Freelance Writing Business

How Much Money Do Freelance Writing Businesses Make? (2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: June 23rd, 2024

TL;DR:

Based on our data, freelance writing businesses can make between $700-$500,000 per month.
The average revenue for a successful freelance writing business is $65.5K per month.
The highest grossing freelance writing business in our records makes over $6,000,000 per year.
Freelance writing business owners salaries can vary wildly depending on industry, niche, and size of the business

So you're thinking about starting a freelance writing business?

And now you're wondering how much freelance writing business owners actually make...

Well, let’s dive in!

Here are example of real freelance writing businesses and how much money they make - as reported by the founders themselves:

1. Platypus Publishing ($3.84M/year)

Matt Rudnitsky, founder of Platypus Publishing, came up with the idea for his business after self-publishing his own book and realizing the potential in helping others do the same. He began by offering editing and coaching services, and eventually expanded to offer a done-for-you book service and an online course. Through organic growth and personalized outreach, Matt has built his business without the need for a formal launch or large budgets.

How much money it makes: $3.84M/year

2. Article-Writing Co ($1.5M/year)

David Tile, the founder of Article-Writing.co, originally tried to start a penny auction website after college but failed. He then turned to freelance writing to make some cash, which eventually led to him building a successful content writing service. With $40k - $50k in monthly revenue from clients like Answers.com, Tile's business has grown without any outside funding, emphasizing the importance of taking action and adapting to market forces.

How much money it makes: $1.5M/year

3. Publishing Services ($864K/year)

While self-publishing her own books, Laura Mikkelsen realized many independent authors struggled with marketing. This led her to create Publishing Services, initially offering just book descriptions in 2019; now, it nets $72,000 monthly.

How much money it makes: $864K/year

4. Content-Whale Private Limited ($750K/year)

Vaibhav Kishnani, an engineer turned writer, came up with the idea for Content-Whale after noticing the unprofessional conduct in the Indian content market. With just Rs. 2,500 ($35) in capital, he started the content agency which now generates a revenue turnover of Rs. 4 crores ($514,000) and serves clients like Quikr and The Boston Consulting Group.

How much money it makes: $750K/year

5. Write of Passage ($300K/year)

After taking Tiago Forte's course, David wanted to help 1,000 people start writing online. He was so excited he even tweeted about it and approached it as a challenge.

How much money it makes: $300K/year

6. Writing Revolt ($300K/year)

Getting fired was what had finally propelled her into starting her own freelance writing business, and she thought that the urgency of having no backup plan was what had really pushed her to succeed.

How much money it makes: $300K/year

7. Sauce Writing ($150K/year)

He realized the potential of writing when he landed his first job in Marketing. His mission was to learn everything he could about copywriting. In parallel, he created a personal blog and built a decent following. People loved his writing, so he decided to launch a writing school.

How much money it makes: $150K/year

8. Writing Income Accelerator ($120K/year)

friends who turned out to be a nightmare to work with. They were demanding, changed their minds constantly, and didn't want to pay my fees. But I learned to be firm with my boundaries, set clear expectations, and communicate effectively to avoid any misunderstandings or difficult situations in the future. It's important to remember that not every client is going to be a perfect fit, and it's okay to say no to those who don't align with your values or work style.

How much money it makes: $120K/year

9. The Wee Writer ($72K/year)

Emma Sloan, founder of The Wee Writer, came up with the idea for her content writing business while she was still in university. She realized that many businesses struggled with crafting compelling marketing content and saw an opportunity to provide done-for-you writing services. With a focus on writing, editing, and social media calendar creation, The Wee Writer has grown its client base by over 40% since 2020 and aims to break $100k in revenue by 2024.

How much money it makes: $72K/year

10. Angelella Editorial ($54K/year)

Kate Angelella, the founder of Angelella Editorial, came up with the idea for her freelance editorial business after leaving her job at Simon & Schuster Children's Books. Not knowing what to do for work in a new city, she decided to dip her toe into freelance editing and found success through networking on Twitter and working with clients on projects. With the support of a co-founder and a team of editors, Angelella Editorial now offers various services to authors and has become a thriving business.

How much money it makes: $54K/year