Starting a proofreading service?

blackraspberry

I'm working on a part time basis and from a chance conversation with my boss after I proofread a document, he suggested setting up as a freelance proofreader. How would I go about doing that, has anyone any ideas?

Corkbah

Register with CRO and Revenue, create a website, advertise and speed the word.

Chances are your boss might be trying to get you to operate as a freelancer so he/she can avoid paying you PAYE, sick pay etc …. so you wouldn't be an employee but would be a contract worker….and would have to pay your own taxes at the end of the tax year.

smcgiff

blackraspberry wrote: »

I'm working on a part time basis and from a chance conversation with my boss after I proofread a document, he suggested setting up as a freelance proofreader. How would I go about doing that, has anyone any ideas?

Apart from the practicalities which Corkbah has covered, what experience/qualifications have you got that you can promote?

Excluding technical proofreading I'd expect someone to have experience at proofreading and an academic qualification in English.

Technical proofreading would require specific knowledge in the area.

blackraspberry

Corkbah wrote: »

Register with CRO and Revenue, create a website, advertise and speed the word.

Chances are your boss might be trying to get you to operate as a freelancer so he/she can avoid paying you PAYE, sick pay etc …. so you wouldn't be an employee but would be a contract worker….and would have to pay your own taxes at the end of the tax year.

I'm already a contract worker so that's not an issue. It's not proof reading I do now, it's research. I was just proof reading as a favour today.

smcgiff wrote: »

Apart from the practicalities which Corkbah has covered, what experience/qualifications have you got that you can promote?

Excluding technical proofreading I'd expect someone to have experience at proofreading and an academic qualification in English.

Technical proofreading would require specific knowledge in the area.

I don't have a qualification in English, but I do have 2 postgraduate degrees in writing-heavy areas.

I'm what many would call a spelling and grammar nazi, so I'm just wondering if I can make money from that. It would be a handy earner

smcgiff

blackraspberry wrote: »

I'm already a contract worker so that's not an issue. It's not proof reading I do now, it's research. I was just proof reading as a favour today.



I don't have a qualification in English, but I do have 2 postgraduate degrees in writing-heavy areas.

I'm what many would call a spelling and grammar nazi, so I'm just wondering if I can make money from that. It would be a handy earner

Really, and you let Corkbah away without correcting his first post! :pac:

Yeah, looks like something you could work with. How about starting with colleges and seeing if anyone with dissertations requires help. Students not having English as their native language may be a good starting point.

Good luck

P_1

In a past job I sold translation and proofreading services. I'm afraid to say that proofreading is pretty cheap (less than 2 cent a word cheap) and a qualification was a must to get on the books. Your best bet is to get in touch with companies in the industry to see how you can get onto their list and be prepared to go a free job or two so that they can trust you. Just bear in mind that there are a lot of proofreaders out there who charge less than buttons and you can be expected to work to tight deadlines and schedules.

blackraspberry

smcgiff wrote: »

Really, and you let Corkbah away without correcting his first post! :pac:

Yeah, looks like something you could work with. How about starting with colleges and seeing if anyone with dissertations requires help. Students not having English as their native language may be a good starting point.

Good luck

I saw it, but I didn't want to start upsetting anyone who was being helpful!

That's a great idea about colleges. I should have a few connections in my past two universities that might be able to put out an email message for me, in addition to sticking up signs myself.

P_1 wrote: »

In a past job I sold translation and proofreading services. I'm afraid to say that proofreading is pretty cheap (less than 2 cent a word cheap) and a qualification was a must to get on the books. Your best bet is to get in touch with companies in the industry to see how you can get onto their list and be prepared to go a free job or two so that they can trust you. Just bear in mind that there are a lot of proofreaders out there who charge less than buttons and you can be expected to work to tight deadlines and schedules.

Two cent a word doesn't seem that bad. A page has 300 words on average, so that's €6 per page.

Great idea to reach out to companies and offer a free job or two to drum up some business.

I am well used to reading huge amounts in short periods thanks to my degrees, so I feel like I'm well suited to this as a side business. I feel pretty hopeful, anyway!