Freelance writing: Start and grow your business in Canada

Published Saturday 31 January 2026

Table of contents

• What does a freelance writer do?
• What types of writing do freelance writers do?
• How much can freelance writers earn?
• Step-by-step guide for starting a freelance writing business
• Where to find freelance writing jobs
• Managing your freelance writing business finances
• Turn your writing passion into a thriving business
• FAQs on freelance writing

Key takeaways

• Choose a specific writing niche based on your interests and experience to reduce research time and position yourself as a go-to expert in that area.
• Build a portfolio with 3-5 high-quality writing samples through guest posting, starting a blog, or creating spec pieces that demonstrate your skills to potential clients.
• Set aside 25-40% of your gross freelance income for taxes and CPP contributions, and use accounting software to track expenses and manage irregular income effectively.
• Use multiple client-finding strategies including professional job boards like LinkedIn Jobs and ProBlogger, freelance platforms for initial experience, and direct outreach to businesses in your target niche.

What does a freelance writer do?

A freelance writer is a self-employed contractor who creates written content for multiple clients across different industries and mediums. They work independently rather than as traditional employees.

Key responsibilities include:

• Writing and editing: Creating content like articles, blog posts, marketing copy, and technical documents
• Client management: Meeting with clients, understanding project requirements, and delivering work on deadline
• Business administration: Managing invoices, contracts, taxes, and marketing their services

Work arrangements vary widely:

• Remote work: Most freelancers work from home or co-working spaces.
• Flexible scheduling: You control your hours and workload.
• Income variability: Earnings can fluctuate based on client demand and project volume, with research showing that 63% of freelancers are reporting irregular income month to month.
• Self-employment responsibilities: You handle your own taxes, benefits, and business expenses.

What types of writing do freelance writers do?

Freelance writing opportunities span multiple industries and content types. Writers can choose to be generalists who tackle various projects or specialists who focus on specific niches.

Popular writing categories include:

• Print publications: Write articles for magazines and newspapers.
• Websites: Write web pages, sales pages, blog posts, video scripts, and SEO content to drive traffic to websites.
• Business writing: Write press releases, emails, newsletters, technical documents, white papers, video scripts, and case studies.
• Social media: Write copy for social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Writers who specialize in a niche mostly choose a broad niche that provides some variety. Niches can be by type of writing or the subject. Popular types of writing include email marketing, content marketing, sales pages, and technical writing.

This is a growing field, and analysts expect the content marketing industry to keep expanding. Popular topics include ecommerce, business-to-business (B2B), travel, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and cryptocurrency.

How much can freelance writers earn?

One of the biggest questions for aspiring freelancers is about earning potential. Your income as a freelance writer depends on several factors, including your experience, your chosen niche, and the types of clients you work with.

When you're starting out, you might take on lower-paying projects to build your portfolio. But it's possible to earn a good income, even early on; studies show the average annual income for Canadian freelance writers ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. With a couple of solid clients, earning $1,000 a month or more is an achievable goal.

As you gain experience and specialize, you can increase your rates and take on more complex, higher-value projects. The key is to see yourself as a business owner and price your services confidently.

Step-by-step guide for starting a freelance writing business

Starting a freelance writing business requires strategic planning and consistent effort. Most successful writers build their business gradually over 6–12 months while maintaining other income sources.

This step-by-step approach helps you build a sustainable writing business:

1. Get experience in the field

Building a writing portfolio demonstrates your skills to potential clients. Focus on creating three to five high-quality samples that showcase your abilities.

Portfolio development strategies:

• Start a blog or Substack: Write about topics you already know well to reduce research time
• Guest posting: Offer to write for businesses or publications in exchange for published clips
• Spec samples: Create sample pieces for target clients to show your understanding of their needs
• Entry-level platforms: Use sites like Upwork,Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour to gain initial experience and client testimonials

2. Choose your specialty

Make a list of your interests and past experience. Having a specialty doesn't mean you don't write about other subjects, but knowing a topic or subtopic reduces the amount of research you have to do when writing.

Choose a writing niche from your list. It can be a type of content or a topic area. You're not locked into your niche forever, but it provides you with your point of difference and expertise that can help you become a "go-to" writer in that area. For example, if you have a background in marketing and advertising, you could focus your writing on marketing communications.

3. Get the basic writing equipment

Essential equipment for freelance writing requires minimal upfront investment:

Required tools:

• Computer: Laptop or desktop for writing and communication
• Reliable internet: For research, client calls, and file sharing
• Phone: For client communication and video calls
• Workspace: Dedicated area with ergonomic seating

Optional upgrades:

• Second monitor: Improves productivity for research and editing
• Printer: Helpful for proofreading hard copies
• Upgraded chair: Reduces fatigue during long writing sessions

4. Write some sample pieces

You'll need to gain experience and develop your skills. Creating and adding pieces to your portfolio helps prove your writing ability. Here are some ways to develop your portfolio with writing samples:

• Offer to guest blog for a business, charity, or a writer friend to get something published online. This can be a low-pressure way to get your foot in the door.
• Start your own blog to showcase your writing skills and develop your expertise in your chosen niche. WordPress and Substack are popular and free, and when you build up a following, you can charge for premium content there.
• Study types of writing and clients you want to write for and try writing some spec samples in the same tone of voice or brand.

You need to stay alert to scams. Comparitech provides advice on some common scams and scam artists who prey on people looking for work, such as freelance writers. Research potential clients online, check any offer carefully, and only share personal financial information with verified clients.

5. Find a place to host your writing portfolio

There are different hosting options for hosting your online portfolio that don't need to cost a lot of money. Many freelance writers create a basic website. You can buy a domain name that matches your writing name and start a website on WordPress or Squarespace. Ideally, your portfolio should have a home page, about, services, and portfolio pages.

If you prefer not to have a website, there are other options. Some good ones include:

• Authory
• Muck Rack
• Clippings.me
• Pressfolios
• Contently

Add five or six pieces of your best work to your portfolio, and update it over time to reflect your experience with different clients.

6. Set your prices

Decide on the prices for your writing. You don't want to charge too little and undervalue your work, or too much and scare off potential clients. Also, decide if you want to charge by the word or by the complexity of the assignment. LinkedIn has some suggestions on how to determine your rate.

In many cases, your client will determine how much they're paying; you have the option to accept or reject the work. Determining your worth beforehand will tell you whether the job is worth taking.

7. Find clients for your writing

Finding freelance writing clients requires a multi-channel approach. Different strategies work better at different stages of your business.

Job board strategies:

• Professional platforms:LinkedIn Jobs and ProBlogger offer higher-quality opportunities.
• Social media: Follow editors and decision-makers for early access to openings.
• Industry-specific boards: Target publications in your niche area.

Freelance platforms:

• Benefits: Quick access to projects and built-in payment protection.
• Drawbacks: High competition and often lower rates.
• Best practices: Focus on building reviews and gradually increasing your rates.

Prepare an elevator pitch for speaking about your writing services. It can be handy to describe what you do in a nutshell when you network or meet people at events.

You might want to reach out to local businesses who might need freelance writers. Explain what you have to offer.

Start a spreadsheet to track your applications. Include the date, the site, and the original listing. This can be helpful for future reference.

For more experienced writers, to get regular work, you need to get comfortable with pitching your ideas. Cold pitching is a part of freelance writing and finding clients. Check online for the contact email address. Keep your pitch email short but clear, and think carefully about the subject line.

8. Market your freelance writing services

Marketing your freelance writing services builds long-term client relationships and increases your rates over time.

Digital presence essentials:

• Professional website: Showcases your portfolio and makes you easy to find
• LinkedIn optimization: Connect with potential clients and share industry insights
• Strategic social media: Choose one or two platforms where your target clients spend time
• Content marketing: Share writing tips and industry knowledge to demonstrate expertise

Set up a LinkedIn profile with a link to your portfolio. You can add pieces of your work to the featured section. Follow other writers, as well as businesses you would like to write for.

Tell all of your friends and family about your freelance writing career. They're often the best sources of writing jobs when you first start out.

Try attending small networking events and small business association meetings to meet and network with other business owners. Learn about their needs and their current pain points. It will help you pitch them for their business.

9. Get testimonials from clients

You can ask your past clients and anyone you've written for to write a testimonial about your services. Post the testimonials on your website and share them on your social media. A good testimonial should be two or three sentences.

Some people struggle to give a testimonial as they don't know what they are saying. Try asking them a few questions to help elicit a useful review, for example, What was your experience like using my services?

You can also ask clients on LinkedIn to recommend your writing skills or write a review. Having a variety of sources adds to your writing credibility.

10. Set up your business systems and processes

Setting up business systems ensures professional operations and financial compliance from day one.

Essential business processes:

• Legal structure: Choose between a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company (LLC), or a corporation
• Tax registration: Obtain necessary business licences and tax identification numbers
• Financial management: Set up business banking and accounting software for expense tracking
• Contract templates: Create standard agreements for client work and payment terms
• Invoice systems: Implement professional invoicing with clear payment terms

Why proper financial setup matters: Freelance writers often struggle with irregular income and tax obligations. To manage this, it's recommended to set aside 25-40% of your gross freelance income for taxes and CPP contributions. Professional accounting software helps track expenses, manage cash flow, and prepare for quarterly tax payments.

Where to find freelance writing jobs

Once you have your portfolio and niche, it's time to find clients. Finding consistent work is the key to a successful freelance career. Fortunately, there are many places to look for opportunities.

• Online job boards like ProBlogger and the LinkedIn Jobs section frequently post writing gigs.
• Content marketing platforms such as Contently or ClearVoice connect writers with brands.
• Networking with other writers and business owners on social media can lead to referrals.
• Direct outreach, or cold pitching, to companies you admire can also land you great clients.

Managing your freelance writing business finances

As a freelance writer, you're not just a creative; you're a business owner. Managing your finances is crucial for long-term success. This means tracking your income, logging business expenses, sending professional invoices, and setting aside money for taxes.

Using accounting software can simplify these tasks. It helps you see your cash flow in real-time, automates invoicing, and makes tax time less stressful. Staying organized with your finances allows you to focus on what you do best: writing.

Turn your writing passion into a thriving business

Starting a freelance writing business is a journey that combines your creative talent with smart business practices. By building your skills, finding your niche, and managing your finances effectively, you can create a flexible and rewarding career.

Xero makes it easy to run your business, not your books. With tools for invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting, you can manage your freelance finances with confidence. Try Xero for free to see how it can support your business.

FAQs on freelance writing

Here are answers to some common questions about starting a freelance writing business.

Can I start freelance writing with no experience?

Yes, you can. Start by creating sample pieces for your portfolio, guest posting on blogs, or offering your services to non-profits. The key is to build a collection of work that demonstrates your writing skills to potential clients.

Do you need a degree to be a freelance writer?

No, a degree is not required. While a background in English, journalism, or communications can be helpful, most clients care more about the quality of your writing and your expertise in their industry. A strong portfolio is more valuable than a diploma.

How do freelance writers handle taxes?

As a self-employed individual, you're responsible for paying your own income tax and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions. It's important to track all your business income and expenses throughout the year. Many freelancers pay estimated taxes quarterly to avoid a large bill at the end of the year.

In Canada, you may need to pay your income tax in instalments if your net tax owing is more than $3,000 in the current year and was also over $3,000 in either of the two prior years. Using accounting software can help you keep accurate records for tax time.