How To Start a Copywriting Business? (Ultimate Guide & Common Drawbacks)

Here’s how to start a copywriting business:

1. Learn the copywriting business through blogs, courses, and coaching
2. Use market research to find an in-demand copywriting niche
3. Follow the money to identify your copywriting clients
4. Customize your copywriting services
5. Further develop specialized copywriting and business management skills
6. Compare per project, per hour, and commision-based payments to set your copywriting service rates
7. Design your unique copywriting brand
8. Make a complete copywriting business plan
9. Determine your copywriting business contract and terms
10. Create a streamlined accounting process either on your own, with software, or through a bookkeeper
11. Register your copywriting business as an LLC
12. Build a copywriting website and portfolio using Snapps, Squarespace, or WordPress
13. Launch cost-effective marketing initiatives through job boards, social media, and networking
14. Use the latest copywriting tools like MailChimp, UbbserSuggest, or HootSuite
15. Network with copywriting professionals online and offline

Copywriting is one of the most in-demand and profitable businesses to start in 2024. Copywriting market shares reached $25.29 billion in 2023 and are expected to reach $42.22B by 2030. And with 73% of major organizations hiring someone to manage their content strategy, starting a copywriting business now is a great idea. 

Successful copywriters like Linda Formichelli can make up to $250/hour on their projects. This allows them to work only 10 hours a week and still make $10,000 monthly. It also gives them plenty of flexibility to choose their working hours, work wherever they want, and plenty of time to spend with their family or pursue their hobbies. 

However, starting a copywriting business is not easy. According to copywriting coach Alex Catoni, 90% of copywriters fail. Aside from learning the skill, getting into copywriting also means finding the right niche, registering your business, dealing with taxes on your own, learning how to brand and market yourself to potential clients, and getting past plenty of other challenges. The good news is that if you know what’s coming, you can plan ahead and put yourself on the right path to success. In this ultimate guide, you’ll get everything you need to know about how to start a copywriting business.

How To Start a Copywriting Business? (Ultimate Guide)

1. Learn the Copywriting Business Through Blogs, Courses, and Coaching

Learning about copywriting through blogs, courses, and coaching is the first step to success. Too many people are drawn by the promises of high income that they jump straight in without learning about the writing business and what it takes to be successful. Studying first will give you a realistic picture of what the business is like. You'll know what to expect, learn the essential skills, and you might even learn how and where to find clients. 

There are plenty of ways that you can learn copywriting. Copywriting blogs have more than enough free information on how to start copywriting, entry-level courses give you a more structured way to learn copywriting, while a premium copywriting course/coach gives you personalized advice and access to a community of fellow copywriters. You can choose based on your learning style and budget. 

What Resources Can You Use To Learn About Starting a Copywriting Business?

Copywriting blogs, entry-level online courses, and premium coaching are the resources you can use to learn more about the copywriting business. 

Copywriting Blogs: 

• Copy Hackers Blog - Founded by Joana Wiebe (the industry leader in conversion copywriting) the Copy Hackers blog has a mix of quick tips for and long lessons for beginners! They also publish case studies and real-world examples to show you what's possible.
• SmartBlogger - While SmartBlogger focuses on blogging, they publish invaluable articles on how to use your words more effectively. SmartBlogger is also a goldmine for people into SEO copywriting
• Ben Settle - Ben is an expert email copywriter. In his blog, he shares advanced principles of copywriting, and sometimes raises eyebrows for his non-traditoinal methods. 

Entry-Level Copywriting Courses:

• Copywriting 101 (Free) - CopyBlogger's free Copywriting 101 course is a great way to get started without spending anything. It's a simple, 91-page, pdf that covers all the basics of copywriting
• Complete Copywriting Course ($179) - Codestar's course is the #1 copywriting course on Udemy, with over 80,000 students and a solid 4.6 star rating
• The Creative Copywriter Academy ($290) - Aside from teaching you copywriting skills, the Creative Copywriter Academy also shows you how to build a portfolio and how to pitch to potential clients!

Premium Coaching:

• Accelerated Program for 7-Figure Copywriting ($497) - AWAI is one of the most well-established copywriting schools. While their platform may seem old-school, their Program for 7-Figure Copywriting has produced thousands of successful copywriters over the years.
• 7-Figure Inner Circle ($1,999/year) - CopyBlogger's exclusive community not only contains the highest-level of training, but you also get 1-on-1 private access to Tim, the CEO of CopyBlogger. However, not everyone is allowed inside, you'll have to apply to see if you're fit. 
• Copy School ($2,997/year) - Joana Wiebe's flagship program contains 26 courses that go in-depth into every aspect of conversion copywriting - from the headline to the email flows. You can also get this course for $297/month or $97/week.

2. Use Market Research to Find an In-Demand Copywriting Niche

Studying the market for an in-demand, profitable copywriting niche can be the difference between struggling to find clients and raking in thousands of dollars a week. There are dozens of copywriting niches you can choose from, and not all of them are equal:

• Email copywriting
• Social media copywriting
• Direct response copywriting
• Brand copywriting
• SEO copywriting
• etc.

You also have to decide what business model you’ll go for, such as freelance copywriting, working for an agency, or working “in-house” for your copywriting clients.

The best way to do market research is to pick your target audience first. From there, you can study their pain points, and try to come up with a solution. A lot of times, you'll find the solution is one of the popular copywriting niches. 

What are the Best Niches for a Copywriting Business?

Email copywriting, SEO copywriting, and social media are the best niches for a copywriting business. These niches all have high demand and high profitability in 2024. There is plenty of competition in these niches, but you’re almost guaranteed to make big money if you can stand out.

3. Pick an Industry for Your Copywriting Clients

Picking an industry to specialize in is essential. However, it's not as simple as doing market research to see which industries make the most - you also have to study if these industries need copywriters. 

Specializing in one industry is a great way to establish yourself in the business. People are more likely to hire a copywriter who specializes in their industry rather than a general copywriter. Knowing who you serve also allows you to charge more for your expertise in the business. 

If you’re already involved in an industry, that’s the best place to start since you already have some insider knowledge. If you want to target a new market and a new type of client, self improvement, finance, and B2B are 3 of the best industries you can go for. 

4. Customize Your Copywriting Services

Customizing your copywriting services allows you to work on what you want to work on, rather than what your clients demand. Remember, you’re selling your business copywriting services - you’re not employed by your clients. By approaching your potential clients with defined services, they won’t ask you to do things you don’t want to do. 

However, customizing your services is not as simple as choosing what you enjoy doing. It entails doing market research to find which copywriting services work best for your industry, and which niche pays the best. For example, building a blog is great for e-commerce businesses, but not as effective for business coaches. 

Here are some specific services you can offer to your clients:

5. Further Develop Specialized Copywriting and Business Management Skills

Developing your specialized copywriting and business management skills are vital for growth. Copywriting takes more than typing words you think will get people to buy or sign up. Aside from content writing skills, there are also hard and soft technical skills you need to master to provide your clients with the best services. 

These copywriting skills are the ones that separate new copywriters from professionals. Mastering these skills will get you more clients, allow you to charge higher, and ensure that your copywriting business runs like a well-oiled machine. 

What are the Skills Required To Start a Copywriting Business?

Understanding your target audience, persuasive writing, and day-to-day business management are the skills required to start a copywriting business. Each copywriting niche will require different technical skills, but these three are vital for all copywriting businesses. 

Understanding your target audience is the first step in a successful copywriting campaign. Without this skill, even the most persuasive writing will not generate results. Before you write, there are several things every copywriter needs to know about their audience.

• Which demographics are you targeting? (age, race, sex, education level, etc.)

• How much is their typical income?

• What are their biggest pain points? 

Persuasive writing goes hand-in-hand with identifying your target audience. The more you understand your target audience, the easier it becomes to write hard-hitting copy that gets them to take action. There are a few things that make persuasive writing work. 

• Loaded words - persuasive writing uses strong words to elicit an emotional response from readers

• Stats and figures - by adding specific numbers, you can speak to the logical side of readers’ brains

• Visualization - painting a clear picture of your readers’ dream life is a great way to push them to take action

Day-to-day business management is a completely different skill, and it doesn’t only apply to copywriters. However, without proper day-to-day business management, it’s difficult to find clients, meet deadlines, retain them, and keep your client's overall satisfaction up. 

• Marketing - keeping a good online presence allows you to attract new clients for your services

• Communication - having good open communication with your existing clients keeps them happy

• Time management - a copywriting business entails a lot more than just writing. You’ll split your time between so many tasks, and managing your time properly is a challenge most new copywriters don’t expect! 

6. Compare Per Project, Per Hour, and Commission-Based Payments to Set Your Copywriting Service Rates

Comparing per project, per hour, and commission-based payment schemes will help you find the right pricing scheme for you. Studying this and setting your rates early on ensures you don’t lowball yourself or scare away potential clients. There is no one-size-fits-all with pricing copywriting services, since some copywriting niches pay more than others, while some industries have more cash to burn. For example: sales copy pays more than website copy, and finance businesses can spend more than nonprofit organizations. Once you've done market research, you can then choose how you want to price your services.

How To Price Services in a Copywriting Business?

• Find your desired hourly rate
• Calculate how many hours the project takes to finish 
• Multiply your rate by the estimated time to finish

If you want to earn $75/hour, and the project will take you 6 hours, you can charge $450. Include time spent on-call with the client and researching when calculating your hours. 

To find your desired hourly pay, compute how much your actual expenses are for doing the project. Include everything, such as the tools you use for the job, taxes you’ll have to pay, and even your internet and electricity bill. Then add your labor fee, the amount you believe your time is worth. You can look at your competitors’ prices to get an idea of the market, but it’s best to price your services at something you’re happy with. 

7. Design Your Unique Copywriting Brand

Designing a unique copywriting brand will help you stand out from the competition and build a successful business. Branding includes choosing your tone of voice, logo, font, and color palette. Using your brand on your website, brochures, and marketing campaigns will help potential clients recognize you. 

You won’t turn anyone away with generic branding, but you won’t click as strongly with your clients as highly branded copywriting businesses either. If you understand your target audience deeply, you’ll have a great idea of how to brand your business.

Copywriting Branding Examples

Modern: Amplihigher takes a spin on the usual "Powered by AI" branding. They use neon purple and glowing white on a black background, creating a modern feel to their website. Amplihigher then differentiates themselves from other modern agencies by promoting their human-written copy.

Classical: Orzy Media has a classical branding. Their fonts, blue and gold coloring scheme, and the emblem at the bottom give a calm feel. They also don't use title case, which feels less formal and more like a friend is talking to you. 

Minimalist: MarketSmiths' homepage displays their straight-to-the-point brand. With huge white spaces, few words, and no fancy logos, you can tell that this agency believes in simple copy that gets the job done. 

8. Make a Complete Copywriting Business Plan

Making a complete copywriting business plan helps you make the right decisions from the get-go and lets you stay on track throughout your career. Many new copywriters are so eager to start that they don’t create a vision-mission goal. The “just start” mentality works sometimes, but having an objective view of how your business is doing helps you focus, achieve success, and helps you avoid sidetracking to another shiny business idea. 

Set short-term and long-term goals for your business. Set annual, monthly, and weekly goals. Create a vision of how your business will change your industry. These goals don’t have to be set in stone - you can change them as you learn more about the copywriting business. However, defining your vision and mission will help guide your journey.

9. Determine Your Copywriting Business Contract and Terms

Making proper contracts and terms is the best way to protect yourself as a business owner. Business contracts are not required, especially when you're first starting out. Many freelancers befriend their clients and build trusting business relationships. However, there are several risks involved without contracts, and it can also lead to confusion about what’s expected from you and your client. That's why the safest thing to do is to lay out in writing what's expected, and make it official by signing it. 

What to Include in a Copywriting Business Contract

• Scope of work

• Timetable of deliverables

• Revisions policy

• Payment terms and deadlines

• Termination clause

• Approval to share partnership details (optional)

• Legal disclaimer

• Signatures of both parties

The scope of work outlines exactly what you’ll do for your client. You may also add things you won’t do for them in this contract. The timetable of deliverables shows your clients what they’ll receive and when they’ll receive it. Set realistic deadlines for yourself, and if you need something from your client before you can finish your work, add it in here too. The revisions policy details how many times your clients can request revisions, and how much they can ask to change without paying extra. 

Payment terms and deadlines show when, how much, and where your client should send the money. If you won’t turn in the finished product until your client pays the full amount, make sure to include it here. The termination clause outlines the correct procedure for ending the contract. This protects you from clients canceling the project while you are midway through completing their project. 

Approval to share partnership details is an optional clause that allows you to share that you’ve worked with your client. This is useful for your copywriting business since it’ll allow you to showcase projects you’ve worked on. However, this is an optional clause, since some clients may not want to disclose who they’re working with. 

If you make promises of financial returns in your marketing, the legal disclaimer should protect you if these promises don’t come to be. It also protects you in case your work damages your clients’ company in any way. Finally, signatures from both parties seals the deal. 

10. Create a Streamlined Accounting Process Either on Your Own, with Software, or Through a Bookkeeper

To create a streamlined accounting process, you can choose between doing things yourself, buying accounting software, or hiring a bookkeeper. This accounting process involves getting a business bank account, setting up payment channels, creating professional invoices, and calculating taxes as you earn. Getting these up before getting clients ensures that everything will run smoothly. 

11. Register Your Copywriting Business as an LLC

Registering your copywriting business as an LLC is a crucial step if you want to build a legitimate business. Clients trust registered businesses, and some may even ask to see proof of legitimacy before conducting business with you. You also can’t open business bank accounts without registration - something you’ll need if your business grows. Finally, failing to register your online business is illegal, and it can cause fines, fees, and back taxes. 

What are the Legal Requirements for Starting a Copywriting Business?

Registering your business, filing your taxes, and getting all necessary business permits are the legal requirements for starting a copywriting business. The process for registering your business differs from state to state, district to district, and county to county. To know the exact steps, talk with a lawyer in your area. As an example, here are the general steps on how to register a copywriting business in California:

1. Reserve your business name with the Office of the Secretary of State

2. Register your business with the SOS

3. Obtain an online business permit from your city or county

4. Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

5. Open a business bank account

6. File and pay all required taxes

12. Build a Copywriting Website and Portfolio Using Snapps, Squarespace, or WordPress

Building a copywriting website and portfolio no longer requires any coding knowledge thanks to tools like Snapps, Squarespace, and WordPress. Having a website and a strong copywriting portfolio is one of the best ways to close more deals. A professional website builds trust with potential clients. It’s one of the first places they go to learn more about you and your business. Having a solid portfolio on your website displays your skills, builds social proof, and shows clients the results that you can provide for them. You can hire someone to create a website for you, or you can do it yourself with portfolio websites, website builders, or WordPress. 

13. Launch Cost-Effective Marketing Initiatives Through Job Boards, Social Media, and Networking

Job boards, social media, and networking are cost-effecting marketing initiatives that help you save money and solve one of the hardest parts of copywriting: finding high-paying clients. If you’re starting out and don’t mind lower-paying clients, you can easily find them on job sites like Upwork or Fiverr. However, to attract good clients, you’ll need to put your copywriting skills to the test. As a copywriter, it makes sense to use your skills in your own business and find clients that way. If you’re an email copywriter, getting clients through email demonstrates how effective you’ll be for your clients. The same goes for SEO copywriters using SEO, social media copywriters marketing themselves on social media, and so on. 

It’s also a good idea to have a mix of organic and paid strategies. Paid ads are the fastest way to get in front of your potential clients. However, always using ads will cost you a lot. Organic traffic takes a long time to build. But once you have a strong organic presence, you won’t have to spend to generate leads anymore. 

Where Do You Find Copywriting Business Clients?

You can find copywriting business clients on job boards, social media, and at networking events. Job boards like Upwork and Fiverr are full of people looking for copywriters. However, most people on these platforms are looking for work on their terms, which is usually cheaper. 

Social media can be a great place to find clients, depending on your niche. LinkedIn is full of business owners, Facebook Groups have some lively business communities, and Instagram is where a lot of younger entrepreneurs hang out. People don’t like intrusive messages and ads on social media, so it takes skill to connect and build a client relationship here. 

Online and offline networking events are some of the best places to find clients. People come to these events expecting pitches, so they’ll likely be receptive to yours. Face-to-face marketing still has some of the highest conversion rates, so it’s a great idea to join these events. 

14. Use the Latest Copywriting Tools Like MailChimp, Ubersuggest, or HootSuite

Marketing automation for emails, keyword research for SEOs, and management platforms for social media are the tools you can use for a copywriting business. Email copywriters need tools to send emails automatically and see open and click rates. SEO copywriters need keyword research tools to find what people are searching, for and to write articles targeting these keywords. Social media copywriters need tools for scheduling posts across multiple platforms.

Market Automation Tools for Email Copywriters

15. Network With Copywriting Professionals Online and Offline

Networking with other copywriting professionals is a great way to get insights into the industry, build business partnerships, and stay updated in the ever-changing world of copywriting. You can join copywriting social media groups for free, or join a course that comes with a closed community. There are also occasional copywriting events where the best copywriters share their knowledge. These are great learning and networking opportunities. 

5 Common Drawbacks of a Copywriting Business

1. Increased competition and market saturation - There are an estimated 131,200 copywriters in the US alone. Outside the country, hundreds of thousands more are fighting for the same clients you are, and many offer much cheaper rates. This is why copywriting has become extremely competitive in the past few years. 

2. Cutthroat client acquisition and retention - Copywriting is a job that demands results. Convincing potential clients that you’re the person who can deliver these results is very challenging, especially with the tight competition. And even if you manage to close the deal, getting results and retaining clients is notoriously difficult in this industry. One failed campaign can make your clients look for another copywriter instead. A lot of copywriting jobs are also one-time projects, meaning clients don’t need to retain you. 

3. Continuous content creation - Copywriting is not a passive business, you’re paid for your output. As a copywriter, you’ll constantly have to create and publish content day by day, which leads to burnout for many. Unlike other business models, your income stops if you stop working

4. Fast-changing industry trends - Every month there are new trends online that copywriters have to keep up with. For example, SEO copywriters have to take note of all Google’s algorithm changes, while social media copywriters have to stay relevant and follow trends for success. 

5. Ongoing skill improvement - Copywriting is a never-ending learning process. Every niche has a bunch of other skills you need to learn aside from persuasive writing. The arrival of AI has also had a major impact on the copywriting space, and learning how to utilize these tools is vital for staying afloat. 

Can You Start a Copywriting Business With No Money?

Yes, you can start a copywriting business with no money because all you need is a keyword and a word processing program like Google Docs to get started. You can teach yourself copywriting thanks to the countless free resources on the internet. There are also plenty of business owners on social media who may need your services, and you can reach out to them for free. Finally, several websites allow you to create a portfolio for free. 

That said, learning copywriting on your own can be very time-consuming. Courses are designed to speed up your learning process, paid tools help you provide better services to your clients, and website builders give you a more professional look for your potential clients. Spending some money on these will speed up your copywriting business. 

Is Copywriting Profitable?

Yes, copywriting is profitable because it ties directly to sales. As long as people are selling things, good copywriters will be invaluable for spreading the word and bringing in more buyers. Indeed reports that the average salary of a copywriter in the USA is $62,581. However, several freelancers on Reddit say they make six figures a year.

Other talented individuals say they’re already making $5,000/month after just a few months of copywriting. AK613 on Reddit says he hit this number in just 4 months. However, he also says that it takes a lot of hard work to hit these numbers. 

Copywriting is not something everyone can do. It’s a high-demand skill that takes a lot of time to master. Without hard work and knowledge of sales, it’s difficult to find gigs that pay more than $50 per piece. 

Is Copywriting Dead? 

No, copywriting is not dead. There are currently over 131K active copywriters in the United States alone, according to CareerExplorer. Furthermore, the copywriting industry is expected to grow as an annual compound growth rate of 7.6% through 2030, according to data from Coherent Marketing Insights. 

Is Copywriting a Good Career? 

Yes, copywriting is a good career. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average worker makes just over $59Kyear in the United States. Considering that the average copywriter makes just over $62K, a career in copywriting can result in above average pay. Furtheremore, copywriters typically have flexible working arrangements, such as the ability to work remote. 

Many copywiters on Reddit express their enjoyment of the role, noting how they would recommend copywriting because you can make a high salary without a college degree and have a job title that is respectable while working from home and being creative. 

Can You Become a Copywriter With No Experience? 

Yes, you can become a copywriter with no experience. However, you'll need to invest time into practicing copywriting and creating a portfolio of work through media like self published articles and blogs if you want to get hired by a client for payed work. 

How To Become a Copywriter With No Experience? 

1. Study online copywriting resources like Copyblogger
2. Practice writing persuasively and creatively
3. Choose a copywriting niche
4. Build a copywriting portfolio
5. Join copywriting groups
6. Find copywriting clients

This is how to become a copywriter with no experience in the beginning. 

What are Other Profitable Copywriting Side Hustles?

Local lead generation, Amazon KDP publishing, and content editing are other profitable copywriting side hustles. These three aren’t traditional copywriting jobs, but they require a lot of the same skills that copywriters have.

Local Lead Generation is Another Business Model You Should Consider

Starting a copywriting business is one of the most profitable ways to make online in 2024, but if you're still on the fence on whether this is the right business for you, you might want to look into local lead generation.

Local lead generation is not a typical online business model. Instead of selling products or services like copywriting, you'll sell digital real estate to local businesses. It's still relatively unknown, which is why you won't find fierce competition here, unlike in copywriting. Local lead generation is also a completely passive business. Once your websites are rented out, you can work on building new websites, or spend your time however else you want because the money will come in every month.