How to Start a Copywriting Business

Copywriting seems like the ideal career. As long as you’re creative and hard-working, you could be earning a six-figure income from home while having flexible working hours.

The only thing better than being a copywriter is starting a copywriting business. For this, you may need more than putting yourself out there and showing off your skills. Running a business requires planning, managing employees, finding clients, negotiating contracts, and more.

If you are wondering how to start a copywriting business, we can assist you. As a successful copywriting agency that has been in the industry for almost a decade, we’ve learned a thing or two about the process, and we are more than happy to share our insights.

1. Getting the Ball Rolling

Before you can build a successful copywriting business, you must first know how to start copywriting. We assume that you’ve chosen this profession because it suits you, that you are good with words, and want to make a living from it. Therefore, motivation and commitment aren’t an issue.

However, starting a copywriting business for beginners is always tough, no matter what. If you’re completely new to this line of work, you’re not going to find high-paying projects easily, so try working on a few articles without charging too much or anything at all.

If you’re wondering how to start a copywriting business with no experience, this is the way. Getting as many projects as you can in the beginning will help you build the necessary experience. If those projects turn out okay, you can then put them into your portfolio. Once you’ve laid the groundwork and showcased it on your website or LinkedIn profile, you can move on to the next step.

2. Benefits of Identifying Your Niche

Over the course of those first few projects, you will start picking up what sort of things you enjoy writing. You can dedicate yourself to a particular industry, like iGaming, food, or interior design, or find the specific format that suits you best, whether it’s writing blog articles, marketing campaigns, or social media posts.

Of course, if you want to start a copywriting business without money and be successful, you will not always cover topics you are passionate about. That said,  you should at least try to gravitate toward tasks that are more meaningful to you. This will not only make you happier at work, but you'll also perform better.

For example, if you’re into sports, you’ll surely have more success writing about Super Bowl predictions than reviewing the latest Fashion Week event.

3. Boring (But Very Important) Stuff

Learning how to start a copywriting business, or any business for that matter, involves a lot of paperwork. You must register your firm, find a good accountant, open a business account at the bank, think about taxes, learn how to properly handle client contracts, and more.

There’s not much point in describing the details behind these procedures, as they vary from one country to another. How you set up a copywriting business in the UK could be vastly different compared to the US, Germany, or Japan. However, you must exercise great caution in this area of your business to avoid any legal repercussions.

4. Developing Your Brand

Branding is another business aspect to consider. Your new company is just a drop in the ocean of aspiring copywriting businesses, so you must develop a unique identity that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Think about a good name and a logo that will attract people’s attention. Creating a website will legitimize your business, and it will also let potential clients learn more about your work. The website should contain your portfolio, a description of your services and specialties, your rates, and contact information. You may also consider opening a blog section with articles on how to start copywriting.

You can create a website from scratch by employing a website developer. If you're on a budget and your business is still small, you could always use a convenient website builder.

While the website should be the main aggregator of your copywriting firm, you should also invest time and effort into your social media accounts and business platforms like LinkedIn. For this, it’s best to hire a social media manager who will keep your Instagram and Facebook accounts fresh with engaging new content.

5. Charging Your Work

Even before you learn how to start a copywriting business, you must know what your work is worth. However, your pricing should depend on the state of your current business. If you’re struggling to find new projects, you should consider lowering your prices to attract clients. Remember that you shouldn’t start a copywriting business for free, as there are just too many people who will use your free labor and never come back.

The more experience you have and the larger your client network becomes, the more you can start charging more. Of course, you should always try to be realistic with your pricing. Check out other successful copywriting entrepreneurs and learn about their rates before establishing your own. Whether you charge hourly, project-based, or word-based depends solely on what you’re most comfortable with.

6. Finding Clients and Letting Them Find You

There are numerous ways to acquire clients when starting your copywriting business online. Get busy on work platforms and let everyone know that you’re open to new job opportunities. Moreover, be active on your social media accounts and search for companies that may require copywriting services.

Another good idea is to hire a professional SEO agency to help you make your website more visible to anyone searching for a reliable copywriting company.

Conclusion

We hope that you learned a lot from this article and that you now have all the knowledge on how to start a copywriting business. It’s a great line of work, but also a very challenging one, so it will take you a while to reach your full potential. We wish you the best of luck in your business endeavors!

FAQ

How do I start my own copywriting business?

Start by working on a few projects to build your portfolio and gain experience. Identify which type of copywriting suits you best and sharpen your skills. Once ready, open your own company, develop your brand, and start working on getting more clients.

How can a beginner start copywriting?

The best way to start is to set up accounts on work platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn. Copywriting is a competitive industry, so you won’t get any high-profile work immediately. However, with the right kind of hustle, dedication, and quality work, you can quickly establish your reputation.

How profitable is a copywriting business?

A copywriting business can be very profitable, but it all depends on your skill, experience level, and your network of clients. Copywriters earn anywhere from several hundred dollars a month to over $100,000 a year. Best of all, you could start a copywriting business from home.

Can you make $10,000 a month with copywriting?

Many copywriters earn six figures annually, so you can potentially earn 10k a month. However, to do this, you must be a skilled writer with loads of experience and expertise and have a solid client base that continually supplies you with high-profile work.