Freelance
With the extraordinary Covid pandemic and the ever rising cost of living, more people than ever are looking for new side hustles in the UK to boost their income.
One way to make money online is freelance copywriting. It can be particularly appealing because it requires little set up and offers flexibility to work from home.
Freelance copywriting involves writing content for customers on a contractual basis. The end goal is usually to motivate potential customers to take some sort of action such as buying something or engaging in services.
Adverts, website copy, and blog posts are all examples of work that can be done by a freelance copywriter. As long as the copy is written with the aim of persuading or informing an audience, it is ‘copy’ rather than just words.
On a side note, you may hear both the terms freelance writer and freelance copywriter. You could be forgiven for thinking they are the same but they actually have subtle differences and end goals.
There’s a bit more to it than this but the objective of freelance writing is usually to inform and educate. Whereas freelance copywriting is normally about selling a product, idea or service.
This article will run you through everything you need to know about freelance copywriting. This should help you to make an informed decision as to whether a freelance side hustle is up your street or not.
There are freelance copywriting opportunities available in most sectors. From engineering to healthcare and retail to pharmaceuticals. Wherever a business needs to inform or persuade an audience, you’ll find copywriting.
Within each sector is the opportunity for different types of copywriting. And it’s here that you can choose to specialise. For example, all sectors will need copy in at least one of the following forms:
There isn’t really a specific route into becoming a copywriter. Copywriters come from all walks of life and will have very different existing skill sets, backgrounds, interests, and qualifications.
What they do have in common though, is the ability to write and share knowledge. And there isn’t really a correct way to get into this. However, there are a few things you can do to become a copywriter:
It sounds obvious, but you can’t call yourself a writer if you aren’t actively doing it. And at this point, if you don’t have clients, use it as an opportunity to practice different styles of writing.
What kind of things are you good at writing? Great – write more. What aren’t you as good at? Great – WRITE MORE! If you are so good at writing, you could even publish your own book!
All of this practice will make you more confident in your writing abilities and will help you to……………..
Some writers have a carte blanche approach and others choose to specialise in specific areas. There’s no right or wrong but picking a particular niche helps you narrow down project searches.
If you prefer to write blogs, you might choose travel, sport or gardening. For copywriting services you might stick to just product descriptions or emails.
A portfolio is a collection of examples of your work. It’s a great way to showcase both the writing you’ve done and the clients you’ve worked for. But if you’re just starting out, where do these examples come from?
Again, if you’re not writing for existing clients, write for your fantasy ones. Google example copywriting briefs and write your own response. Include as many forms, styles, and sectors as you can. For example, try to include:
If you choose to do this when starting your portfolio, remember to make it clear that you have not actually worked for any of these clients. Once you start writing for real clients, you can replace the examples with ‘real’ work.
You should always do some homework on this to identify what other freelance copywriters are charging for similar services. You might need to start off cheaply in order to get customers and build your portfolio.
Once you have a few contracts under your belt, you should be able to up your rates a little.
Once you’ve got a portfolio together, it’s time to get serious about looking for real clients and paid work. But where can you find them? Opportunities are everywhere. The secret is to market yourself so that people know what you can do for them and where they can find you when they need you. Learning how to sell on fiver could be a great way to market yourself.
You should also consider emailing businesses that might need copywriting. Look for freelance copywriting groups on social media.
Perhaps you’ve just left an in-house role. It’s worth telling co-workers about your new enterprise. It’s also worth emailing people you’ve worked with to let them know about your new freelance copywriting venture. Keep those contacts connected.
It’s not about stealing clients. Instead it’s about giving them the chance to follow you on your new journey. This can be something you do on LinkedIn, if you don’t feel like email is an appropriate medium. At the very least, you can ask these contacts for testimonials to use in your marketing materials.
Here’s some other ideas on how you might find new clients to offer you freelance copywriting work:
You don’t need to have any formal qualifications in order to become a freelance copywriter. While this is fantastic in terms of there not being a barrier, it also means that anyone who thinks they can write can write copy but this isn’t always the case.
You might not need copywriting qualifications, but you do need a very particular set of skills. Skills you have acquired over a very long career.
As well as being able to read and write to a high standard, you’ll also need to have a range of other skills in order to be a successful freelance copywriter.
There’s no pre-determined amount a freelance copywriter can earn as there’s different variables to take into account. Some people might do it full-time while others do it as a side hustle.
Because set hours aren’t really a thing in freelancing, the average hourly or daily rate can differ greatly too.
We looked at some of the UK’s leading recruitment sites for an idea on how much freelance copywriters make on average.
Please keep in mind that the sample sizes are very small here, so these are just a guide to freelance copywriter earnings for 2025.
As you can see from the averages above, there’s quite a large variation in how much a freelance copywriter can make. So how do you know how much to charge?
There are a few elements that should be taken into consideration when pricing up a project. For example:
When you scope out a project, you need as much information as possible. It helps you make a judgement on pricing. And it’s important to get as many of the questions above answered as early on in the process as possible. That way, you’re able to see the bigger picture.
Talking about money can be difficult. Especially if you’re new to freelance copywriting and running a business. But it’s important not to feel awkward when pitching an amount. The client needs to know how much you charge so that they can work it into their budget. At the end of the day, it’s up to them to accept the price or not. And you also need to know that they value your abilities.
So with that in mind, it’s better to give a ballpark figure as soon as you can so that those decisions can be made. By giving an idea of costs early doors, everyone has a better view on what the end-to-end process will look like. With as few ‘nasty’ surprises as possible, along the way.
We talked earlier about ProCopywriter and the annual study they conduct. The 2024 report gathered responses from 422 copywriters. As well as the average earnings of UK copywriters.
The report also features a number of other interesting stats. For example, what tools do you need as a freelance copywriter? According to respondents, these are some useful tools to get to grips with:
Having at least a working knowledge of as many of these tools as possible could make your role as a freelance copywriter easier. Find the tools that work best for you. Streamline your workflow and enhance your skill set.
You may also be able to integrate yourself more quickly into the client’s workspace which could be useful in cementing a great working relationship
In fact, according to the ProCopywriter 2025 survey, respondents talked about the importance of having skills other than copywriting. What other skills could you offer to clients?:
That list isn’t exhaustive. There are so many strings to add to your bow. In fact, there are so many, let’s throw in another metaphor. You could really become a fantastic one-man band of copywriting-related offerings.
There’s various ways that you can find the right freelance copywriting gigs. The most successful route is through word of mouth. However, there are other ways you can help your chances of getting a job:
How you set yourself up as a freelance copywriter is completely up to you. As a sole trader, you are the business. Which means that there’s no distinction between the two and if there are debts, for example, you are responsible.
However, as a limited company, you’re an employee…of your own business. But not of yourself – that’s the difference. In this case, the business would be responsible for any debts.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to pay tax. As a sole trader, you can fill in a self-assessment tax return on the HMRC site. However, as a limited company it makes sense to employ an accountant to sort this for you.
If you can, talk to other freelance copywriters and ask about their experiences. This will help you decide what’s best for you and your freelance business.
One of the main things to keep in mind whether you’re a sole trader or limited company, is keeping track of all incoming and outgoing money. Bookkeeping is where you keep a record of everything you spend and earn. You can either do this using a spreadsheet or an accounting service like SAGE. This will help you when it comes to filling in your self-assessment tax returns at year end.
Speaking of tax, there’s quite a bit to get your head around but let’s keep it simple. When it comes to profits, you’ll pay income tax as a sole trader and corporation tax as a limited company.
As with most of the side hustles on the OddsMonkey Make Money Online Hub, registering for VAT isn’t necessarily a legal requirement. In the UK, you only need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover exceeds £85,000.
Please be aware that if you are not VAT registered, then you can’t charge VAT on your freelance work.
For more information on working for yourself, please see Gov.UK.
If you’re not a writer but like the idea of freelancing, check out this freelance work article. Alternatively, take a look at the MMO Hub for ideas on the different ways you can make money online, such as dropshipping or online comping.
*DISCLAIMER: We’re legally required to state that there is no guarantee of specific results each month. The amount of money that you earn can vary dependant on the time and effort that you commit each month.
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