewriting between projects). Use quick-and-dirty solutions instead of long, conventional ones as long as (a) it results in a net decrease in time spent, (b) the product quality stays the same, and (c) the client doesn't know or doesn't care.<p>Build MVPs for clients from start-to-finish by yourself instead of working with others unless the overhead is compensated by money. Learn how to write, because being fluent in English will get you surprisingly far in a market where a lot of your competitors can't use punctuation.<p>Charge per-project, not per-hour. This way you're rewarded, not penalized, for being a fast worker.<p>Experience: freelance programmer here who dropped out of college and never had a job; making enough to survive and spend the rest of my time on other things.