For McKenzie Friends
You're helping people navigate one of the most stressful experiences of their lives.
Your own business shouldn't look like an afterthought while you're doing it.
Fee-charging McKenzie Friends do serious, skilled and often demanding work. Most manage their fees directly with clients, often invoicing upfront, and because of the personal nature of the work, chasing payments isn't always appropriate or straightforward. The real gap tends to sit behind that — in the setup and structure of the business itself. Websites don't always reflect the standard of the work. Self-employment and HMRC registration can be unclear. Terms and conditions are either missing or not properly thought through. Client management is done in an ad hoc way, bookkeeping gets left until it becomes a problem, and GDPR concerns mean many virtual assistants won't get involved at all. That's where I come in. I work within those constraints and understand the boundaries. I provide practical, hands-on support to help you build the business properly — from registration and systems through to client management, documentation, and ongoing structure — so that what sits behind your work is as solid as the work itself.
Let's have a chatSound familiar?
What undermines a business that does genuinely good work
Most McKenzie Friends operate without a proper case management system — but GDPR means client data cannot be passed to a third party. The right solution is a system that's yours: configured properly, under your sole control, with no external access to confidential files.
Invoicing people who are going through some of the most stressful periods of their lives requires a consistent, professional and sensitive tone. Ad-hoc billing by text message conveys none of those things — and makes your own bookkeeping harder.
Your web presence is often the first thing a desperate person sees when searching for help. An unprofessional or outdated website loses them before they've even made contact. A good one gives them confidence in a moment when they badly need it.
The non-client admin — your own income and expenses, your self-assessment, your website, your scheduling — takes hours every month that should go to case preparation, or to switching off properly. None of it needs to be your problem.
What I do for you
What I can do — and the clear line around what stays with you
Your own bookkeeping — business income, expenses and costs recorded and categorised properly throughout the year
Self-assessment tax return prepared and filed — all business expenses identified and claimed correctly
Invoicing for your services — professional, consistent, sensitive in tone — your clients receive something that reflects the seriousness of the work
A professional website built and maintained — the right first impression for someone in crisis searching for help
Advice on setting up your own GDPR-compliant case management system — I configure it, you own it entirely, no external access to client data
Business admin — your scheduling, your templates, your processes — nothing that touches confidential client files
Being Found
McKenzie Friends aren't found on Google.
They're found through trust.
Most people in legal difficulty don't search "McKenzie Friend" — they don't know the term exists. They search their problem. The way to reach them is to be present in the places they're already looking for answers: support groups, forums, Q&A sites. Commentary, not advice. Presence, not advertising.
I can help you build and maintain that presence — drafting thoughtful, legally careful commentary for you to review and post, and ensuring your website clearly explains who you are and how you can help.
Reddit & Quora commentary
People searching for help with family court, housing disputes, or tribunal hearings ask questions on Reddit and Quora every day. Posting clear, informative commentary — not advice — positions you as a knowledgeable, trustworthy presence before they even visit your website.
Facebook support groups
There are thousands of members in groups for divorce, custody, benefits appeals, and housing issues. Helpful, factual contributions to those conversations build genuine recognition in the communities where your potential clients already are.
A website that explains what you are
Most people have never heard of a McKenzie Friend. Your website needs to do that explaining work — clearly, calmly, and in plain English — so that someone in crisis can quickly understand you might be the help they need.
Questions
Things people usually ask
before they get in touch.
Ready?
Serious work deserves a properly run business behind it.
Let's build one that respects your obligations.
I understand the GDPR constraints and I won't push against them. But there's still a great deal I can do. Let's talk about what that looks like for your business.
Book a free discovery call