Start a copywriting and ghostwriting: the real numbers
Copy for companies and newsletters. Below is what it actually costs, how long before money arrives,
and the part most guides leave out.
Startup capital
€150–€600
Hours / week
8–35
First income
~4 wks
Net margin
92%
Saturation
high
Realistic ceiling
€800–€3,500
What nobody usually tells you
The ceiling is almost entirely positioning: the gap between three cents a word and forty has nothing to do with writing quality, only the field you write in.
The route, in five steps
Pick a field where money moves: finance, software, healthcare
Write three sample pieces for real companies
Bill per project, never per word
Offer a retainer: weekly newsletter, four pieces a month
Turn down underpaid work as soon as you can afford to
What you'll need to buy
These are the categories every copywriting and ghostwriting pays for in the first month.
We break down what each one actually costs at this size on the
tools page.
portfolioagency profilesresearch tools
Does it hold up for you?
These numbers are the average case. Whether this business clears your target depends on
your capital, your hours and how long you can wait — put them in and see.