A Complete Guide for Starting a Freelance Copywriting Business

The gig economy has grown enormously in recent years, and the epidemic has made it a better option for many people to work in. Today’s workforce is becoming more and more flexible, therefore working professionals are choosing to freelance instead of working 9–5 offices.

Additionally, companies are depending more and more on the assistance of freelancers as they struggle to reduce expenses and workforces while allowing employees to work remotely. Indeed, according to studies, a huge percentage of businesses presently rely on freelancing assistance to meet their goals.

So if you’re considering launching your own freelance copywriting business, now is the perfect moment. Here at Incorpuk, we assist digital marketers and freelancers in setting up a UK company and other services to gain access to global financial solutions for their business.

In this blog post, we’ll go over what you need to know to launch and operate a freelance copywriting business in this guide. Let’s go ahead and begin.

What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?

A professional writer who is self-employed and produces content for a variety of platforms, including blogs, social media, websites, emails, and advertisements, is known as a freelance copywriter.

Copywriters are more than just writers, despite what they are called. They are a skilful combination of strategists, salespeople, branding experts, and creatives for advertising.

They create messaging that captivates and persuades a specific audience, assisting companies and brands in building relationships with consumers, encouraging interaction, and accomplishing marketing objectives.

Why Pursue Freelance Copywriting?

1. Copywriting is a highly sought-after service that meets a vital demand for any organization that is forward-thinking.
2. Making the move to freelancing is probably going to be profitable if you have prior copywriting experience because you will have complete financial control over your work and may determine your own pricing based on your worth and area of expertise.
3. In addition to the evident benefits of increased flexibility and autonomy, freelancing makes it possible to work with a wide variety of clients and projects. This keeps work engaging and fascinating, which eventually results in a higher sense of fulfilment.

Getting Started as a Freelance Copywriting Business

The ease of setup and low overhead associated with becoming a freelance copywriter is one of the most alluring features of this line of work.

Let’s examine the necessities for starting a copywriting company and the actions you can take to make sure it achieves success.

1. Skills and Expertise

Although official credentials are undoubtedly helpful, they are not a prerequisite for working as a copywriter. In the discipline of copywriting, the ability to comprehend and relate to target consumers, along with originality and writing skills, are highly valued. Many accomplished copywriters have developed their craft via independent study, hands-on experience, and a solid portfolio.

It’s crucial to remember that learning how to create copy takes time. Practice is essential, and it requires commitment and time. You could improve your abilities and become a skilled copywriter the more you write, research, and ask for feedback.

Whether you are a novice or have been writing for years, it is imperative that you keep learning. Therefore, to help you get better and get insightful knowledge, constructive criticism, and direction, you might want to think about signing up for a quick course in marketing or creative writing.

An excellent place to start is with one of the many credible online learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, or Hubspot Academy, which all offer a variety of short courses and classes in many subjects. To make sure the course fits your objectives and expectations, you should look at the instructor’s reputation, the course syllabus, and student reviews before deciding on it.

2. Building a Portfolio

As was already discussed, having a strong portfolio to work with will be essential to your success. Prospective clients will want to see examples of your written work in print.

Your portfolio, which should include a range of samples showcasing various writing styles, industries, and formats, is a tribute to your ability and hard work.

Establishing this can be a little more difficult if you’re just getting started. To start, you may want to think about providing some pro bono or subsidized work for magazines or businesses that match your aesthetic, values, and intended industry or field. This will help you develop your portfolio.

There are several choices for where you can host your portfolio:

• Your Personal Webpage

Putting together a polished website is one of the finest methods to display your copywriting work. Website-building platforms such as Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress provide easy-to-use features that let you construct a personalized portfolio. Provide examples of your best copywriting assignments on a separate portfolio website, along with pertinent information about each project.

• A Platform for Sharing Material

Websites like Behance, Dribble, or Carbonmade, which are specifically tailored for creatives, provide a quick and simple way to display your work. To share your writing samples with potential clients, just submit them as a file or link. They will be created in an attractive and well-organized style that you can edit to your liking.

• An Online Writing Community

Like content-sharing platforms, communities like Contently or Clippings.me cater specifically to writers. Make a profile, add your work, and even get in touch with possible clients.

be created in an attractive and well-organized style that you can edit to your liking.

• A PDF

Use graphic design programs like Adobe InDesign or Canva to make a visually stunning PDF portfolio that is simple to distribute. You have the option of starting from scratch with your design or selecting from a variety of expert templates.

You have complete control over how your portfolio is presented, but always remember to update it with new projects and delete old work on a regular basis.

3. Setting Up as a Sole Trader

Most freelance copywriters decide to become sole proprietors. This indicates that you are considered self-employed and that you have to register with HMRC for self-assessment.

Every year, you have to file a tax return and use Self Assessment to pay HMRC any amount owed for National Insurance and Income Tax.

You will have unlimited personal liability for business debts and any legal claims made against you, even though this is thought to be the most straightforward business structure with the fewest rules and administrative requirements. For this reason, it is advisable to consider insurance, as explained below.

To facilitate the self-assessment process, be sure to maintain organized records of your money, including income, expenses, invoices, and receipts. Furthermore, if your turnover exceeds £85,000 (2023/24 registration criteria) within a 12-month period, you will also need to register for VAT.

Form Your Company with Incorpuk Today

At Incorpuk, we will help you through the company formation process and file your confirmation statements to help your business stay compliant. Whether you're a UK resident or a non-UK resident, our team is ready to provide guidance and help you establish your company in the UK. Contact us here today.

4. Getting Insurance

It is highly advised that you think about getting insurance to give you peace of mind and protection in the event of unforeseen occurrences, even if it is not legally required for sole traders.

It is particularly crucial if you handle sensitive data, collaborate with well-known clients, or take on high-risk initiatives.

For independent contractors, Professional Indemnity Insurance is a wise choice because it protects you from accusations of professional negligence, mistakes, or omissions in your job. It can assist in paying for court costs, settlements, or damages imposed against you. It provides financial protection in the event that a client claims that your services caused them to suffer financial loss or damage.

5. Defining Your Niche

Some copywriters prefer to focus on a certain area or industry, which can be useful, while others will adjust their writing to suit a variety of sectors and styles.

You can get in-depth knowledge and skills by concentrating on a certain area, which will help you better understand your clients’ needs, communicate with them, and offer customized solutions. This might help you stand out from the competition because clients choose experts who are knowledgeable about their field or target market.

Additionally, if your specialization requires technological skills, this could result in a higher cash benefit for you.

Gaining a reputation in a certain field might result in recommendations and repeat business. It is definitely something to think about because you can build enduring relationships and a consistent flow of clients as a result.

6. Software and Equipment

The fact that starting a copywriting business involves very little in the way of overhead, making it exceedingly simple and economical, is perhaps one of its most alluring features.

The following are the prerequisites to get you started:

• Computer and Software

You must have an effective laptop or computer for copywriting job. Purchasing a computer capable of fulfilling the needs of writing, editing, and efficiently operating software is something you should do.

In order to improve the quality of your writing, you need also to make sure you have the required software and applications for writing and editing, such as word processing programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs and grammar and spell-checking tools like Grammarly.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that your work is always backed up, either on a memory stick or the cloud, to prevent any problems in the event that your laptop becomes lost or destroyed, or if your software breaks down.

• Internet Connection

Research, client communication, and online resource access all depend on a reliable, fast internet connection. Ensure that the internet provider you choose is dependable and fits your demands.

• Office Space and Utilities

Fortunately, copywriters may work from any location with Wi-Fi, including your home office, the coffee shop down the street, or a co-working space, as long as they have access to a laptop and software.

A home office may require space, or you may want to rent a co-working space, depending on your preferences and working style.

• Establishing an Online Presence

For a freelance copywriter to build credibility and increase their visibility outside of their immediate area, they must have an internet presence. Your main means of networking and establishing connections with clients and other professionals as a copywriting company will be through online platforms.

Potential customers will be reassured and impressed by your professionalism if you have a well-designed website, active social media accounts, and favourable online reviews.

As previously indicated, a content-sharing platform or a business website are excellent places to start and display your work. However, there are a ton of additional internet options to consider.

• Utilise Social Media

Social media is a useful tool for networking with professionals and reaching your target audience. Though Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are also valuable for sharing your work and engaging with your target audience, LinkedIn is a great place to network professionally and find chances with prospective clients.

• Engage in Content Marketing

Sharing insightful articles and content about copywriting, marketing, and your chosen topic is an excellent strategy to draw in your target audience as a specialist in your field of expertise. Provide helpful content for potential customers, such as articles, cheat sheets, videos, or daily advice. And publish them often so that others will start to recognize you as an expert in your field.

• Build an Email List

To maintain a connection with your audience and foster future client relationships, you could also think about publishing your content, intriguing updates, or special deals on a monthly basis. To get interested prospects’ email addresses, including an opt-in incentive on your website and social media profiles.

• Setting Your Rates

It might be challenging to choose the right pricing to charge clients when you’re just starting out. Your experience, talent level, and the state of the market are just a few of the variables that will affect your rate.

Spend some time finding out how much other copywriters with comparable experience are charging, then adjust your fee accordingly.

Your fees should be competitive, but they should also be commensurate with the calibre and worth of the service you do.

There are various price structures for freelancers to take into account.

• Day rate: a set, fixed charge that makes project planning and budgeting simpler. Day rates work best for longer-term projects with clearly defined scopes.
• Hourly rate: This type of payment enables billing according to the real amount of time invested in a project. When project scopes are less clear or clients need continuous guidance, this can be helpful. This will necessitate meticulous timekeeping.
• Word rate: a cost determined by how many words are written on behalf of a client. In copywriting, this is frequently utilized, particularly for assignments such as articles, blog posts, or website material. For rapid authors who can work quickly without sacrificing quality, word rates can be helpful.
• By retainer: a set monthly fee for a predetermined volume of labour.

Depending on the customer and their unique needs, you could select a different model.

1. Finding Clients

It might not always be easy to find your first client, but once you’ve achieved that initial achievement, the others should come more easily. In addition to creating an online presence on your website and social media accounts, you can contact your target audience by using the following proactive strategies:

• Referrals

A significant source of new business might come from referrals. Make the first move by contacting people in your current network, such as friends, family, old coworkers, and employers. Inform them of your copywriting offerings and request a recommendation if they know of anyone who could use a copywriter.

• Online Auction Sites

Platforms for independent contractors such as Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour can be excellent resources for locating work and expanding your clientele. Having an amazing portfolio, competitive pricing, and an appealing profile will be key components of your success on these platforms.

In certain situations, the client will come to you directly, while in other situations, you can actively bid on tasks. To foster a strong working relationship, be ready to speak professionally and immediately. You should also make sure that your work is constantly of a high calibre.

• Collaboration

Speak with other independent contractors and advertising companies who might need copywriters for their customers. Freelancers are frequently sought after by agencies to help with ongoing projects or as a backup source for their clients.

By using your services, freelancers in similar fields can enhance their own projects. With time, this win-win partnership can grow in both directions, enabling you to put clients in touch with other independent contractors who can provide additional services as needed.

• Networking

Participate in industry conferences, workshops, or local or virtual networking events related to copywriter marketing or your area of expertise. You can network with other professionals, discuss business, and establish contacts here.

Joining organizations or groups for professionals, like ProCopywriters, may also be something you want to think about if you want to network with possible customers and keep up with market developments.

• Continuous Professional Development

Freelance copywriters must keep up with the newest methods, trends, and industry standards. Maintaining your competitive edge, growing your knowledge base, and refining your abilities all depend on ongoing professional development.

Develop the practice of allocating time and funds to educational opportunities that will improve your copywriting skills.

To stay in touch with other experts and gain knowledge from their experiences, participate in industry forums or discussion groups in addition to attending local events and taking online courses, as previously discussed.

Final Thoughts

Remember that becoming successful in the freelance copywriting industry requires patience, commitment, and ongoing education. However, there’s no reason your copywriting company can’t succeed if you have the correct approaches, persistence, and passion.

We hope that this guide has been helpful to you and that it has given you enough knowledge to start your own freelance copywriting company. Feel free to reach out to us at Incorpuk if you have further questions or need help setting up your freelance copywriting business as soon as possible!