How to Start a Copywriting Business

These businesses are usually companies that are hired by other companies for marketing projects. They craft content such as blogs, social media posts, industry reports, and more. Copywriting companies work on a freelance basis because there aren’t many companies that hire writers exclusively. Because of this, you should aim to work with multiple clients to keep work steady.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

Tailor Brands ($0 + State Fees)

Start a copywriting business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Copywriting Business
  2. Form your Copywriting Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Copywriting Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Copywriting Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Copywriting Business
  7. Get Copywriting Business Insurance
  8. Define your Copywriting Business Brand
  9. Create your Copywriting Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your copywriting business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Copywriting Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a copywriting business?

Costs to get started are low and generally include a computer and a stable internet connection. If you’re working with larger corporate clients, you will also need a business Paypal account or merchant account and invoicing software.

Costs for a new computer range from between $400 up to $2,500 or more.

Fees for a merchant account also vary, but can include a flat fee plus a per transaction fee. Some companies, like Paypal, may charge you a flat per-transaction fee and a percentage of each transaction. Merchant accounts and payment gateways may charge you a monthly fee for service, plus a percentage of sales and a flat per-transaction fee.

Invoicing software ranges from free to several hundred dollars per year for professional applications.

Another expense, which varies, is advertising. Using pay-per-click advertising carries a higher cost than using other forms of advertising, like referrals or email marketing.

If you start a large agency, with full-time employees, your costs can increase dramatically. Under this model, you may spend up to $10,000 for high-end computer systems and conference software.

What are the ongoing expenses for a copywriting business?

The only ongoing expenses in this business are utilities to run electronics (computers, lights, etc.) and service fees for merchant accounts and invoicing software. If you employ other copywriters, you will also need a payroll system.

If your clients require you use a special content management system (CMS), you will need to maintain this as well.

Who is the target market?

Ideal clients for a copywriting business are typically large corporate clients who can afford a professional writer or team of writers. Larger clients are also more likely to have ongoing or regular projects and assignments, providing a more stable source of income.

Avoid clients who are smaller or who have no (or very little) budget for projects. Individual clients are more risky than corporate clients.

How does a copywriting business make money?

Most copywriting companies charge clients a flat rate per word or a flat rate per project. However, some companies charge tiered rates depending on the amount and type of work being performed.

How much can you charge customers?

Writing fees are all over the board. There is, unfortunately, no standard rate for writing. However, there are strong trends within the industry. Most volume-based copywriting agencies charge clients between $0.05 and $0.10 per word. In some cases, they charge less. Higher-end agencies may charge clients between $0.20 per word up to $2 or more per word.

Flat-fee rates can be as low as a few dollars for volume work or between $500 and $3,000 or more for customized projects. The higher the fee, the more specialized the project tends to be. Some companies will also require graphical design and layout for higher-priced projects.

How much profit can a copywriting business make?

The profit potential for a copywriting agency is almost unlimited. According to Payscale, the average wage for a freelance writer is $24.24 per hour. As the owner of a copywriting agency, you could earn between $31,000 and $95,000 per year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Some specialties in copywriting demand more money than others. For example, technical writing usually commands higher fees than general copywriting. Focusing your business on technical subjects like law, finance, tutorials, and educational material may allow you to make more money than writing general topics.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your copywriting business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your copywriting business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a copywriting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

In particular, some states may require copywriting businesses to obtain a seller’s permit. A seller’s permit enables states to record and collect taxes from goods (and sometimes service) sales.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Services Contract

Copywriting businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership (who will ultimately own the content, and how any royalties will or will not be distributed). Here is an example of one such services agreement.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your copywriting business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Copywriting Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Copywriting Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a copywriting business

Most copywriting companies maintain a website for marketing. Popular marketing strategies in this industry include pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, press releases, and direct response advertising. Written advertisements are especially important since they demonstrate your ability to write and sell effectively.

How to keep customers coming back

If you want more clients, or higher-paying clients, consider specializing. Developing a niche in a particular field can help your business become more lucrative due to the fact that specialized writers are in shorter supply. However, it may also be advantageous to remain well-versed in different areas to maintain your appeal to a wide range of clients.

Hiring general writers to “fill in” and create a base level of revenue for you is also an effective strategy. This way, the company can create multiple streams of revenue, with its highest earning potential coming from a specialized talent pool.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is only suitable for individuals who have a passion for writing or managing writers. It helps to have excellent command of the English language, but you don’t need to be an English major. You will work long hours and work tends to be unpredictable. Some clients will demand nights and weekend work for projects.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a copywriting business?

Day-to-day activities usually involve meeting with new clients, checking for assignments, billing for work completed, managing workflow (usually in a spreadsheet or similar application), researching other companies’ brands and general culture, and of course writing and completing assignments from those clients.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful copywriting business?

Generally, no special certifications are necessary but it helps to have a strong background in writing or journalism. In addition to general writing skills, good copywriters have a writing style that has a flexible voice which ensures your content fits the voice of the company/institution you are writing for.

Corporate clients tend to hire professional writers or journalists that have experience in a specific industry or niche. As such, some projects may require the writer have special degrees or certifications in (or related to) that industry.

For example, a corporate client may require a copywriter have a degree in biology if the assignments or project is science-based and focuses on biology topics. A well-developed portfolio is essential too, as you will need some material to show prospective clients samples of your work.

What is the growth potential for a copywriting business?

A small company may only consist of one or two writers. A larger company is usually set up to accommodate a team of writers. Most of the time, a small copywriting business can be run out of an apartment or house.

Larger operations can be set up in a more traditional office setting.

If a good reputation is built, these businesses can even expand to take on clients from dozens of companies at once.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a copywriting business?

Getting started as a copywriting business isn’t difficult but it can take time. If you have no industry contacts, you’ll probably start with copywriting job boards. You can also partner with existing agencies and provide outsourced work.

Most new copywriting business owners start by working for a large agency as a copywriter. Often, the business owner will have made contacts within the industry, making the transition easier. Without key contacts, it will be harder to land your first few clients and start generating revenue.

How and when to build a team

Most copywriting companies can be run as a one-person shop. This model allows you to set your own hours and work from home. You will typically sign a contract with a larger agency or directly with clients.

However, as you accumulate clients, it may make sense to hire additional copywriters (either employees or freelancers) to help you complete projects. Expanding your operation depends a lot on the volume of work you have (and can maintain).

If you want to remain a small company, you may only hire freelance writers. If you want to grow your agency, you will need a full-time staff.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading

Entrepreneur Interviews

Entrepreneurs Share Their Top Advice & Secrets