I really like typing, however I’ve zero artistic writing capability. ZERO. I’ve blogged earlier than, but it surely often means sitting for hours at my laptop with a couple of clumsy sentences written and no concepts for the best way to proceed.
After I received pregnant with my first little one, I needed to take one thing I knew I used to be actually good at—typing, grammar and punctuation—and switch it into an income-generating facet gig I may do at residence.
Right here’s how I discovered my first few transcription jobs
I discovered a course, Transcribe Wherever, and rapidly knew I had discovered one thing that was going to work for me and assist me discover transcription jobs that herald additional revenue. (Right here’s The Write Life’s overview of the Transcribe Wherever course if you’d like particulars.)
Typing precisely what I hear from audio requires no creativity, except you depend the artistic punctuation required to interrupt up somebody’s looooong run-on sentence into smaller chunks.
What it does require is the entire issues I already knew I used to be good at, and the course taught me the best way to use these abilities to construct a enterprise.
Now two years later, I’ve three children (yep… a two-year-old, a one-year-old, and a new child. No, we don’t get a lot sleep). I’m nonetheless doing transcription jobs from residence, and despite the fact that my household is rising and retaining me busier than ever, I’m additionally making more cash from transcription than ever earlier than as I get higher at my work and discover nice purchasers.
I work part-time working as a distant transcriptionist, about 20 hours per week, and I’m constantly ready to usher in round $2,000 monthly for my household.
The place to search for transcription jobs
If you happen to’re trying to get into the world of transcription, I’ve put collectively a listing of corporations the place it’s best to take into account searching for work, together with a number of choices for authorized transcription jobs.
They’re loosely ordered in keeping with how a lot expertise you’ll want to work there and the way a lot you’ll be able to anticipate to earn by these jobs. So when you’re aiming for on-line transcription jobs for freshmen, the primary few objects on this record are the perfect place to start out.
Take into account that most of those corporations pay on a per audio minute price, which doesn’t translate to how lengthy it takes to transcribe it.
The final commonplace within the transcription trade is a 4:1 ratio, that means it often takes round 4 minutes to transcribe one minute of audio.
Right here’s the place to search for on-line transcription jobs.
1. Rev
One of many greatest and most well-known transcription corporations, Rev all the time appears to be hiring new candidates. It has assessments that you need to full earlier than you’re employed—the Rev transcription check and grammar quiz—but it surely appears to all the time have work obtainable.
Usually, you’ll be able to select your personal schedule and do as a lot or as little work as you need.
Rev has a popularity for low pay, about 30 cents to $1.10 per audio or video minute. However if you wish to get began and have a totally versatile schedule when you’re studying and constructing your abilities, this is likely to be a superb match. It’s additionally a approach to check out on-line transcription jobs and earn some cash to see when you take pleasure in it earlier than you spend money on coaching.
No expertise is required, though you do should cross a check. Rev additionally has choices for video captioning work, which pays at 54 cents to $1.10 per audio or video minute, and if you realize a overseas language, subtitle work for $1.50 to $3 per audio or video minute.
My buddy and colleague Kristie Cooley began out working for Rev and says: “I loved having the ability to go online at any time of the day to select work. Its system can also be tremendous consumer pleasant!” On the flip facet, nonetheless, she additionally reported that the individuals who grade your accomplished transcripts may be inconsistent and provides completely different directions or suggestions.
2. TranscribeMe
TranscribeMe is one other good possibility when you’re searching for on-line transcription jobs for freshmen.
The corporate solely pays 25 cents per audio minute, however they break all of their work up into smaller chunks of two to 4 minutes. That makes this firm a pleasant selection when you have solely a restricted period of time to spend on transcription or if you wish to achieve expertise with a big number of audio supplies.
3. SyncScript
SyncScript’s pay price nonetheless isn’t spectacular, but it surely’s increased than the primary two choices on this record, beginning at 57 cents or 63 cents per audio minute based mostly on the project kind. That is one other firm to think about when you’re trying to get your ft moist within the transcription trade.
SyncScript is nearly all the time working advertisements to rent new transcriptionists. The corporate requires a typing pace of 70+ phrases per minute and 98 p.c accuracy. It additionally requires new candidates to transcribe a seven-minute check audio and cross a grammar check. When you’re on the group, they ask you to be obtainable to transcribe a minimal of three audio hours per week.
Cooley says about working for SyncScript: “Their communication is superior! Each single one of many information that I’ve gotten are tremendous clear audio.”
4. Focus Ahead
Focus Ahead is one other transcription firm that permits you to work as a lot or as little as you select. It does every kind of transcription, from focus teams, conferences, and TV logging. The corporate pays 40 cents per audio minute, paid biweekly through PayPal, with alternatives to take part in higher-paying assignments the longer you’re with the corporate. It, too, requires candidates to cross a transcription check to high quality.
5. Every day Transcription
Every day Transcription regularly advertises for brand new transcriptionists to hitch their group, and it pays the next price than a number of the corporations described above, about 75 cents to 85 cents per audio minute.
It offers coaching so you’ll be able to be taught as you go, and it pays weekly through test. Its work tends to give attention to video and tv transcription, however you’ll additionally discover some authorized and tutorial work.
Every day Transcription requires a abilities evaluation check and a transcription check to get began, and you’ll want to have typing abilities of at the very least 50 phrases per minute.
6. Ubiqus
I spent a while working for Ubiqus after I first received began, so I can affirm it is a good firm to work for. The corporate provides common, authorized, and medical transcription jobs.
Ubiqus’ pay construction is a bit of completely different than most different corporations; it pays per phrase as a substitute of per audio minute. The speed of pay varies relying on the content material of the audio.
It’s arduous to check a per-word price with a per-minute price, and there are quite a lot of variables reminiscent of how rapidly or slowly somebody talks, but it surely roughly averages out to round $1 per audio minute, give or take. I personally choose a per-minute price, as a result of then you realize precisely how a lot a job can pay you earlier than you begin it. With a per-word price, you actually don’t know how a lot you’ll make on a job till you’ve already accomplished it.
7. Allegis
Allegis makes a speciality of all types of industries, together with insurance coverage and authorized transcription (so this firm could be a superb match when you determine to take the authorized model of the Transcribe Wherever course, the place I did my coaching).
The corporate typically posts openings for novices with no transcription expertise. You simply should regulate their job postings.
Charges are proportional to the shopper contract, so Allegis doesn’t present pay charges on its web site. Plus, the quantity you earn for transcription jobs is dependent upon how briskly (and precisely) you’ll be able to full the project.
Nevertheless, Glassdoor reviews that hourly pay ranges from $2 to $36 for transcribing jobs, whereas one Reddit consumer says you’ll be able to anticipate to make $15 to $20 per hour when you kind 100 or extra phrases per minute.
It’s difficult to check a per-hour or per-page price with a per-audio-minute price, however typically you’ve extra incomes energy as a authorized transcriptionist than a common transcriptionist as a result of it’s a specialised area. Authorized transcription jobs are sometimes formatted very exactly, with particular margins, a set variety of traces per web page, and a selected variety of characters per line, so every web page is identical quantity of typing.
I haven’t labored with Allegis personally, however transcriptionist pals of mine say it requires a weekly quota from transcriptionists, so that you don’t have fairly the identical diploma of flexibility. It additionally has durations of time with much less work obtainable, so it’s not all the time constant.
8. Deposition Companies, Inc.
That is an alternative choice for locating authorized transcription jobs. Deposition Companies, Inc. offers a two-week on-line coaching program for its authorized transcription work. It makes a speciality of transcribing depositions, hearings, conferences, and seminars.
It pays a per-page price, but it surely doesn’t specify publicly what that price is, solely that it equals out to about $15 to $20 per hour.
9. Audio Transcription Heart
The Audio Transcription Heart has the next pay price than most of the beforehand listed corporations for its freelance transcription jobs: $1 per audio minute.
Its transcription check is difficult, and also you’ll doubtless want an honest quantity of expertise — particularly with focus teams involving a number of audio system—to cross it.
A lot of its work focuses on oral historical past interviews and focus teams. It has a web-based utility and requires a resume and canopy letter as nicely. It additionally requires a screenshot of a typing check exhibiting a efficiency of 75 phrases per minute or extra with at the very least 98% accuracy.
10. TranscriptionServices.com
One other firm that reviews its all the time hiring distant transcriptionists is TranscriptionServices.com.
It requires that you just cross a 10-minute check as a way to be a part of the group, and it mentions that it contains fairly difficult audio. Primarily based on the problem of its check, this firm sounds greatest suited to those that have already got some expertise with on-line transcription jobs below their belts.
Transcriptionists who work with this firm have full flexibility to set their very own schedule with no manufacturing commitments. Although the present pay price is unclear, the web site says it pays competitively for transcription work. Nevertheless, it used to start out at $25 per audio hour for very clear audio as much as $50 per audio hour for probably the most difficult audio.
One noteworthy reality about this firm is what it calls its social mission: “For each order, we offer a month’s value of listening to support batteries to a recipient in a growing nation.”
11. GMR Transcripts
GMR Transcription works with universities, authorities and medical establishments, non-profit organizations and extra, so you’ll be able to anticipate authorized, tutorial and medical on-line transcription jobs when you work with this firm.
Though it doesn’t record pay charges on its web site, the corporate says, “Our transcriptionists/translators sometimes earn between $1,000 to $3,000 monthly, relying on their abilities and the form of work they take.”
If you happen to’re keen to tackle harder assignments or full assignments with fast turnaround instances, you’re prone to earn far more. Plus, though no expertise is required for this transcription job, the extra you’ve, the higher.
To use, submit a resume and take a brief transcription check. Like many others on our record, GMR Transcripts permits you to work if you need and as usually as you need. And all you’ll want to begin is a pc with high-speed web, Microsoft Workplace, a foot pedal and over-the-ear headphones.
12. Scribie
Scribie provides common transcription jobs you are able to do from residence, offering freelancers quick audio clips of 10-minutes or much less that you just get to decide on your self—meaning you’re not obligated to work on any project you’re not serious about.
Earlier than you apply and take its certification check, you’ll be able to apply with tons of its apply assessments to make sure your abilities are as much as par. As a result of past a superb typist, the corporate all the time desires transcribers who can appropriate handbook and automatic transcripts.
As soon as employed, transcription jobs with this firm pay $5 to $25 per audio hour. Reasonably than obtain a weekly or month-to-month payout, your earnings accrue each day in your Scribie account, and you may switch them to your related PayPal account at anytime.
A bonus: Right here’s the best way to get the perfect transcription jobs
I’ve shared a number of corporations which are stable choices if you’re simply getting began as a transcriptionist. However I’ve had probably the most success—and undoubtedly made the perfect cash—discovering my very own purchasers to work for.
This could embody so many alternative individuals and professions: pastors, public audio system, podcasters, legal professionals, docs, writers, journalists, analysis corporations.
Advertising your self and searching for purchasers is a time-consuming course of, however as soon as you discover the fitting ones, your incomes potential is far increased working for your self somewhat than as a subcontractor for another person.
For instance, Rev expenses their purchasers $1 per minute for transcription, and so they pay their subcontractors about half of these earnings. When you’ve got your personal purchasers and cost them the identical price, you’d preserve that whole $1/minute to your self.
After I calculate my hourly price for transcription jobs, I sometimes make between $30 to 45 per hour. It’s a broad vary as a result of some audios take for much longer to do than others, relying on the content material and the standard. I’ve elevated my hourly price by having excessive requirements about the kind of audio materials I settle for and utilizing tips to extend my pace, reminiscent of having a large number of autocorrects.
Simply take into account that if you work for your self, you’re accountable for the entire go-between along with your purchasers and the entire enterprise administration facets of the job, whereas as a subcontractor, all you actually should give attention to is the precise transcription work.
Just a few locations to search for your personal purchasers embody LinkedIn, Fb teams, and even Craigslist—I discovered my highest shopper there, in addition to many smaller one-off jobs. You may wish to share details about your providers by yourself web site as nicely, like I do for my firm, Q Transcription.
A last notice of encouragement
As you begin out, keep in mind it’s OK to start out small.
I started as a subcontractor for a few massive transcription corporations, and initially, I used to be thrilled to make round $200 a month. As I received sooner and extra skillful doing transcription jobs from residence, I used to be capable of earn extra.
After a couple of months, I knew my skills had been value extra, and I began searching for purchasers of my very own so I may cost the next price.
I presently have 4 purchasers who preserve me extraordinarily busy, and I now not work for any of the businesses I began out with. I’m capable of make a superb revenue every month whereas staying residence with my kids, which is precisely why I received into transcription within the first place.
If this sounds completely overwhelming, the Transcribe Wherever course, the place I did my coaching, features a module on advertising and marketing and constructing your online business.
Professional tip: Begin with its free transcription mini-course to see if this trade is an effective match for you.
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