Unlike traditional employment with fixed salaries, will writers in the UK are typically self-employed, meaning income varies based on client volume, pricing, and hours worked. Here's the realistic range:
Will writer income isn't a fixed salary – it depends on:
This variability is actually a benefit – you control your income by controlling your workload, pricing, and marketing efforts.
When we talk about will writer "salary," we really mean profit (revenue minus expenses):
Because overhead costs are relatively low, will writers typically keep 70-85% of revenue as profit once established.
Many will writers operate part-time, either alongside other employment or as a flexible income source. Here's realistic part-time income:
Working 10-15 hours per week once established
Typical scenario:
Expenses:
Net profit (first year, part-time): £12,000-£36,140
Once you're established with referrals and reputation:
Case Study 1: Sarah, Hertfordshire (Year 3)
Case Study 2: James, Yorkshire (Year 2)
💡 Part-Time Reality Check: £25K-£55K part-time (10-15 hours/week) is genuinely achievable once established. This works out to £160-280 per hour of actual work – excellent rates for a home-based service business with minimal overheads.
Full-time will writers who treat this as their primary career can earn substantial incomes:
Established full-time practitioners
Realistic scenario:
Most first-year full-time will writers earn £40,000-£60,000 net profit as they build their client base.
With an established reputation and referral network:
Most established full-time will writers earn £60,000-£90,000 net profit, with top performers exceeding £100,000.
Case Study 3: Emma, Surrey (Year 4)
Case Study 4: David, Manchester (Year 6)
✅ Reality Check: £60K-£100K is absolutely achievable for full-time will writers who market effectively and provide excellent service. This income level typically requires 3-5 years to build the reputation and referral network, but many reach £50K+ in year 1-2.
Let's be realistic about your first year – it takes time to build a client base and establish your reputation.
| Month | Clients | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 1-3 | £400-£1,200 | Training, setup, first clients from personal network |
| 3-4 | 2-5 | £800-£2,000 | Networking paying off, first referrals |
| 5-6 | 3-6 | £1,200-£2,400 | Word-of-mouth building |
| 7-9 | 4-7 | £1,600-£2,800 | Established local presence |
| 10-12 | 5-8 | £2,000-£3,200 | Referrals flowing consistently |
| Year 1 Total | 40-65 | £16,000-£26,000 | Part-time (10-12 hrs/week) |
After expenses (£1,400-2,000): Net profit £14,000-£24,000 in year 1
| Month | Clients | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 3-6 | £1,200-£2,400 | Intensive marketing, personal network, free seminars |
| 3-4 | 6-12 | £2,400-£4,800 | Networking groups, IFA referrals starting |
| 5-6 | 10-15 | £4,000-£6,000 | First client referrals, local reputation building |
| 7-9 | 12-18 | £4,800-£7,200 | Consistent referral flow |
| 10-12 | 15-20 | £6,000-£8,000 | Established, hitting capacity |
| Year 1 Total | 138-201 | £55,200-£80,400 | Full-time (30-40 hrs/week) |
After expenses (£8,000-12,000): Net profit £43,200-£72,400 in year 1
💡 Reality Check: These timelines assume active, consistent marketing effort. If you're passive about marketing, expect slower growth. If you're highly motivated and well-networked, you can exceed these numbers. First-year income is highly variable based on effort and marketing strategy.
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Begin Your Training →Income typically increases significantly in years 2-5 as you build reputation, referral networks, and business efficiency.
Typical part-time progression:
Typical full-time progression:
As a solo will writer, there's a natural capacity ceiling based on hours available. However, you can scale beyond this by:
Most will writers are content at £50K-90K as solo practitioners working reasonable hours. Those wanting to exceed £100K typically add probate services or build small teams.
Understanding standard pricing helps you calculate realistic income potential. Here's what will writers typically charge across the UK:
| Service | Typical Fee Range | Most Common |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £150-£250 | £180-200 |
| Mirror wills (couple) | £400-£500 | £420-450 |
| Property & Financial LPA (single) | £200-£300 | £240-260 |
| Health & Welfare LPA (single) | £150-£250 | £180-220 |
| Both LPAs (single person) | £300-£450 | £350-400 |
| Both LPAs (couple - 4 documents) | £600-£900 | £700-800 |
| Trust wills | £600-£1,200 | £800-950 |
| Will storage (annual) | £0-£30 | Free (included) |
| Will updates | £50-£150 | £75-100 |
Many will writers offer packages to increase average transaction value:
When setting your fees, consider:
💡 Pricing Tip: Most will writers charge £400-450 for mirror wills. Start there and adjust based on market research and your confidence. Don't undercut significantly – it signals lower quality and attracts price-sensitive clients who are harder to satisfy.
Will writing is a high-margin business because direct costs per client are minimal and overhead is relatively low.
| Expense Category | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional indemnity insurance | £600-900 | Required, increases with revenue |
| Will writing software | £0-360 | Free with ProjectWill, £300-600 otherwise |
| ICO registration | £40-60 | Mandatory data protection |
| Website hosting | £120-300 | DIY £120, professional £300+ |
| Marketing (cards, brochures, ads) | £300-1,500 | Variable, can be higher |
| Networking membership (BNI etc.) | £0-900 | Optional but highly effective |
| Stationery, postage (per client) | £10-15/client | Paper, envelopes, postage |
| Accountant (optional) | £0-600 | £300-600 if you use one, free if DIY |
| Misc (phone, travel, CPD) | £300-800 | Variable |
| TOTAL (Part-Time) | £1,800-3,500/year | Plus £10-15 per client |
| Expense Category | Annual Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional indemnity insurance | £1,200-1,800 | Higher cover, higher revenue |
| Will writing software | £0-600 | Free with ProjectWill |
| ICO registration | £60 | Mandatory |
| Website (professional) | £300-800 | More sophisticated for full-time |
| Marketing | £2,000-6,000 | Facebook ads, direct mail, seminars |
| Networking memberships | £600-1,500 | BNI + Chamber + local groups |
| Stationery, postage | £2,000-3,000 | 200 clients × £10-15 |
| Accountant | £800-1,500 | Recommended for full-time |
| Office setup (if applicable) | £0-3,000 | Most work from home (£0) |
| Misc, training, travel | £1,000-2,000 | CPD, conferences, expenses |
| TOTAL (Full-Time) | £10,000-£18,000/year | Includes all per-client costs |
Example: Part-time will writer, year 2
Example: Full-time will writer, year 3
✅ Key Takeaway: Will writing typically delivers 75-85% profit margins once established. This is exceptional compared to most businesses, which average 10-20% margins. The high margins mean more of your revenue goes directly to you as income.
Why do some will writers earn £25K while others earn £100K+? These factors make the difference:
Obviously, 40 hours/week generates more income than 10 hours/week. But it's not linear – efficiency improves with experience, so your 20th hour is more productive than your 5th.
Will writers who actively market (networking groups, seminars, referral relationships) earn 2-3x more than those who rely on passive word-of-mouth alone.
High-performing marketing strategies:
Charging £450 instead of £380 for mirror wills means 18% more revenue per client. Over 100 clients, that's £7,000 extra income.
Don't be afraid to charge appropriately – clients value quality service and expertise.
Will writers who only offer simple wills earn less than those who also provide:
London and South East will writers charge £480-550 for mirror wills, while North/rural charge £350-420. However, competition is also lower in some rural areas, balancing this out.
Targeting affluent clients (£500K+ estates) allows premium pricing and add-on services. Budget-focused clients are more price-sensitive and generate lower transaction values.
Will writers with good systems (software, templates, processes) complete client work in 60-90 minutes. Those without systems take 3-4 hours. That's 2-4x more clients possible with same time investment.
ProjectWill training includes software and templates that accelerate efficiency from day one.
By year 3-4, 30-50% of new clients come from referrals rather than marketing. This dramatically reduces client acquisition cost and increases profitability.
Building reputation requires:
Will writer income varies by region due to pricing differences and living costs:
| Region | Typical Mirror Will Price | Part-Time Income | Full-Time Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £500-£600 | £30K-£65K | £70K-£120K+ |
| South East | £450-£550 | £28K-£60K | £65K-£110K |
| South West, Midlands | £400-£480 | £25K-£55K | £60K-£100K |
| North England | £350-£450 | £22K-£50K | £55K-£95K |
| Scotland, Wales | £350-£420 | £22K-£48K | £55K-£90K |
| Rural areas | £350-£450 | £20K-£50K | £50K-£90K |
The income differences aren't as dramatic as pricing differences suggest because:
How does will writing income compare to other professions?
| Career | Average UK Salary | Flexibility | Startup Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Writer (part-time) | £25K-£55K | Very high | £1,500-2,000 |
| Will Writer (full-time) | £60K-£100K+ | Very high | £1,500-2,000 |
| Teacher | £30K-£45K | Low (fixed hours) | £0 (employed) |
| Nurse | £28K-£40K | Medium (shift work) | £0 (employed) |
| Accountant | £35K-£55K | Low-Medium | £0 (employed) or £5K+ (own practice) |
| Financial Advisor (IFA) | £40K-£80K | High (self-employed) | £10K-£30K (exams, compliance) |
| Solicitor | £45K-£100K+ | Low (long hours) | £30K+ (law degree + LPC) |
| Estate Agent | £25K-£50K (commission) | Medium | £0-£5K (training) |
| Mortgage Broker | £30K-£70K | High (self-employed) | £3K-£8K (qualifications) |
Will writers earning £100K+ typically employ some or all of these strategies:
Charge £500-600 for mirror wills instead of £400. With 200 clients/year, that's £20K-40K extra revenue.
See 20-25 clients per month (5-6 per week) instead of 10-15. Requires excellent marketing and systems.
Leverage software and templates to complete client work in 60-90 minutes instead of 3 hours. This allows 2-3x more clients with same time investment.
Hire part-time admin (£10-15K/year) to handle bookings, paperwork, LPA registration, freeing up 8-12 hours/week for client meetings.
Operating in London/South East where you can charge £500-600 vs. £380-420 in other regions.
Profile: Full-time, 5 years experience, South East England
✅ Is £100K+ Realistic? Yes, but it requires 3-5 years to build the reputation, systems, and referral network. It's not typical for year 1-2, but very achievable for motivated, business-minded will writers who market effectively and deliver excellent service.
Let's be honest about what it takes to reach these income levels.
Requirements:
Is this achievable?
Yes, absolutely. This is very achievable full-time, and even possible part-time (20-25 hours/week) once you're established with good referral networks.
Timeline: Most will writers reach £50K by year 2-3 if working full-time and marketing actively.
Requirements:
Is this achievable?
Yes, but requires strong systems, effective marketing, and probably 3-4 years to build the referral network. This is a comfortable full-time income without being completely overwhelmed.
Timeline: Typically year 3-5 for most full-time will writers.
Requirements:
Is this achievable?
Yes, but it's the top 10-15% of will writers. Requires excellent systems, strong marketing, premium pricing or add-on services, and usually 4-5+ years of building reputation and referral networks.
Timeline: Typically year 4-6+ for high performers.
To reach £50K-£100K, you need:
💡 Reality Check: £50K-£75K is very realistic for full-time will writers who market well and provide excellent service. £100K+ is achievable but requires top-tier marketing, systems, and usually adding services beyond basic wills (LPAs, trusts, probate). Don't expect £100K in year 1 – it's a 4-6 year progression for most who reach it.
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Begin Training Today →Will writers in the UK earn between £25,000-£100,000+ per year depending on hours worked and experience. Part-time will writers (10-15 hours/week) typically earn £25,000-£55,000, while full-time practitioners earn £60,000-£100,000+. First-year part-time earnings are usually £15,000-£35,000. Income depends on client volume, pricing, marketing effectiveness, and location.
The average UK will writer salary for established practitioners working full-time is approximately £55,000-£75,000 per year. However, as most will writers are self-employed, income varies widely. Part-time will writers average £30,000-£45,000, while top earners exceed £100,000. First-year full-time will writers typically earn £40,000-£60,000.
Yes, you can make good money as a will writer in the UK. Established full-time will writers commonly earn £60,000-£100,000+ per year with relatively low overheads (£12,000-£18,000/year). Part-time will writers earn £25,000-£55,000 working just 10-15 hours per week. The business scales well – with typical fees of £400-500 per couple and low per-client costs, profit margins are 70-85%.
Yes, will writing is highly profitable due to low overhead costs and excellent margins. With fees of £400-500 for mirror wills and direct costs under £20 per client, profit margins are 70-85%. Annual overheads (insurance, software, marketing) are just £2,000-£18,000 depending on scale. Most will writers break even on their training investment (£1,500-£2,000 with ProjectWill) within their first 2-3 months of practice.
To earn £50,000 net profit, a will writer needs approximately 145-165 clients per year charging £400 average per client, accounting for £12,000-15,000 in expenses. This breaks down to 12-14 clients per month or 3-4 per week. This is very achievable for full-time will writers and even possible part-time (20-25 hours/week) once established with strong referral networks.
Self-employed will writers can earn similar to or more than solicitors once established (£60K-£100K+ vs. £45K-£100K+ for solicitors), but with significantly lower startup costs (£1,500-2,000 vs. £30K+ for law degree and training) and greater flexibility. However, solicitors have broader earning potential in specialized legal fields. Will writing offers faster time to income and lower barriers to entry.
Most will writers get their first paid client within 2-3 weeks of completing training and setting up their business. Meaningful income (£1,500-3,000/month part-time) typically starts within 2-3 months as you build your client base through personal network and networking groups. Full-time practitioners often earn £3,000-5,000/month by month 3-4.
Will writer earnings are affected by: (1) Hours worked (part-time vs. full-time), (2) Marketing effectiveness (networking, seminars, referrals), (3) Pricing strategy (£380 vs. £500 per client), (4) Services offered (wills only vs. LPAs, trusts, probate), (5) Location (London/South East vs. North/rural), (6) Experience and reputation, (7) Efficiency and systems. Marketing and systems are the biggest differentiators.
Yes, £100K+ net profit is possible but represents the top 10-15% of will writers. It typically requires 4-6 years of building reputation, 22-25 clients per month, premium pricing (£450-600 per client), and/or additional services (trusts £800-1,200, probate £1,500-5,000+). Most £100K+ earners invest heavily in marketing (£6K-10K/year) and have efficient systems allowing high client volume.
Yes, will writers are in high demand. Only 40-45% of UK adults have a will, creating a massive market. The aging population (over-65s growing 20% by 2030) increases demand. Many solicitors have stopped offering affordable will writing, leaving a gap that will writers fill. Most will writers report consistent demand once they establish local marketing and referral networks.
It depends on your goals and circumstances. Part-time (10-15 hrs/week) earns £25K-£55K with maximum flexibility, ideal for parents, semi-retirees, or portfolio careers. Full-time (30-40 hrs/week) earns £60K-£100K+ but requires treating it as your primary career. Many start part-time to test the business, then scale up to full-time once consistent income is proven.
Will writing offers excellent income potential for the right person:
Will writing is one of the most accessible paths to a £50K-£100K income without a degree or massive startup capital. The income is real and achievable, but it requires:
If you're looking for a flexible, high-income career you can start quickly and affordably, will writing is an excellent choice.
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