How to Start a Copywriting Business in the UK

Copywriting is one of the easiest businesses to start — you need a laptop, an internet connection, and the ability to write clearly. But turning it into a sustainable, profitable business takes more than good writing skills. You need to get the business fundamentals right from the start.

Do You Need Qualifications?

No. There are no mandatory qualifications to work as a copywriter in the UK. Clients care about your portfolio, your ability to deliver results, and your reliability. That said, relevant qualifications or courses can help build confidence and credibility, especially when starting out.

Useful memberships include:

• ProCopywriters — the UK's professional copywriting network
• CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) — if you offer broader marketing copywriting
• CIEP (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) — if you also offer editing services

Sole Trader or Limited Company?

Most copywriters start as sole traders. It is simple, cheap, and involves minimal admin. Register with HMRC, keep records, and file a Self Assessment return each year.

A limited company becomes worth considering when your profits consistently exceed £40,000–£50,000, or if your clients prefer to contract with a company rather than an individual. Some larger agencies and corporates have policies against engaging sole traders.

If you work through an agency on long-term placements, consider the IR35 implications — the same rules that apply to consultants apply to freelance copywriters.

Registering with HMRC

Register for Self Assessment within three months of starting. You will receive a UTR by post.

VAT registration is required when your turnover exceeds £90,000. Most freelance copywriters will not hit this threshold early on, but it can creep up if you take on larger clients. If your clients are VAT-registered businesses, voluntary registration can be worthwhile — they reclaim the VAT, and you can reclaim VAT on your expenses.

Claimable Expenses

• Home office costs — flat rate (£6 per week) or a proportion of actual household costs
• Computer and equipment — laptop, monitor, keyboard, desk, chair
• Software subscriptions — grammar tools (Grammarly, ProWritingAid), SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush), project management software, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
• Reference materials — books, subscriptions to industry publications
• Training and courses — copywriting courses, marketing conferences
• Professional memberships — ProCopywriters, CIM, etc.
• Website and hosting — your portfolio site
• Marketing — LinkedIn advertising, business cards, networking event fees
• Phone and broadband — the business proportion
• Travel — to client meetings, at 45p per mile or actual public transport costs
• Accountancy fees
• Co-working space — if you use one

Keep every receipt. Accounted handles this automatically — photograph receipts and they are matched to your bank transactions.

Setting Your Rates

Copywriting rates in the UK vary widely:

• Junior copywriters — £25–£40 per hour / £200–£300 per day
• Mid-level copywriters — £40–£70 per hour / £300–£500 per day
• Senior/specialist copywriters — £70–£120 per hour / £500–£900 per day
• Top-tier brand/direct response copywriters — £120+ per hour / £900+ per day

Many copywriters prefer project-based pricing over hourly rates:

• Blog post (1,000 words) — £100–£500
• Website page — £200–£800
• Email sequence — £500–£2,000
• Sales page — £1,000–£5,000+
• White paper — £1,500–£5,000

Project pricing is generally better for your income as you become faster with experience.

Industry-Specific Tax Rules

Digital Services and VAT

If you sell digital products (ebooks, templates, courses), these are subject to the digital services VAT rules. If you sell to consumers in other countries, you may need to account for VAT in their country. This mostly affects copywriters who sell courses or downloadable products rather than bespoke services.

Foreign Income

If you work for overseas clients, the income is still taxable in the UK. You may need to deal with withholding taxes in some countries. Double taxation agreements usually prevent you from being taxed twice, but keep records of any foreign tax deducted.

Intellectual Property

Copyright in your work belongs to you unless your contract states otherwise. If you license your work rather than assigning copyright, this can have different tax implications. In most cases, copywriting fees are straightforward trading income.

Winning Your First Clients

• Your existing network — tell everyone you know that you are now freelancing
• LinkedIn — the single most effective platform for freelance copywriters. Post regularly, share your work, and engage with potential clients.
• Job boards — ProCopywriters job board, The Dots, Freelancer Club
• Cold outreach — identify businesses whose copy could be improved and contact them with a specific suggestion
• Content marketing — write your own blog to demonstrate your skills
• Agencies — marketing, design, and PR agencies often need freelance copywriters
• Referrals — deliver great work and ask for referrals. This becomes your primary source of work over time.

Bookkeeping Tips

• Separate business and personal finances — open a business bank account
• Invoice promptly — send invoices as soon as work is delivered
• Set clear payment terms — 14 or 30 days is standard
• Chase late payments — do not let invoices go overdue without following up
• Record expenses as they happen — do not wait until tax time
• Track your time — even if you price by project, understanding your effective hourly rate helps you price better
• Set aside 25–30% of profits for tax

Accounted connects to your bank and categorises transactions automatically. It is designed for UK freelancers and sole traders.

Key Deadlines

• 31 January — Self Assessment tax return and payment
• 31 July — second payment on account
• Quarterly — VAT returns if registered

Getting Started

Copywriting is one of the lowest-barrier businesses you can start. No premises, no equipment beyond a laptop, and no mandatory qualifications. Get registered, build your portfolio, and start reaching out to potential clients.

Ready to keep your copywriting business finances sorted? Sign up for Accounted and let Penny take the bookkeeping off your plate so you can focus on writing.