From Employed to Self-Employed: A Will Writer's Guide to Independence

If you've only ever been employed, self-employment can seem daunting. But the practicalities are simpler than you think, especially for estate planning where overheads are minimal.

Sole trader vs Limited Company:

Sole trader (recommended to start):

• •Register with HMRC for self-assessment (free, takes 10 minutes online)
• •No company formation needed
• •Simple annual tax return
• •Keep business and personal finances separate (but not legally required)
• •Change to limited company later if turnover grows significantly

Limited company (consider later):

• •More tax efficient above ~£50,000 profit
• •Limited liability protection
• •More professional appearance to some clients
• •More administrative burden (company accounts, CT600)
• •Formation cost: £12-£50 via Companies House

For most will writers going independent, start as a sole trader. It's the simplest option and you can always switch later.

Tax basics:

• •You'll pay income tax and National Insurance on your profits
• •Profits = income minus allowable expenses
• •Register with HMRC within 3 months of starting
• •Tax return due by 31 January following the tax year
• •Set aside 25-30% of income for tax (put it in a separate account)
• •Consider an accountant (£300-£800/year — worth every penny)

Allowable business expenses:

• •Professional indemnity insurance
• •WILLO software subscription
• •Professional body membership
• •Marketing and advertising
• •Business mileage (45p/mile for first 10,000 miles)
• •Home office costs (simplified expenses or proportion of bills)
• •Phone and internet (business proportion)
• •Stationery, printing, and postage
• •Training and professional development
• •Accountant fees

Here's what your first month looks like financially as an independent estate planner:

Income (conservative):

• •Week 1: 1-2 cases from personal network = £300-£800
• •Week 2: 2-3 cases (word spreading) = £600-£1,500
• •Week 3: 3-4 cases (referrals starting) = £900-£2,000
• •Week 4: 3-5 cases = £900-£2,500
• •Month 1 total: £2,700-£6,800

Outgoings (month 1):

• •PI insurance: ~£40/month (annual premium spread)
• •Software: included in Become an Estate Planner ecosystem
• •Marketing materials: £100-£200 (one-off)
• •Phone (business calls): £20-£30
• •Mileage: £50-£100
• •Month 1 costs: £210-£370

Net income month 1: £2,300-£6,400

Compare to your employed income:

• •Employed salary: £2,000-£3,000/month take-home
• •Self-employed month 1: £2,300-£6,400 (and growing)
• •By month 3: £5,000-£10,000+/month

Cash flow tips:

• •Take 50% deposit at instruction (covers your costs immediately)
• •Keep 25-30% of all income in a tax savings account
• •Don't spend your first few months' income — build a buffer
• •Reinvest a small amount in marketing (£200-£500/month)
• •Track income and expenses from day one (spreadsheet or accounting app)

Financial buffer:

• •Ideally save 2-3 months of living expenses before going independent
• •This removes the pressure to earn immediately
• •But many will writers earn enough from week 1 (given their existing skills)
• •The buffer is for peace of mind, not necessity

You already know how to do the work. The financial transition is just about managing the admin — and it's far simpler than most people expect.

Professional indemnity insurance is the ONE essential business expense. Here's what you need to know:

What PI insurance covers:

• •Claims arising from errors in your documents
• •Client complaints about your work
• •Legal defence costs if you're sued
• •Settlement costs if a claim is upheld

What you need:

• •Minimum cover: £1 million (standard for will writers)
• •Consider: £2 million if offering trusts and complex estate planning
• •Run-off cover: Check the policy includes cover after you stop practising
• •Retroactive date: From when you started practising

Typical costs:

• •Will writing only: £300-£450/year
• •Will writing + LPAs: £350-£500/year
• •Full estate planning (including trusts): £400-£600/year

Providers who specialise in will writers/estate planners:

• •Howden Insurance (formerly Aon)
• •Markel
• •Hiscox
• •Royal Sun Alliance (through specialist brokers)
• •Various specialist legal indemnity brokers

How to apply:

• •Most applications are online, decision within 24-48 hours
• •You'll need: your training/qualification details, estimated case numbers, services offered
• •Premium is based on: services offered, estimated turnover, experience, claims history

When you DON'T need insurance:

• •During training (you're not practising yet)
• •Before you take your first client

When you MUST have insurance:

• •Before your first paid client meeting
• •Before drafting any documents for clients
• •From the day you hold yourself out as practising

Other insurances to consider (optional):

• •Public liability (£5-£10 million cover): ~£100-£200/year (if visiting clients' homes)
• •Cyber insurance: ~£100-£200/year (protects client data)
• •Personal accident/income protection: variable (replaces income if you can't work)

Compare this to what your company charges you through fee splits. Your total insurance cost is likely less than ONE month of the fees your employer keeps from your work.

One of the biggest advantages of estate planning: you don't need an office. Most client work happens at their kitchen table or via video call. Your "office" is where you draft documents and manage admin.

Home office essentials:

• •Laptop or desktop computer (you probably already have one)
• •Reliable internet connection
• •WILLO software access (cloud-based, works on any device)
• •A quiet space for phone calls and video meetings
• •A printer (for draft documents — final versions generated by WILLO)
• •A lockable filing cabinet (for any paper records)

For client home visits:

• •Tablet or laptop with WILLO access
• •Professional appearance (smart casual is fine for estate planning)
• •ID badge (simple, professional — clients like this for home visits)
• •Business cards
• •Pen and notepad as backup
• •Car for travel (mileage is tax-deductible at 45p/mile)

For virtual meetings:

• •Webcam and microphone (built into most laptops)
• •Professional background (tidy bookshelf, not bedroom wall)
• •Good lighting (face a window or use a desk lamp)
• •Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet (all free)
• •Screen sharing for document review (WILLO supports this)

Home office tax relief:

• •Simplified expenses: £6/week (£312/year) without receipts
• •OR proportion of actual costs: heating, electricity, broadband, council tax, rent/mortgage interest
• •The simplified method is easier; actual costs are better if you have a dedicated room

The lifestyle benefit:

• •No commute (save 1-2 hours/day)
• •Flexible schedule (work when you want)
• •Lower costs (no rent, parking, or train tickets)
• •Better work-life balance
• •Available for family commitments

Do clients mind coming to you?

Most estate planning is done at the client's home or via video call. Very few clients expect you to have an office. In fact, home visits are a SELLING POINT: "I come to you, in the comfort of your own home, at a time that suits you." Clients love this — especially elderly clients who find it difficult to travel.

Here's what independent estate planning typically looks like as you grow:

Year 1: Foundation

• •Months 1-3: 3-5 cases/week, learning the business side
• •Months 4-6: 5-8 cases/week, referrals building
• •Months 7-12: 8-12 cases/week, established routine
• •Annual income: £40,000-£80,000
• •Focus: building reputation, getting reviews, refining process

Year 2: Growth

• •Consistent 10-15 cases/week
• •Multiple referral sources active
• •Expanding into trusts and complex work
• •Annual income: £70,000-£120,000
• •Focus: premium services, efficiency, work-life balance

Year 3: Established

• •12-20+ cases/week (or fewer at higher value)
• •Waiting list for appointments
• •Known locally as THE estate planning expert
• •Annual income: £90,000-£150,000+
• •Focus: choosing ideal clients, premium positioning, maybe hiring support

Decisions to make as you grow:

• •Do you want to stay solo or hire staff?
• •Do you want to work more or charge more?
• •Do you want to specialise or stay generalist?
• •Do you want to add related services (probate, financial planning referrals)?

The beauty of independence: These are YOUR decisions. No company telling you to take more cases, work more hours, or accept lower fees. You build the business that suits YOUR life.

Start today:

1. Register for free training at Become an Estate Planner

2. Complete 8 modules at your own pace

3. Set up with WILLO software

4. Get PI insurance when ready

5. Go independent with confidence

You already know how to do the work. We give you the training to expand your skills, the software to run your practice, and the support to make independence a reality. Everything you need — for free.