Estate Planning as a Second Income

Building income without quitting your day job.

Not everyone wants to make a complete career change. Some want to:

• •Add income to existing job
• •Test estate planning before committing
• •Build toward eventual transition
• •Create portfolio income
• •Have meaningful work alongside unfulfilling job

Why estate planning works as side income:

Flexible scheduling:

• •Client appointments evenings and weekends
• •You control your availability
• •No minimum hours required
• •Work as much or little as you want

Scalable:

• •Start with one client per month
• •Grow at your pace
• •Income directly tied to effort
• •No employer expectations

High hourly value:

• •Will consultations: £150-£400+ per appointment
• •2-3 hour investment per case
• •Effective rate: £50-£150/hour
• •Compare to other side hustles

Meaningful:

• •Actually helping families
• •Intellectually stimulating
• •Better than passive income attempts
• •Skills that grow with you

Related: Self-Employed vs Employed Estate Planner | Can Anyone Become an Estate Planner?

Setting up for second income:

Training approach:

Self-paced online (recommended):

• •Study around main job
• •No fixed schedule
• •Complete in 3-6 months
• •Minimal disruption

Weekend courses:

• •Intensive learning
• •Faster completion
• •Use annual leave if needed

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Business setup:

Basic requirements:

• •Training/qualification
• •Professional body membership (recommended)
• •Professional indemnity insurance
• •Basic business setup (self-employed registration)

Minimal setup costs:

• •Training: £500-£3,000
• •Insurance: £200-£400/year
• •Membership: £200-£400/year
• •Software: Variable

Total: Under £4,000 to start

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Time commitment options:

Minimal (1-2 clients/month):

• •2-4 hours preparation
• •2-4 hours appointments
• •Total: 4-8 hours/month
• •Income: £300-£800/month

Moderate (4-6 clients/month):

• •8-12 hours preparation
• •8-12 hours appointments
• •Total: 16-24 hours/month
• •Income: £1,200-£3,000/month

Substantial (8-12 clients/month):

• •16-24 hours preparation
• •16-24 hours appointments
• •Total: 32-48 hours/month
• •Income: £2,400-£6,000/month

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Scheduling options:

Evening focus:

• •Appointments 6pm-9pm weeknights
• •2-3 evenings per week
• •Many clients prefer evening anyway
• •Doesn't impact day job

Weekend focus:

• •Saturday/Sunday appointments
• •Full days available
• •Clients appreciate weekend availability
• •Keep some personal time

Mix:

• •1-2 evenings + half-day weekend
• •Spreads the load
• •More availability = more clients

Related: How Long to Become an Estate Planner | Clients Per Week Estate Planner

What you can actually earn:

Part-time income calculations:

Average case value: £350-£500 (wills + LPAs typically)

Time per case: 2-3 hours total

Effective hourly rate: £120-£250

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Monthly scenarios:

Very part-time (4-6 hours/month):

• •1-2 clients
• •Income: £350-£1,000
• •Effort: Minimal
• •Good for: Testing interest, very limited time

Part-time (15-20 hours/month):

• •4-6 clients
• •Income: £1,400-£3,000
• •Effort: Moderate
• •Good for: Meaningful second income

Substantial part-time (30-40 hours/month):

• •8-12 clients
• •Income: £2,800-£6,000
• •Effort: Significant
• •Good for: Serious income building

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Annual income potential:

Minimum effort: £4,000-£10,000/year

Moderate effort: £15,000-£30,000/year

Maximum part-time: £30,000-£60,000/year

These are achievable alongside full-time employment.

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Income growth pattern:

Months 1-3: Slow start

• •Finding first clients
• •Building confidence
• •£500-£1,500/month realistic

Months 4-6: Momentum building

• •Word of mouth starting
• •Processes efficient
• •£1,000-£2,500/month realistic

Months 7-12: Established

• •Referrals flowing
• •Confident practice
• •£1,500-£4,000/month realistic

Year 2+: Mature practice

• •Predictable client flow
• •Premium pricing possible
• •£2,000-£5,000+/month realistic

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Comparison to other side income:

Estate planning vs alternatives:

• •Teaching/tutoring: £15-£40/hour
• •Consulting (general): £50-£150/hour
• •Delivery driving: £10-£15/hour
• •Freelance writing: £20-£50/hour
• •Estate planning: £50-£150/hour effective

High-value skill = high-value side income.

Related: Estate Planner Hourly Rate | Estate Planner Income Calculator

Building client flow without marketing budget:

Word of mouth (most effective):

Tell everyone you know:

• •Friends and family need wills too
• •Colleagues (be careful with main employer)
• •Social connections
• •Community groups

Ask for referrals:

• •Happy clients recommend you
• •Explicitly ask: "Do you know anyone who needs a will?"
• •Follow up with past clients

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Local networking:

Business groups:

• •Local networking events
• •Chamber of commerce
• •Professional groups
• •BNI or similar

Community presence:

• •Local Facebook groups
• •Community noticeboards
• •School parent networks
• •Church/community groups

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Online presence:

Basic website:

• •Your service offering
• •Your credentials
• •Contact details
• •Local SEO

Social media:

• •Facebook local presence
• •LinkedIn professional profile
• •Occasional helpful posts
• •Not hard selling

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Referral partnerships:

Potential referrers:

• •Financial advisers
• •Accountants
• •Solicitors (non-competing)
• •Funeral directors
• •Care home staff

Approach:

• •Meet for coffee
• •Explain your service
• •Discuss mutual referrals
• •Follow up professionally

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Part-time marketing reality:

What works:

• •Word of mouth
• •Referrals from happy clients
• •Local networking
• •Basic online presence

What doesn't (for part-time):

• •Expensive advertising
• •Complex marketing funnels
• •Heavy social media effort
• •Trying to compete with large firms

Keep it simple. Quality service generates referrals.

Related: How to Get Estate Planning Clients | How to Start an Estate Planning Business

Balancing day job and estate planning:

Employment considerations:

Check your contract:

• •Outside work restrictions
• •Conflict of interest clauses
• •Working time regulations
• •Intellectual property considerations

Disclosure:

• •Some employers require notification
• •Be honest if asked
• •Consider impact on main career
• •Ensure no actual conflict

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Time management:

Boundaries are essential:

• •Estate planning doesn't creep into work hours
• •Dedicated time slots
• •Client expectations managed
• •Don't let side work affect main job performance

Scheduling systems:

• •Online booking for clients
• •Fixed availability windows
• •Buffer time between activities
• •Admin time allocated

Energy management:

• •Estate planning when freshest
• •Don't burn out
• •One evening off per week minimum
• •Sustainable pace

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Tax considerations:

Register as self-employed:

• •HMRC registration required
• •Self-assessment tax returns
• •Keep records meticulously
• •Professional advice recommended

Expenses:

• •Training costs (deductible)
• •Insurance (deductible)
• •Professional memberships (deductible)
• •Home office (proportional)
• •Software/equipment (deductible)

National Insurance:

• •Already paying through employment
• •Additional Class 2/4 on self-employed income
• •Consider impact on state pension

Get accountant advice—worth the cost.

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Professional setup:

Keep it professional:

• •Separate business bank account
• •Professional email address
• •Dedicated phone line (can be mobile)
• •Proper invoicing

Insurance:

• •Professional indemnity essential
• •Public liability (for home visits)
• •Check home insurance implications

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Growth decision points:

When to consider going full-time:

• •Side income approaches main salary
• •Demand exceeds available time
• •Main job becomes frustrating
• •Financial safety net established

Many successful full-time practitioners started as side income.

Related: Estate Planning While Employed | Self-Employed vs Employed Estate Planner

From side hustle to full career:

Transition indicators:

Consider full-time when:

• •Regularly turning away clients
• •Side income reaches £25,000+/year
• •Main job satisfaction declining
• •Confidence in estate planning high
• •Financial reserves adequate

Not ready yet when:

• •Inconsistent client flow
• •Still learning significantly
• •Main job essential financially
• •Uncertainty about career fit

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Gradual transition approach:

Phase 1: Establish

• •Build part-time practice
• •Prove concept works
• •Develop skills and confidence
• •Save transition fund

Phase 2: Grow

• •Maximise part-time capacity
• •Build referral networks
• •Raise prices appropriately
• •Test demand limits

Phase 3: Decide

• •Can part-time meet your goals?
• •Is full-time worth the risk?
• •What does main job provide?
• •Quality of life considerations

Phase 4: Transition (if appropriate)

• •Give notice professionally
• •Scale up availability
• •Market for growth
• •Full-time launch

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Staying part-time:

Valid choice:

• •Additional £15,000-£30,000 income
• •Keep main job security
• •Portfolio approach
• •Best of both worlds for some

Many people happily:

• •Maintain part-time indefinitely
• •Use as income diversification
• •Enjoy meaningful side work
• •Never go full-time

There's no requirement to grow beyond what suits you.

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Full-time potential:

If you do transition full-time:

• •Year 1: £30,000-£45,000 (building)
• •Year 3: £45,000-£65,000 (established)
• •Year 5+: £60,000-£100,000+ (successful)

The foundation built part-time accelerates full-time success.

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Resources for growth:

• •Career Change to Estate Planning
• •How to Start an Estate Planning Business
• •Six Figures Estate Planning
• •Estate Planning Startup Costs