HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire a CV writer in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies to CV writers. Here is how to protect your details, keep the CV honest and spot a bad package.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a CV writer in five steps

  1. Look at sample CVsFor roles and levels like yours.
  2. Agree the packageCV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, revisions and turnaround.
  3. Prepare your factsDates, roles, achievements with figures, qualifications.
  4. Keep every claim trueYou will be asked about it at interview, and employers check.
  5. Check how your details are keptSecure storage and deletion after delivery.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses CV writers in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and professional memberships are voluntary. Samples, reviews from booked jobs and clear terms are the checks.

Ask the CV writer for anonymised samples at your level.

Your personal data

Data protection rules require businesses to keep personal information secure and use it only as people were told; most must pay the ICO fee.

Ask how the CV writer stores your details and when they delete them. gov.uk →

Agencies cannot charge for finding work

gov.uk's summary of the Conduct Regulations says employment agencies and businesses cannot charge a work-seeker a fee for work-finding services. A paid CV service must be a separate, optional service.

If an agency asks you to pay for a CV to be put forward for jobs, ask what the fee is for. gov.uk →

Ownership of the CV

The CV is a written work, and under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 the writer owns it unless they assign it. You need to be free to edit and reuse it.

Ask for the CV to be assigned to you, or for a clear right to use and edit it. legislation.gov.uk →

VAT

CV writing is standard-rated, so a registered CV writer adds 20% to the package, the consultation and any express fee. Registration becomes compulsory once a CV writer has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the CV writer for the VAT number before paying and for the package price and VAT shown separately. gov.uk →

“Can I see CVs you have written for roles like mine?”

A good answer: Anonymised samples at your level, from the CV writer.

“What does the CV writer's package include?”

A good answer: CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, consultation and revisions listed.

“How many CV revisions are included?”

A good answer: A number, and the cost of more.

“What is the writer's turnaround?”

A good answer: A date, and the price of express delivery.

“How will the CV writer keep my details confidential?”

A good answer: Secure storage and deletion after the work.

“Will the writer make the CV work with applicant tracking systems?”

A good answer: Plain formatting and the right wording for your target roles.

“Can I edit the CV myself later?”

A good answer: Yes: you get an editable file and the right to change it.

Getting the quote right

  • Package contents: CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile
  • Who actually attends the consultation and writes the CV: the CV writer you chose, or a subcontracted writer
  • Consultation length
  • Revision rounds
  • Turnaround and express fee
  • File formats, including an editable version
  • The VAT number, and VAT at 20% on the CV package

Walk away if

  • Suggests inventing qualifications or roles
  • Guarantees interviews or jobs
  • Only delivers a locked PDF
  • No samples
  • Vague about confidentiality
  • A job agency charging you to find work
LOW
£50
TYPICAL
£99
HIGH
£219

What a CV writer costs: £50–£219 per CV

CV writers usually charge a fixed price per CV or package, with extras for cover letters, LinkedIn and express delivery. CV Writer price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

CV writers near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. ConsultationA call or questionnaire about your experience and targets.
  2. DraftA CV written around achievements.
  3. Keyword tailoringWording matched to the roles you want.
  4. RevisionsChanges within the agreed rounds.
  5. Final filesEditable and PDF versions delivered.

ATS
Applicant tracking system: software employers use to sort CVs.
Personal statement
The short summary at the top of a CV.
Achievement statement
A line showing a result, ideally with a figure.
Cover letter
The letter sent with a CV for a specific job.
Revision round
One set of changes after a draft.
Work-finding service
An agency finding you work; agencies cannot charge you for it.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check every factDates, titles and figures must be true.
Keep the editable fileUpdate it for each application.
Ask for deletionOf your details once you are happy.
Review it on LocufyYour review of the CV writer can only follow a booking on Locufy. Below four stars, you can send the problem to them first and we follow it up before the review appears.

STEP 1Write to the CV writer firstSay what was agreed, what went wrong and the fix you want. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats a trader's service as including reasonable care and skill; where the CV writer fell short of that, you can ask for the work to be redone free or for money off.
STEP 2Let Locufy follow it upWhen you rate the CV writer under four stars, you decide whether the problem goes to them first. We follow it through, then the review is posted.
STEP 3Get consumer adviceIf the CV writer ignores you, ring Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 (England and Wales), Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060 or Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 (Northern Ireland). Each can pass a complaint to Trading Standards.
STEP 4The small claims routeUnresolved money disputes with the CV writer fit the small claims routes: £10,000 is the limit in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland under simple procedure and £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a CV writer: questions people ask

UK law sets no licence, register or qualification for it.

Agencies cannot charge work-seekers for finding them work; a separate optional CV service is different.

Ask for it to be assigned to you, or for a clear right to edit and reuse it.

£50–£219 per CV, typically around £99. Career level, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles, and express turnaround move the price. The CV writer price guide has the full breakdown; enter your town above to compare CV writers near you.

They should not. Every claim must be true; employers check.

Usually two days to a week, depending on the package.

MORE GUIDES

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CV writers near you

CV writers in LondonCV writers in ManchesterCV writers in BirminghamCV writers in GlasgowCV writers in BelfastAll cv writers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  2. gov.uk — employment agencies and businesses
  3. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90 — assignment in writing
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  6. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  7. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  8. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register