The 3 Biggest Mistakes New Copywriters Make When Setting Up Their Business

The 3 Biggest Mistakes New Copywriters Make When Setting Up Their Business

When I left my corporate job back in 2018 to start my copywriting business, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.

No business plan. No roadmap. No strategy.

Just a laptop, a prayer, and a whole lot of determination to never work for someone else again. 😅

Honestly? I learned most things the hard way. Through trial, error, and quite a few teary moments on my kitchen floor wondering if I'd made a massive mistake.

But here's the good news: you don't have to do it that way.

After helping hundreds of copywriters build businesses they love through my programme Paid to Write, I've seen the same mistakes come up again and again.

Today, I'm sharing the three biggest ones - and how to avoid them, no matter what stage you're at.

Mistake #1: Trying to serve everyone (because you're afraid to niche down)

I get it. When you're first starting out, turning away ANY potential client feels terrifying.

"But if I specialise in one area, I'll be leaving money on the table!"

"I don't have enough experience to niche yet!"

"I should say yes to everything while I'm building my portfolio!"

Does this sound familiar? I hear this all the time from my Aspiring Copywriters and Career Rebuilders especially.

Here's the truth: When you try to appeal to everyone, you end up appealing to no one.

Think about it from a client's perspective. If you need heart surgery, do you go to a general doctor or a heart specialist? If your business needs SEO-optimised blog posts for the finance industry, would you rather hire someone who "does all types of writing" or someone who specialises in SEO content for financial brands?

The specialist wins every time.

How this shows up for different copywriter types:

• Aspiring Copywriters often avoid specialising because they fear missing opportunities, but end up with a scattered portfolio that doesn't clearly communicate their value.
• Side Hustlers say yes to whatever comes their way, creating an inconsistent service offering that's hard to market in limited time.
• Skilled But Overworked Copywriters take on any client who'll pay, leading to burnout and resentment from working on projects they don't enjoy.

The solution: You don't need to pick a super-narrow niche forever, but you do need to start somewhere. Choose ONE type of copy to focus on first (emails, websites, social posts) and ONE ideal client type. You can always expand later.

Mistake #2: Undercharging (and then resenting your clients)

This one's a killer, and I've been guilty of it myself.

When I landed my first big client, I was so excited that someone was willing to pay me ANYTHING that I quoted far below market rate. Six months later, I was working 50+ hours a week, feeling trapped, and secretly resenting the very clients I'd been so grateful for.

Here's the truth: The prices you set aren't just about money - they're about the energy you bring to your work.

When you undercharge, you create a business model that's unsustainable. You have to take on too many clients, you have no time for your own business development, and quality inevitably suffers.

How this shows up for different copywriter types:

• Confident Corporate Leavers often undervalue their extensive professional experience, forgetting that their industry knowledge is worth a premium.
• Career Rebuilders struggle with confidence in pricing, feeling they need to "earn their way back" with low rates.
• Side Hustlers treat their business as "extra money" rather than valuing their time properly.

The solution: Research standard rates in your niche, then add 20%. Seriously. Most new copywriters undercharge by at least that much. Remember that you're not just charging for the time it takes to write - you're charging for your expertise, creativity, and the results your work delivers.

Mistake #3: Having no systems (or trying to build perfect ones)

When you're just starting out, systems might seem like something for "real businesses" to worry about.

Or, if you're a recovering perfectionist like me, you might go to the other extreme - spending weeks building elaborate client management systems before you've even had a single client call.

Both approaches are problems.

Here's the truth: Good systems aren't about complexity - they're about consistency.

Without basic systems, you'll reinvent the wheel with every client, waste time on administrative tasks, and appear less professional. But over-engineering your systems before you've tested them with real clients is just procrastination in disguise.

How this shows up for different copywriter types:

• Aspiring Copywriters often have no systems at all, leading to chaotic client experiences and missed deadlines.
• Ready-to-Scale Copywriters hit a ceiling because they've built systems around themselves rather than ones that can be delegated.
• Overworked Copywriters waste hours on tasks that could be systematised or automated, keeping them stuck in the delivery grind.

The solution: Start with just three simple systems: a client onboarding process, a project management system (even a simple Trello board will do), and a template for your most common deliverable. Add complexity only when your business actually needs it.

Why Having the Right Roadmap Makes All the Difference

These mistakes aren't character flaws - they're natural growing pains that come from building a business without a clear roadmap.

Each type of copywriter faces different challenges and needs different strategies to overcome them. What works for a Side Hustler won't work for a Ready-to-Scale Copywriter. What helps a Career Rebuilder might completely overwhelm an Aspiring Copywriter.

That's why I created my Copywriter Type Quiz - to help you identify exactly where you are in your journey and what specific strategies will help you move forward.

In just 3 minutes, you'll discover:

• Which of the 6 copywriter types you are right now
• The exact challenges holding you back (and how to overcome them)
• The specific next steps to take your copywriting business to the next level

👉🏻 Take the free quiz now

No one builds a successful business by chance. The most successful copywriters I know - the ones making £5K, £10K, or even £20K months - all followed a clear roadmap that matched their specific starting point and goals.

You deserve that too!

Love,
Chantelle x