How to Hire a Freelance Copywriter for Your Small Business

Every small business has a story to tell – and the right words help customers listen.

From improving search visibility to increasing enquiries and sales, the right messaging can have a measurable impact on your business.

That’s where a freelance copywriter for small business owners can make a real difference.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• Why hiring a copywriter makes sense
• How to find the best copywriter for small budgets
• What services a business copywriter actually provides
• Where to look for UK talent
• How to measure return on investment (ROI)

Let’s get into it.

Why hire a freelance copywriter for your small business?

Good copy does more than “sound nice.” It helps your business:

• Get found on search engines (including Google and AI)
• Turn website visitors into enquiries
• Improve email open rates
• Increase sales
• Save you time

Many founders try to handle small business copywriting themselves. That works for a while, but as you grow, your time becomes more valuable.

1. It saves you time

Time is your most valuable resource.

• Website pages
• SEO blog posts
• Email campaigns
• Product descriptions

Writing these takes hours. A freelance copywriter handles that for you so you can focus on running the business.

2. It improves conversions

A professional small business copywriter knows how to:

• Highlight benefits, not just features
• Write strong calls to action
• Structure pages for clarity
• Reduce friction in the buying journey
• Even small tweaks can lift conversions

Say your website gets 1,000 visitors a month; a small improvement in conversion rate can mean serious extra revenue.

3. It strengthens your brand

Your tone of voice matters.

Are you:

• Friendly and straight-talking?
• Premium and polished?
• Bold and disruptive?

A freelance copywriter for small businesses can help define and protect your brand voice across every channel.

What services does a business copywriter provide?

A business copywriter does more than “write stuff”.

Here are the most common copywriting services for small businesses:

Website copy

This includes:

• Homepages
• Service pages
• Landing pages
• About pages

Good website copy explains what you do, who it’s for, and why someone should choose you.

It also improves your search rankings when written with SEO in mind.

SEO blog content

Freelance copywriting for small businesses often focuses on blog content.

SEO blog posts can:

• Drive traffic
• Answer customer questions
• Build authority
• Support sales

This is especially helpful for SMEs competing against larger brands.

Better rankings = more organic traffic.

Email marketing

From welcome sequences to newsletters to sales campaigns, strong email copy can:

• Increase open rates
• Improve click-through rates
• Drive repeat sales

Product descriptions

If you sell online, your product pages need to convert.

A small business copywriter can:

• Highlight benefits
• Address objections
• Improve clarity
• Increase add-to-cart rates

Sales pages and ads

Short-form copy is just as important as long-form.

A skilled copywriter for business knows how to write:

• Paid ads
• Social captions
• Sales funnels

Freelance copywriter vs. in-house marketing

You might wonder whether to hire in-house instead. Here’s the difference:

Freelance copywriters	In-house marketing
Flexible	Full-time salary
Pay per project	Ongoing management
No salary, pension or HR costs	Higher long-term cost
Ideal for ad-hoc work	Best for constant, high-volume output

For most small businesses in their infancy, freelance support can be a good option – you get specialist skills without long-term commitment.

Finding the best copywriter for small budgets

Many founders assume copywriters are expensive, but hiring a freelancer is often far more affordable than hiring a marketing agency.

Here’s why:

• Freelancers have lower overheads
• No agency layers or account managers
• You deal directly with the writer

What should you expect to pay?

You might see:

• Per word pricing (common for blogs)
• Per project pricing (e.g. website rewrite)
• Day rates
• Retainers (monthly content support)

For small businesses, project pricing is often the clearest option. You know the cost upfront.

Rates vary based on experience and niche. You might see:

• £250–£600 for a website page
• £150–£400 for an SEO blog post
• £300–£800 per day rate

Cheapest is not always best. Look for value, not just price, and be clear about the scope. Cheap copy that doesn’t convert is more expensive in the long run.

Be sure to ask for:

• Portfolio examples
• Testimonials
• Case studies
• Measurable results

A great copywriter for small business will understand commercial goals – not just grammar.

Where to find a freelance copywriter in the UK

If you’re searching for a copywriter for your small business, here’s where to look:

LinkedIn

• Check recommendations and portfolio links.
• Search by keywords (e.g. “freelance copywriter UK”) and filter by industry or experience.
• You can also post a job or reach out directly to writers whose work you like.

ProCopywriters network

The ProCopywriters directory lists vetted UK professionals.

These writers are usually experienced and specialise in different sectors.

Freelance platforms

Sites like:

• Upwork
• PeoplePerHour
• Fiverr Pro

However, quality varies – so be sure to check reviews carefully and request samples.

Referrals

Perhaps the most reliable: ask other business owners. Word of mouth often leads to the best fit.

How to brief a copywriter

A clear brief saves time and money. Here’s a simple checklist you can use:

• Project type (e.g. homepage rewrite, blog article, email campaign)
• Word count (or approximate length if you’re unsure)
• Target audience (who you’re trying to reach – industry, role, level of knowledge)
• Goal (e.g. enquiries, sales, downloads, brand awareness)
• Key problem your product solves (what pain point are you addressing?)
• Unique selling points (what makes you different from competitors)
• Tone of voice (e.g. friendly, bold, formal – or link to brand guidelines)
• Key messages (must-have points or claims to include)
• Competitor examples (websites or content you like/dislike – and why)
• Deadline (including any review rounds or milestones)
• Budget range (helps writers scope appropriately and suggest the right approach)

The clearer your brief, the better the result. If you’re unsure, a good freelance copywriter will ask the right questions.

How to measure ROI from copywriting

Copywriting is not just “creative work” – it should drive results. Here are some signs of success to look out for:

• Increased website traffic
• Higher Google rankings
• Improved enquiry rates
• Higher email open and click rates
• More sales

For example:

If your old landing page converted at 2% and the new one converts at 4%, you have doubled performance. That’s measurable return.

Small business copywriting should always link back to growth.

Should small businesses and SMEs invest in copywriting?

Yes. Whether you call yourself a small business or an SME, the goal is the same: growth.

Strong copy can:

• Increase sales
• Attract better leads
• Build authority
• Support funding applications
• Impress investors

In crowded markets, clarity wins.

Funding your small business marketing strategy

Professional copywriting requires upfront investment. If you’re planning:

• A website relaunch
• A rebrand
• A new marketing campaign
• SEO content rollout

That can feel like a big outlay. The return may come over months – but the invoice lands today.

If cash flow is tight, spreading the cost of marketing investment can help protect working capital. A Fleximize business loan could help you:

• Fund your website build
• Hire a freelance copywriter
• Launch paid campaigns
• Spread the cost over manageable monthly repayments

Instead of draining cash reserves, you can invest confidently and keep day-to-day operations running smoothly.

Check your funding options today and see how Fleximize can support your next stage of growth.

Final thoughts

Hiring a copywriter for small business success is a key part of your growth strategy. If you:

• Struggle to find the right words
• Want better results from your website and business
• Need consistent, professional messaging

A freelance copywriter could be one of the smartest hires you make this year. And if you’re serious about scaling your small business, strong copy is one of the smartest investments you can make.