If you’re considering outside writing support, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is what it costs. The cost to hire a professional freelance B2B writer varies based on experience, complexity, and the role the content plays in your sales process. We’ll explore typical ranges, what drives pricing, and how organizations can decide what level of investment makes sense for them.
Three tiers of talent
Freelance business writing typically falls into three broad tiers. There are entry-level, high-volume writers who typically have the lowest cost but also limited depth of knowledge. In addition, high-volume freelance writers are often located offshore in countries and cultures where American English isn’t prevalent. The second tier is mid-level professional writers, who generally provide solid execution at a moderate cost. Finally, there are senior-level B2B writers like Scott Flood whose initially higher cost is offset by content that’s strategy-aligned and credibility-focused.
What do B2B writers charge?
We’ll share some common industry-wide ranges. Please note that these are not specific quotes, because every project – and writer – is unique.
Blog posts
- Entry-level: $75–$200
- Mid-level: $200–$600
- Senior B2B writer: $600–$1,500+
Case studies
- Entry-level: $200–$500
- Mid-level: $500–$1,500
- Senior B2B writer: $1,500–$4,000+
White papers
- Entry-level: $500–$1,500
- Mid-level: $1,500–$4,000
- Senior B2B writer: $4,000–$12,000+
Website service pages
- Entry-level: $100–$300 per page
- Mid-level: $300–$900
- Senior B2B writer: $900–$2,500+
Ghostwritten leadership articles
- Entry-level: $150–$400
- Mid-level: $400–$1,200
- Senior B2B writer: $1,200–$3,500+
Why do senior-level freelance writers cost more?
When you engage a freelance B2B writer to handle your project, you’re not just paying for the words they produce. What you’re really paying for is a faster and deeper understanding of your business, better and more direct questions during the interview process, strong structure and flow, and fewer revision cycles. Senior B2B writers typically produce content leadership will be proud to use and that supports real sales conversations. In addition, working with senior-level writers means less time wasted in multiple revisions and internal editing.
What actually drives the price of a writing project?
There are four primary factors that contribute to the cost of a writing project. The first of these is the complexity of the topic. For example, there’s a big difference in writing about how an air conditioner can cool an office and explaining how a desiccant system can remove excess moisture from an industrial setting such as an ice cream production facility. Another example is the difference between a general blog post on basic budgeting and a ghostwritten exploration of the impact of a new law.
Another key factor is how accessible the organization’s subject matter experts will be. If conducting interviews involves extensive planning and having to chase people down, it’s going to demand more time than if the experts are local and easy to reach. The more work that’s involved, the bigger the cost is likely to be. The third factor is the strategic importance of the project. The more important the project is to the company’s communication or marketing efforts, the more care that will need to be taken with the content, and the more reviews and revisions that are likely to be involved.
The fourth key factor is the longevity of the content. Producing a blog post that’s going to be viewed by consumers for a short time will take less thought and effort than creating marketing assets that will be expected to serve the company’s needs for the next several years. Projects such as case studies and white papers will require significantly more time and effort to develop, and their cost typically reflects that fact.
How will the project be priced?
Just as there are a variety of project types, the financial arrangements between a company and a freelance writer vary. Some writers prefer to work on an hourly basis, charging a set per-hour rate and then invoicing the client for the time expended. This approach is often considered to be best for shorter-term projects such as editing and consulting. However, Scott Flood generally does not prefer to charge by the hour, because doing so creates a disincentive for efficiency and productivity. Sometimes writers will charge a fairly low hourly rate and try to make it up by slowing down the project or overstating the actual number of hours involved.
The per-project approach is the way Scott Flood Writing prefers to do business. At the start of the engagement, the writer reviews the process and expected deliverables with the client and determines a total project price. That way, both the writer and the client know what to expect. The client has a predictable cost that’s easy to budget, while the writer has an incentive to work more efficiently. Per-project costs are ideal for content such as white papers, case studies, and web pages.
The third approach involved a retainer or similar arrangement, in which the client pays a set amount every month to cover the anticipated work during that month. Scott Flood frequently handles ongoing ghostwriting projects this way, because it’s predictable for everyone involved. In addition, long-term projects often require a great deal more time in the early stages than down the road, and the retainer approach balances things out over time.
Which is the best approach for our project?
Before thinking about the cost, it pays to consider what will happen if the project is successful. If a case study or white paper gains a new customer or a big order for the client, the writing cost becomes small relative to revenue. Put another way, the value of the writer’s work should be tied to business impact, not word count.
When is Scott Flood Writing a good fit?
A professional, experienced B2B writer like Scott Flood is generally a good fit when organizations want senior-level writing without agency overhead, content that supports sales conversations, materials leadership will actually approve and use with pride, writing that reflects real expertise, assistance with turning complex ideas into clear explanations, and a predictable process that doesn’t consume excessive time for busy employees. It’s usually not the lowest-cost option—nor is it designed to be. Instead, the goal is fewer headaches and stronger finished pieces.