20 Location Independent Business Ideas for Writers

Do you own a laptop? Do you have access to WiFi? Do you love to write (and are you skilled at it)? Do you want a job where you can work from home or travel while making money? Then you’re in the right place because I’m sharing 20 location independent business ideas for writers that you can start today.

There are many businesses for writers to start, whether you’re a creative storyteller, grammar fanatic, marketing expert, or simply love the written word. By finding an opportunity that matches your expertise and interests, you can start a business and experience the freedom and flexibility you’ve always wanted. Not to mention, these writing business ideas can make you a ton of money.

20 Location Independent Businesses for Writers that Provide Freedom, Flexibility, and Money

The freedom, flexibility, and money that come with these business ideas for writers can be a real game-changer for managing your time and lifestyle. If you have young children at home, you can structure your workday around their schedules. Or, if you love to travel, you can easily take these businesses for writers with you on the road. Of course, working independently has its challenges. But if you’re up for it, consider starting one of these location independent business ideas for writers!

Start a Copywriting Business

• What you’d do: A copywriter writes advertising and business content for companies, including web copy, ads, brochures, emails, and other marketing materials. You can niche down and offer specific services like website copywriting, or keep it versatile and offer any type of copy a business needs.
• How you’d make money: Copywriters typically charge clients per project or hourly. You can make money as a copywriter by creating offers and packages and marketing them to your ideal clients.
• How to start: The best way to start a copywriting business and get clients is to build a copywriting portfolio of work that you can show potential clients. You can learn how to create a copywriting portfolio, even if you don’t have much experience. Then use cold email, social media marketing, and word-of-mouth referrals to get your first clients.

Start a Content Marketing Business

• What you’d do: A content marketer writes content for businesses to increase awareness, engagement, and sales, including blog posts, email newsletters, social media captions, ad campaigns–you name it. As a content marketer, you can niche down or offer a wide range of content writing and marketing services. 
• How you’d make money: Content marketers typically charge clients per project or hourly for monthly or one-time projects. For example, you can offer monthly blog writing services or a one-time marketing campaign development service.
• How to start: Content marketers are skilled at creating engaging, compelling content and typically start by putting together a writing and marketing portfolio. Then, you can use cold emailing and online marketing to reach out to potential clients and promote your services.

Start an Email Marketing Business

• What you’d do: An email marketer focuses solely on developing email campaigns for businesses that build brand awareness and promote products or services to the company’s audience. Email marketers need to have strong writing and design skills and a keen understanding of what motivates people to open and click through emails. 
• How you’d make money: Email marketers work with businesses monthly or project-by-project. For example, you can offer a monthly email newsletter writing service or build a one-time sales campaign or welcome sequence for a brand. 
• How to start: The best way to start an email marketing business is to develop a few campaigns to show potential clients. Then, market your services on your business website, social pages, and professional and personal networks.

Start a PR Business

• What you’d do: PR professionals are responsible for managing the relationship between an organization or business and the public. They develop and maintain a positive image for their clients by creating and managing external communication plans. 
• How you’d make money: PR professionals typically have monthly “retainer” contracts with clients. Companies pay PR professionals monthly for ongoing services, such as writing press releases, organizing media events, and conducting social media campaigns. 
• How to start: To start, create a strong business plan for developing relationships with the media before reaching out to potential clients. Utilize your existing professional networks and sites like LinkedIn to connect with other PR professionals to build connections and begin a client list.

Start a Social Media Marketing Business

• What you’d do: Social media content creators are responsible for creating and posting content on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for businesses. Some social media companies also offer engagement and management services.
• How you’d make money: Social media marketers charge brands and businesses monthly to manage their social media pages. Another way to make money as a social media content creator is to promote outside products and services to your followers for commission (affiliate marketing).
• How to start: To start a social media marketing business, you need a strong social media presence so you can show off your skills to potential clients. Then use social media to connect with companies and organizations and share your services.

Start a Digital Advertising Business

• What you’d do: A digital advertiser helps businesses reach their target audience through paid efforts, such as social media ads and pay-per-click campaigns on Google. As a digital advertiser, you would develop ad campaigns, write ad copy, and manage campaigns, optimizing them for engagement and clicks. 
• How you’d make money: Digital advertising businesses typically make money through a combination of project-based fees and commission-based earnings. Project fees are for one-time services, such as developing a social media advertising strategy. Commission fees are based on campaign results and typically include a percentage of campaign earnings. 
• How to start: Digital advertisers need a deep understanding of the latest marketing trends and advertising platforms like Meta Business Suite and Google Ads. A great way to build an advertising business is to promote your business through ad campaigns to reach potential clients while showing your skills.

Start a Blog + Affiliate Marketing Business

• What you’d do: Bloggers can write about anything–travel, fashion, book reviews, knitting, sports, fitness, real estate–the list goes on. As a blogger, you can choose virtually any niche you’re interested in and start a website with blog posts centered around that industry. 
• How you’d make money: Bloggers typically make money by promoting products and services within their blog content through affiliate links. For example, if you’re a fashion blogger, you can partner with fashion brands and receive a commission each time someone makes a purchase through your unique link. Another way to make money blogging is hosting third-party ads on your site. 
• How to start: Start by choosing your niche, building a website for your blog, and securing affiliate links through top affiliate marketing programs. Then write high-quality, SEO-optimized blog posts relevant to your target audience and include affiliate links throughout the content. You can also target your affiliate efforts on social media and email marketing to generate more clicks to your commission-earning links.

Start a Podcast

• What you’d do: A podcaster creates audio content (and sometimes video) for listeners. Podcasters typically talk about a particular topic, like life as a military wife, true crime stories, or how to start a business. Other podcasters use their platforms for interviewing thought leaders or famous personalities (think Joe Rogan). 
• How you’d make money: Most podcasters make their content available for free, but some offer paid subscriptions that give listeners access to additional content or special features. You can also make money through advertising, sponsorships, donations, or selling products or services related to your podcast, such as merchandise, courses, or books.
• How to start: First, decide what you want to talk about, whether a passion topic or area of expertise. Next, use your writing skills to develop engaging scripts and record audio for your podcast. Post your podcast episodes on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud to reach new listeners.

Start a Newsletter

• What you’d do: You’d write, design, and send a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter about a specific niche. Your newsletter would provide valuable insights, interesting information, and attractive benefits for your readers.  
• How you’d make money: You can make money from your newsletter by offering premium content to subscribers, such as exclusive articles, behind-the-scenes access, or additional resources for a fee. You can also incorporate affiliate marketing into your content to generate income from your newsletter.
• How to start: Figure out your niche. Find an email marketing platform you like. (I recommend Flodesk–you can use my code “EARNEXPLORE” for 50% off at checkout.) Start creating great content. Promote your newsletter using social media platforms like LinkedIn to generate interest and build your email list.

Write Video Scripts for Companies

• What you’d do: As a scriptwriter, you’d write video content for businesses, depending on their company goals. For example, you could write short-form video content for social media posts on Instagram or TikTok. Or, you could write long-form content for YouTube or podcasts. 
• How you’d make money: You’d provide your scriptwriting services for a project-based or monthly fee. For example, you could charge a one-time payment to create a video campaign to generate donations for a non-profit. Or you could work with a business monthly to write social media video scripts for Reels and TikToks. 
• How to start: Creating video content for yourself and your business is the best way to show your scriptwriting skills in action. Then you can reach out to potential clients and share how you can help them grow their brand with your video content services.

Write Grants for Non-Profit Organizations

• What you’d do: Most non-profit organizations rely on grant money to run their programs and services. As a grant writer, you’d find and apply for grants on behalf of organizations, using storytelling techniques and analytics to share why the organization should receive funding.
• How you’d make money: Grant writers are hired by organizations to write grant proposals and charge a fee for their services based on the time it takes to complete an application. In some cases, grant writers may also receive a percentage of the funding awarded to the organization. 
• How to start: Learn about the grant-writing process and what organizations are looking for in a proposal. Then, get organized and develop a system for tracking deadlines, submissions, and client feedback. Next, reach out to non-profit organizations and share about your services. It’s best to have examples of grants you’ve applied to and received, whether for yourself or another organization, to show your work.

Write and Self-Publish E-Books

• What you’d do: Write and self-publish books! If you’ve always dreamed of being an author, self-publishing is an excellent way to get your books on the market. You can write a book about virtually anything, publish it with Kindle Direct Publishing from Amazon, and promote it to your followers on social media and email.
• How you’d make money: Authors make money by publishing their books and selling them for a cost. How well a book does depends on the subject matter, length, and content. It’s essential to build a following and promote your books online to sell more copies and generate more income.
• How to start: First, you need a good topic for your book that appeals to a broad audience. Once you write your book, you may consider having it professionally edited to ensure it’s ready for publication. It’s essential to build a social media following and email list while you’re in the writing stage to have people to sell your book to once it’s published.

Write and Sell Digital Courses and Products

• What you’d do: As a writer, you can write courses and create digital products to sell online. These products can be about writing or any topic that interests you, like how to make money online or how to develop and sell a course. (Yes, there are digital courses about writing and selling digital courses.)
• How you’d make money: You’d make money by selling your courses and digital products to your target audience online. You can promote your products via social media, email marketing, and digital advertising to reach more potential buyers. 
• How to start: First, you need to choose a topic you’re passionate about and people want to learn. Once you’ve chosen your subject, it’s time to start creating your course. You’ll need to put together a syllabus, write engaging content, and design helpful graphics and videos. Once your course is complete, write a sales page and promotional materials to generate interest and sales.

Offer Virtual Writing Workshops

• What you’d do: If you’re an experienced writer, you can teach others how to write by offering virtual writing workshops or 1:1 coaching. You can specialize in a specific type of writing, such as SEO content or web copy, or provide a wide range of writing techniques. 
• How you’d make money: You would change people to attend your virtual writing workshops. You could also sell supporting resources, such as workbooks, e-books, or digital courses and products.
• How to start: Build a website or online portfolio to showcase your work, attract clients, and demonstrate your writing abilities. Include samples of your work and testimonials from satisfied clients. Then market your virtual writing services using social media, blogging, and other online platforms to reach out to potential clients.

Offer Tutoring Services

• What you’d do: Writing tutors provide one-on-one or small group instruction to help people improve their writing skills. They can work with students of all ages, from elementary school children to adults. In addition to teaching basic writing skills, such as grammar and punctuation, writing tutors can help clients develop their unique voices and styles.
• How you’d make money: Tutors typically charge clients by the hour. You can start a tutoring business on your own or offer your services on a tutoring site. Keep in mind that these sites typically charge a percentage per session but make it easier to get clients quickly. 
• How to start: Determine the writing tutoring services you want to offer and your target clientele–children, high school students, college students, business owners, etc. Then decide whether you’ll start your own tutoring business or offer your services on tutoring sites to build your client list.

Offer Resume Writing Services

• What you’d do: A resume writer helps hopeful job seekers create engaging resumes that land them dream jobs. You’d work one-on-one with clients, learn about their prior work experience and skills, and write a compelling resume that stands out from the competition.
• How you’d make money: To make money as a resume writer, you would sell your services to hopeful employees looking for their next job opportunity. You can either sell resume writing packages like a “From Scratch” and a “Revision” package or charge hourly.
• How to start: To become a resume writer, you need excellent writing skills and knowledge about the latest trends in the job market. You can begin by working for a resume writing service or listing your services on job sites like Upwork.

Offer Technical Writing Services

• What you’d do: A technical writer produces written content that provides instructions or information about a specific topic. This style of writing is less creative and more factual. Typically, you’d write on subjects related to law, medicine, engineering, chemistry, or technology for established companies in those industries. 
• How you’d make money: You’d make money by securing clients for recurring projects. Technical writers charge hourly or per project for their writing services. 
• How to start: Many technical writers begin their careers in another field before transitioning into technical writing. For example, if you’re a nurse and an excellent writer, you might transition from nursing to writing for a medical company, using your education and experience to write content. Many technical writers choose to become certified through organizations such as the Society for Technical Communication to demonstrate their expertise to potential clients.

Offer Translation Services

• What you’d do: Writing translators provide a vital service by translating written materials from one language to another. This can include everything from documents and manuals to books and articles. 
• How you’d make money: Writing translators typically charge hourly or per-project depending on the scope of the work. You may even find clients who want to hire you on a monthly basis if they have a large amount of translation work.
• How to start: To become a writing translator, you need to have excellent writing skills in both the source and target languages and a strong understanding of grammar and style conventions. Many companies need translators, so you can find work on job boards or promote your services online to multilingual companies.

Offer Transcription Services

• What you’d do: Transcriptionists are professionals who listen to audio recordings and transcribe them into written form. They can work in a variety of settings, including corporate offices, law firms, and medical facilities. 
• How you’d make money: Transcriptionists typically charge by the hour or by the project. Many transcriptionists also offer value-added services, such as editing and proofreading, to help clients ensure their transcriptions are accurate and error-free. 
• How to start: Transcriptionists typically start their businesses by creating a website and marketing their services to potential clients. You can build a strong reputation and attract repeat business as a transcriptionist by providing high-quality transcripts quickly.

Offer EDITING Services

• What you’d do: Editors revise, line-edit, and copyedit books and other print and online publications. They ensure the final piece is error-free and meets the author’s or publisher’s standards. In addition to catching typos and correcting grammatical errors, editors suggest ways to improve the overall structure and flow of the text
• How you’d make money: Editors can charge clients hourly, per word, per page, or per project. It depends on the type of project you’re editing. As an editor, you can work with clients monthly to edit blog posts, e-books, articles, etc. Or you could work with authors on a single book editing project.
• How to start: Editors need a strong website and portfolio to land clients. You can start by securing work on freelance sites and job boards. Then, once you have examples of your work, you can reach out to businesses, publications, and authors you want to work for and offer your editing services.

Turn Your Passion for Writing into a Thriving Business with These Location Independent Business Ideas for Writers

I was once in your shoes–I had a love for writing and a desire to live a location independent lifestyle, but I didn’t know how to combine the two. Once I discovered the vast businesses for writers, everything changed. I started a content marketing business (Synergy Content Marketing) and began making money online from anywhere. And you can too! If one of these writing business ideas for writers piqued your interest, I encourage you to go for it. And reach out to me with any questions. I know what it takes to grow a business from nothing to six figures, and I am happy to help you do it too.