Complete step-by-step guide from business setup to first paying client. Start earning £2,000-£8,000/month in 6-12 weeks.
Total startup cost: £1,500-£3,500 | Time to first client: 6-12 weeks | Year 1 income potential: £25,000-£60,000 | Overhead: 15-25% of revenue
This guide covers everything: legal setup, insurance, software, pricing, marketing, and getting your first 10 clients.
Before you can legally and ethically start a will writing business in the UK, you need:
Complete a recognized will writing course (3 weeks - 6 months). Cost: £995-£5,000.
⭐ Recommended: ProjectWill Training (£995 all-inclusive)
Must be 18+ and pass basic DBS check. No law degree needed.
£1-2 million coverage minimum. Cost: £40-£150/month.
Professional software (Willo, Octopus, SmartWill). Cost: £150-300/month or included with training.
💡 Can You Start Without Training?
Technically yes (will writing is unregulated), but you won't get professional indemnity insurance, you'll risk making costly mistakes, and you'll struggle to get clients. Always get proper training first.
✅ Pros:
❌ Cons:
📊 Best for: Year 1-3, income under £50K
✅ Pros:
❌ Cons:
📊 Best for: Year 3+, profit over £50K
📅 Deadline: Register within 3 months of starting trading (or by 5 Oct following tax year)
Legally not required for sole traders, but highly recommended to keep business and personal finances separate.
Best business bank accounts for will writers:
Option 1: Personal name (builds personal brand)
Option 2: Location-based (targets local SEO)
Option 3: Branded name (more professional feel)
⚠️ Avoid:
⚠️ MANDATORY - Never operate without insurance
Professional indemnity insurance protects you and your clients if you make a mistake. One error could cost £50,000+. Insurance is not optional.
£500-£1,200/year | £1-2M coverage | Will writer specialist
£600-£1,500/year | £2M coverage | Easy online quotes
£800-£1,800/year | £2M coverage | Reputable provider
💡 Pro Tip:
Get quotes from 3-5 providers. Prices vary significantly. Mention you're IPW member (even if you're not yet) for discounts.
You need professional software to draft wills. Hand-writing or using Word documents is unprofessional and risky.
Cost: £150-300/month OR FREE with ProjectWill training
Best for: Full estate planning (wills, LPAs, trusts, client management)
Cost: £200-250/month
Good alternative, similar features to Willo
Cost: £180/month
Simpler interface, fewer features
💰 Cost Savings:
Software costs £1,800-£3,600/year. ProjectWill training (£995) includes Willo software = you save £800-£2,600 in year 1 alone vs buying training and software separately.
Pricing is critical. Price too low = you'll attract difficult clients and burn out. Price too high = you'll struggle to compete.
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Will (basic) | £150 | £200 | £300 |
| Mirror Wills (couple) | £250 | £400 | £500 |
| Single LPA | £150 | £200 | £250 |
| Dual LPAs (health + finance) | £250 | £350 | £450 |
| Mirror Wills + 4 LPAs Package | £700 | £900 | £1,200 |
Position yourself in the middle-to-upper range. Charge £400-450 for mirror wills, £900-1,000 for full packages. Don't compete on price - compete on service, convenience, and expertise.
This is where most will writers fail. You can be the best will writer in the world, but if no one knows about you, you'll earn nothing.
Cost: £500-800/year | Expected clients: 30-60% of total
Join these groups:
Partner with:
Cost: £0 | Expected clients: 10-20% of total
Setup:
Cost: £0-50/month | Expected clients: 5-15% of total
Cost: £0-500 | Not a lead generator, but necessary for credibility
Keep it simple:
Tell everyone you know. Offer slight discount (£50 off) for first 5 clients. Ask for testimonials and 3 referrals from each.
Offer 30-minute free estate planning consultations. 60-70% convert to paid clients.
Find one good financial advisor and offer to handle all their clients' estate planning needs. Can provide 10-20 clients/year.
Every client gets: Professional service + home visit + follow-up call + handwritten thank you note. This drives referrals.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Training | £995-£5,000 | ProjectWill: £995 (recommended) |
| Business registration | £0 | Free for sole trader |
| Insurance (year 1) | £500-£1,800 | £1,000 average |
| Software (year 1) | £0-£3,600 | Free with ProjectWill training |
| Website | £0-£500 | DIY free, professional £300-500 |
| Business cards & materials | £100-£300 | Essential for networking |
| Networking membership | £500-£700 | BNI or Chamber |
| TOTAL (with ProjectWill) | £2,095-£3,395 | £2,700 realistic |
| TOTAL (other training) | £5,095-£10,395 | With separate software costs |
Investment: £2,700 | Average fee per client: £450 | Clients to break even: 6 | Typical months 1-3: 5-15 clients | ROI in 3 months: £2,250-£6,750 profit (83-250% return)
Complete will writing course. Learn wills, LPAs, trusts, business setup.
First consultation → First paying client. Typical: Week 8.
Referrals from first client + networking starting to work.
5-10 clients/month. Business becoming sustainable.
Yes, absolutely. Most will writers work from home and visit clients at their homes. No office needed.
No. Will writing is unregulated in the UK. You need proper training and insurance, but no law degree required.
£2,000-£3,500 total with ProjectWill training (includes software). £5,000-£10,000 with other training providers (software separate). Most costs are in year 1 - ongoing costs much lower.
Realistically 6-12 weeks. Some get clients in week 4, some take 16 weeks. Depends on your marketing effort and local network.
Yes. Many will writers work 10-20 hours/week earning £20,000-£40,000/year. Perfect as side business or semi-retirement income.
Very. Low overhead (15-25%), high margins (70-85%), recurring clients (will updates, LPAs), referrals (each client refers 1-3 others). Year 1: £25K-£60K possible. Year 3+: £60K-£120K+ achievable.
Get comprehensive training, software included, and help getting your first clients. Break even with just 3 clients.
View Training Details →£995 all-inclusive | Next cohort: December 2025 | Only 8 spots