Will Writing From Home — The Ultimate Flexible Career

Will writing is one of the most home-friendly professional careers available. Unlike jobs that require physical presence — retail, healthcare, manufacturing — will writing happens wherever you have a computer and phone.

How Will Writing Works From Home:

Client consultations

Modern will writers conduct most consultations via video call (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) or telephone. You can discuss a client's estate planning needs from your living room just as effectively as from an office.

Some will writers do visit clients' homes for face-to-face meetings. This is your choice — many clients actually prefer video calls, especially since the pandemic normalised remote consultations.

Document drafting

Creating wills and LPAs happens on your computer using professional software like WILLO. The location of your laptop makes no difference to document quality.

Digital communication

Emails, document sharing, electronic signatures — all happen online. Clients receive drafts digitally, review them, and arrangements are made remotely.

Why This Matters:

• •No commute: Save time, money, and stress
• •Flexible location: Work from anywhere with internet
• •Lower costs: No office rent, parking, or work wardrobe
• •Better work-life balance: Home is never far away
• •Family-friendly: Be present for children, pets, deliveries

For anyone seeking professional income without traditional workplace constraints, will writing offers genuine flexibility.

What does home-based will writing actually look like? Here's a realistic example:

Morning (9:00am - 12:30pm)

9:00 - 9:30: Admin and emails

Check overnight enquiries, respond to client messages, review schedule for the day.

9:30 - 11:00: Video consultation (Client A)

Discuss estate planning needs with a couple wanting mirror wills and LPAs. Take detailed instructions, explain options, answer questions.

11:00 - 11:30: Break / household tasks

Coffee, walk the dog, put washing on — the flexibility of home working.

11:30 - 12:30: Document drafting

Draft the wills and LPAs for Client A based on morning's consultation. WILLO software makes this efficient.

Afternoon (1:30pm - 5:00pm)

1:30 - 2:30: Phone consultation (Client B)

Existing client calling to update their will after their daughter's wedding. Quick, straightforward amendments.

2:30 - 3:00: School run

Pick up children from school — possible because you work from home.

3:30 - 4:30: Client C home visit (optional)

Some will writers occasionally visit elderly clients who prefer face-to-face. Drive to client's home, conduct consultation there.

4:30 - 5:00: Follow-up and scheduling

Send drafted documents to Client A for review. Schedule next week's consultations. Update client records.

The Key Point:

This schedule includes 2-3 client interactions, meaningful work, AND flexibility for personal life. Compare to a 9-5 office job with commute, rigid hours, and no space for personal tasks.

Home-based will writing isn't about working less — it's about working smarter with time you control.

You don't need a dedicated office room to work as a will writer from home. But you do need somewhere you can work professionally. Here's what matters:

Essential: Quiet Space for Calls

Client consultations require privacy and minimal background noise. This could be:

• •A spare bedroom converted to office
• •Corner of your living room during quiet hours
• •Kitchen table when family is out
• •Garden office/shed (if you have one)

The key is finding time and space where you won't be interrupted during client calls.

Essential: Computer/Laptop

Any reasonably modern computer works for will writing:

• •Desktop or laptop (laptop offers more flexibility)
• •Reliable internet connection
• •Webcam for video calls (most laptops have this built-in)
• •Speakers/headphones for audio

You don't need expensive equipment. A £300-500 laptop is more than sufficient.

Essential: Good Internet

Video calls require stable internet. Standard home broadband (20+ Mbps) is plenty. If your connection is unreliable, consider upgrading or using mobile data as backup.

Recommended: Professional Background

For video calls, what's behind you matters:

• •Plain wall or bookshelf looks professional
• •Avoid messy rooms or distracting backgrounds
• •Virtual backgrounds work but can look odd
• •Good lighting on your face (face a window)

Clients judge professionalism from video appearance. A tidy, neutral background builds confidence.

Recommended: Comfortable Seating

You'll spend hours at your desk. A decent chair matters for:

• •Back health over time
• •Staying comfortable during long consultations
• •Maintaining energy throughout the day

Doesn't need to be expensive — a £100-200 office chair is fine.

Optional: Printer

Many will writers work paperlessly. But some clients prefer physical documents. A basic inkjet printer (£50-100) handles occasional printing needs.

Optional: Separate Phone Number

Using your personal mobile works fine. But a separate business number (easily arranged through VoIP services) keeps work and personal calls distinct.

Total Setup Cost:

If you already have a laptop: £0-200 (chair, minor improvements)

If starting from scratch: £400-700 (laptop, chair, basics)

Compare this to traditional business premises costs. Home-based will writing is remarkably affordable to set up.

The client consultation is the heart of will writing. Here's how to handle them effectively from home:

Video Consultations (Most Common)

Video calls have become the default for many will writers:

Advantages:

• •No travel time for you or client
• •Easy to share screen for explaining documents
• •Can record (with permission) for reference
• •Accessible for clients with mobility issues
• •Efficient — back-to-back consultations possible

How to conduct:

1. Send calendar invite with video link (Zoom, Teams, or similar)

2. Test your setup before the call

3. Ensure good lighting and professional background

4. Have client information ready on screen

5. Conduct consultation as you would in person

6. Take notes directly into your system

Tips:

• •Look at camera, not screen, when speaking
• •Speak clearly and slightly slower than normal
• •Check client can hear you at the start
• •Have backup plan if technology fails (phone call)

Phone Consultations

Some clients prefer phone calls, especially older clients less comfortable with technology:

Advantages:

• •Simple, accessible technology
• •Works with poor internet
• •Some clients find it more comfortable
• •Can be done from anywhere

Considerations:

• •No visual confirmation of understanding
• •Can't share documents during call
• •Harder to build rapport
• •Take extra care with note-taking

Tips:

• •Speak extra clearly
• •Summarise key points throughout
• •Send written confirmation of instructions

Home Visits (Your Choice)

Some will writers offer home visits, particularly for:

• •Elderly clients who struggle with technology
• •Clients who prefer face-to-face
• •Complex situations benefiting from in-person discussion

Considerations:

• •Travel time affects your capacity
• •Additional costs (fuel, parking)
• •Safety considerations (visiting strangers' homes)
• •Can build stronger client relationships

Many home-based will writers do occasional home visits while keeping most consultations remote. It's your choice based on client needs and your preferences.

Which Should You Offer?

Most will writers find 80%+ of clients are happy with video or phone consultations. Offering home visits as an option (perhaps at premium price) accommodates those who prefer it without making it your default.

Working from home doesn't limit your earning potential. If anything, lower overheads mean more of your fees become income.

Full-Time Home-Based Earnings

• •Clients per week: 4-6
• •Average fee: £350-500
• •Weekly: £1,400-3,000
• •Monthly: £5,600-12,000
• •Annual: £35,000-£70,000+

This matches or exceeds many office-based professional salaries — without commuting costs or work wardrobe expenses.

Part-Time Home-Based Earnings

• •Clients per week: 2-3
• •Average fee: £350-500
• •Weekly: £700-1,500
• •Monthly: £2,800-6,000
• •Annual: £15,000-£35,000

Achievable working school hours, evenings, or weekends. Many parents earn professional income while being present for their families.

Why Home-Based Can Earn MORE:

Lower overheads

No office rent, commuting costs, parking fees, or expensive work clothes. Every pound saved is a pound earned.

More client hours available

No commute means 1-2 extra hours daily for client work or personal time.

Flexibility to work when productive

Some people work best early morning, others late evening. Home working lets you align work with your peak hours.

Geographic flexibility

Video consultations let you serve clients anywhere, not just your immediate area. Wider catchment = more clients.

Comparison to Office-Based Work:

Office-based will writer earning £40,000 salary:

• •Commuting: £2,000-4,000/year
• •Parking: £1,000-2,000/year
• •Work clothes: £500-1,000/year
• •Lunches: £1,000-2,000/year
• •Net after costs: £31,000-35,500

Home-based will writer earning £40,000:

• •Minimal additional costs
• •Net: ~£38,000-40,000

The home-based practitioner keeps significantly more of their earnings.

Beyond income, home-based will writing offers lifestyle benefits that transform daily life:

No Commute

The average UK commute is 1 hour daily. Working from home gives you back:

• •5 hours per week
• •20 hours per month
• •250 hours per year

That's over 10 full days annually — time for family, hobbies, health, or additional client work.

Flexible Hours

You set your schedule. Work when it suits you:

• •Early bird? Start at 7am
• •Night owl? Work evenings
• •School hours only? Absolutely possible
• •Long days some weeks, short others? Your choice

This flexibility is impossible in traditional employment.

Work Around Family

Parents particularly value home-based will writing:

• •School drop-offs and pick-ups
• •Children's activities and appointments
• •Being present when children are ill
• •No childcare needed during school holidays (for older children)

Lower Stress

Eliminate commuting stress, office politics, and rigid schedules. Work in comfortable clothes, take breaks when needed, and create an environment that suits you.

Better Work-Life Balance

Home is never an hour away. You can:

• •Take a break to exercise
• •Handle household tasks between clients
• •Be available for family needs
• •Stop work when work is done

Health Benefits

• •More time for exercise
• •Healthier home-cooked meals
• •Less exposure to illness
• •Reduced stress
• •Better sleep (no early commute)

Financial Benefits

Beyond earnings, save money on:

• •Transport (£2,000-4,000/year)
• •Work clothes (£500-1,000/year)
• •Bought lunches (£1,000-2,000/year)
• •Parking (£1,000-2,000/year)

Environmental Benefits

No commute means:

• •Lower carbon footprint
• •Less traffic congestion
• •Reduced pollution

Home-based will writing aligns professional success with personal wellbeing in ways traditional employment rarely matches.

Ready to pursue home-based will writing? Here's your path:

Step 1: Complete Training

Our free course is fully online — learn from home, at your own pace:

• •7 comprehensive modules
• •Lessons you can revisit
• •Interactive quizzes and case studies
• •WILLO software training available
• •Complete in 2-4 weeks

No classroom attendance, no travel — perfect for those already valuing home-based work.

Step 2: Set Up Your Space

While training, prepare your home working area:

• •Find your quiet space for consultations
• •Test your video call setup
• •Ensure reliable internet
• •Arrange comfortable seating

Step 3: Get Insured

Professional indemnity insurance is essential:

• •Arrange during or after training
• •Cost: £200-500/year
• •Process: 1-2 weeks

Step 4: Set Up Your Practice

Subscribe to WILLO (£150/month), set up as a sole trader with HMRC, open a separate business bank account, and you're ready to take clients.

• •Keep 100% of what you earn
• •Set your own prices and services
• •Run things your way
• •Full independence from day one

Our paid coached programme exists for graduates who want help with pricing, sales, and marketing — but it's optional. Many graduates build successful practices using the free training alone.

Step 5: Start Seeing Clients

Begin serving clients from your home office:

• •First consultations from your home office
• •Build confidence with each client
• •Increase volume as skills develop
• •Enjoy the flexible lifestyle

Timeline:

• •Weeks 1-4: Training (from home)
• •Week 5-6: Setup and insurance
• •Week 6+: First clients

From decision to earning, typically 6-8 weeks — working from home throughout.

Start Free Training →

Common questions about working as a will writer from home.