How to Leave Your Will Writing Company and Go Independent

If you're working for a will writing company, you already know the frustration. You do the client meetings, you build the relationships, you write the documents — but someone else takes the lion's share of the fee.

The typical employed will writer experience:

• •You generate £3,000–£5,000+ per month in client fees
• •You take home £1,800–£2,500 per month in salary
• •The company keeps 40–60% of what you generate
• •You have little control over your diary, your pricing, or your brand
• •Leads are allocated to you — some good, some terrible
• •Your earning potential has a ceiling

What drives will writers to go independent:

• •Money: Keeping 100% of the fee instead of 40–50%
• •Control: Setting your own diary, pricing, and service standards
• •Growth: Expanding into LPAs, trusts, and full estate planning (many companies restrict this)
• •Brand: Building a business with your name on it, not someone else's
• •Freedom: No more cold leads, mandatory targets, or micromanagement

The reality check: Going independent isn't for everyone. You need to be comfortable finding your own clients, managing your own compliance, and handling the admin that a company currently does for you. But if you're ambitious and self-motivated, the rewards are transformational.

Let's be brutally honest about the numbers. This is where the decision becomes clear for most will writers.

Employed will writer earnings:

• •Basic salary: £22,000–£30,000
• •With commission: £28,000–£40,000
• •Top earners at big firms: £35,000–£45,000
• •You keep: 40–55% of the fees you generate

Self-employed will writer earnings:

• •Year 1 (building): £30,000–£50,000
• •Year 2 (established): £45,000–£70,000
• •Year 3+ (thriving): £60,000–£100,000+
• •You keep: 100% of fees (minus business costs of ~£3,000–£5,000/year)

A real comparison:

Say you complete 8 cases per month at an average value of £500:

• •Employed: You generate £4,000/month → take home ~£2,000 after company split
• •Independent: You generate £4,000/month → keep ~£3,700 after costs

That's £1,700 more per month — over £20,000 more per year — for doing exactly the same work.

Plus as an independent you can:

• •Increase your prices (no company cap)
• •Offer premium services (trusts, LPAs, estate planning)
• •Take on as many or as few clients as you want
• •Work the hours that suit your life

Timing matters. Going independent at the wrong moment can make things unnecessarily difficult.

You're ready to go independent when:

• •You've been writing wills for at least 12–18 months
• •You can confidently handle standard cases without supervision
• •You understand the legal requirements and compliance obligations
• •You have some savings to cover 2–3 months of expenses
• •You have at least some client contacts or referral sources
• •You're self-motivated and comfortable with uncertainty

Wait if:

• •You're still learning the basics of will drafting
• •You have no idea how to find your own clients
• •You have zero savings or financial cushion
• •You're doing it purely because you're angry with your employer (emotion fades)

The transition approach:

Many will writers don't jump overnight. Consider:

1. Start training in broader services (LPAs, trusts) while still employed

2. Build your network — meet accountants, financial advisers, funeral directors

3. Save 3 months' expenses as a safety net

4. Set up your business infrastructure before you leave

5. Give notice and launch when you're truly prepared

Check your employment contract: Look for non-compete clauses, client restrictions, and notice periods. Most will writing company contracts have some restrictions, but they're often unenforceable if unreasonable. Get legal advice if you're unsure.

Once you've decided to go independent, here's everything you need to set up:

Business structure:

• •Sole trader is simplest to start (you can incorporate later)
• •Register with HMRC for self-assessment
• •Open a separate business bank account
• •Consider registering for VAT only if you expect to exceed the threshold

Essential requirements:

• •Professional indemnity insurance: £300–£500/year — this is non-negotiable
• •Professional body membership: IPW (Institute of Professional Willwriters) or SWW (Society of Will Writers) — £200–£400/year
• •ICO registration: £52/year for data protection (£47 by direct debit)
• •AML registration: Through your professional body

Software and tools:

• •WILLO software — handles will drafting, LPAs, trusts, and client management
• •Accounting software — FreeAgent or QuickBooks (£10–£30/month)
• •Calendar/CRM — even a simple spreadsheet works initially
• •Professional email — yourname@yourbusiness.co.uk

Marketing essentials:

• •Google Business Profile — free, and essential for local visibility
• •Simple website — doesn't need to be expensive, just professional
• •Business cards — you'll use these more than you think
• •Networking — join local business groups, BNI, or similar

Total setup costs: Approximately £800–£1,500 to get fully operational. Compare that to the £20,000+ per year more you'll earn.

This is the part that scares employed will writers most. But finding clients is far easier than you think, especially with the right approach.

Your existing network (start here):

• •Friends and family who need wills (everyone does)
• •Former clients who you've built relationships with (check your contract first)
• •People you know through social activities, school runs, community groups

Professional referrals (the goldmine):

• •Accountants — they talk to clients about tax and estates regularly
• •Financial advisers/IFAs — they need someone for wills and LPAs
• •Funeral directors — people often realise they need a will after a bereavement
• •Estate agents — new homeowners need wills
• •Solicitors — many don't want to do simple wills and will refer

Marketing that works for will writers:

• •Google Business Profile — optimise it with reviews and local keywords
• •Local Facebook groups — helpful advice (not selling) builds trust
• •Talks and workshops — offer free "estate planning basics" talks to community groups, rotary clubs, WI
• •Leaflet drops in new-build estates (new homeowners = new will needs)
• •Referral incentives — offer £50 referral fee to professionals who send you clients

The reality: Most independent will writers build a full client pipeline within 6–12 months. The first 3 months are the hardest. After that, word of mouth and referrals do most of the heavy lifting.

One of the biggest advantages of going independent is that you can offer services your former employer may not have offered — or may not have let you profit from.

Services to add:

• •Lasting Powers of Attorney — £300–£600 per pair, and almost every will client needs them
• •Property protection trusts — £500–£1,200, ideal for homeowners worried about care fees
• •Discretionary trusts — £800–£2,000, for families with complex circumstances
• •Severance of tenancy — £100–£200, a quick add-on for joint property owners
• •Funeral plans — as an introducer, earning £50–£200 per referral
• •Probate services — for when clients' families need help after a death

Why expanding matters:

A will-only practice has an average case value of £250–£400. A full estate planning practice has an average case value of £800–£1,500. That's 3–4x more revenue from the same number of client meetings.

Training for expanded services:

The Become an Estate Planner programme covers everything you need — wills, LPAs, trusts, client management, and the WILLO software that handles all document types. Even if you already know will writing, the training fills gaps in LPAs and trusts that your company may not have covered.

Explore the free training and see how much more you could be offering your clients.

Here's a practical timeline for going from employed to independent:

Days 1–30: Preparation (while still employed)

• •Complete any additional training you need (LPAs, trusts)
• •Set up your business — sole trader registration, bank account
• •Arrange PI insurance and professional body membership
• •Build a simple website and Google Business Profile
• •Start networking — attend local business events, connect with accountants and IFAs
• •Save at least 3 months' expenses

Days 31–60: Launch

• •Hand in your notice (serve your notice period professionally)
• •Announce your new business to your personal network
• •Contact 10 potential referral partners (accountants, IFAs, funeral directors)
• •Book your first 5 client appointments (friends, family, contacts)
• •Set up your systems — WILLO software, accounting, client management

Days 61–90: Build

• •Aim for 2–3 cases per week minimum
• •Follow up with every referral partner monthly
• •Collect testimonials and Google reviews from early clients
• •Refine your pricing based on what the market will bear
• •Start planning local marketing — talks, community groups, social media

By day 90 you should have:

• •A steady flow of 2–4 cases per week
• •At least 3 active referral partners
• •5+ Google reviews
• •A clear pipeline for the next 3 months
• •Confidence that you made the right decision

The first 90 days are the hardest. After that, momentum builds. Most independent will writers are earning more than their employed salary within 6 months, and significantly more within 12 months.