I like typing, however I’ve zero inventive writing means. ZERO. I’ve blogged earlier than, however it normally means sitting for hours at my laptop with just a few clumsy sentences written and no concepts for the way to proceed.
Once I received pregnant with my first youngster, I wished to take one thing I knew I used to be actually good at—typing, grammar and punctuation—and switch it into an income-generating aspect gig I might do at residence.
Right here’s how I discovered my first few transcription jobs
I discovered a course, Transcribe Wherever, and shortly knew I had discovered one thing that was going to work for me and assist me discover transcription jobs that usher in additional revenue. (Right here’s The Write Life’s assessment of the Transcribe Wherever course in order for you particulars.)
Typing precisely what I hear from audio requires no creativity, until you rely the inventive punctuation required to interrupt up somebody’s looooong run-on sentence into smaller chunks.
What it does require is all the issues I already knew I used to be good at, and the course taught me the way to use these abilities to construct a enterprise.
Now two years later, I’ve three youngsters (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 although my household is rising and holding me busier than ever, I’m additionally making extra money 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 every week, and I’m constantly ready to herald round $2,000 per thirty days 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 an inventory of corporations the place you need to think about on the lookout for work, together with a number of choices for authorized transcription jobs.
They’re loosely ordered based on how a lot expertise you might want to work there and the way a lot you’ll be able to anticipate to earn by means of these jobs. So for those who’re aiming for on-line transcription jobs for learners, the primary few gadgets on this listing are the perfect place to begin.
Remember the fact 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 overall customary within the transcription trade is a 4:1 ratio, which means it normally 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 largest and most well-known transcription corporations, Rev at all times appears to be hiring new candidates. It has exams that you must full earlier than you’re employed—the Rev transcription take a look at and grammar quiz—however it appears to at all times have work accessible.
Sometimes, 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 may be a very good match. It’s additionally a solution to check out on-line transcription jobs and earn some cash to see for those who get pleasure from it earlier than you put money into coaching.
No expertise is required, though you do need to go a take a look at. 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 international 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 with the ability to go browsing at any time of the day to select work. Its system can be tremendous consumer pleasant!” On the flip aspect, nonetheless, she additionally reported that the individuals who grade your accomplished transcripts might be inconsistent and provides totally different directions or suggestions.
2. TranscribeMe
TranscribeMe is one other good possibility for those who’re on the lookout for on-line transcription jobs for learners.
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 alternative when you have solely a restricted period of time to spend on transcription or if you wish to acquire expertise with a big number of audio supplies.
3. SyncScript
SyncScript’s pay price nonetheless isn’t spectacular, however it’s increased than the primary two choices on this listing, beginning at 57 cents or 63 cents per audio minute primarily based on the task kind. That is one other firm to contemplate for those who’re trying to get your toes moist within the transcription trade.
SyncScript is nearly at all times operating advertisements to rent new transcriptionists. The corporate requires a typing velocity of 70+ phrases per minute and 98 p.c accuracy. It additionally requires new candidates to transcribe a seven-minute take a look at audio and go a grammar take a look at. When you’re on the group, they ask you to be accessible 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 allows 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 by way of PayPal, with alternatives to take part in higher-paying assignments the longer you’re with the corporate. It, too, requires candidates to go a transcription take a look at to high quality.
5. Every day Transcription
Every day Transcription ceaselessly advertises for brand new transcriptionists to affix 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 gives coaching so you’ll be able to be taught as you go, and it pays weekly by way of verify. Its work tends to deal with video and tv transcription, however you’ll additionally discover some authorized and educational work.
Every day Transcription requires a abilities evaluation take a look at and a transcription take a look at to get began, and you might want to have typing abilities of a minimum of 50 phrases per minute.
6. Ubiqus
I spent a while working for Ubiqus (now Acolad) once I first received began, so I can affirm this can be a good firm to work for. The corporate affords normal, authorized, and medical transcription jobs.
Their pay construction is somewhat totally different than most different corporations; it pays per phrase as an alternative of per audio minute. The speed of pay varies relying on the content material of the audio.
It’s exhausting to check a per-word price with a per-minute price, and there are lots of variables resembling how shortly or slowly somebody talks, however it roughly averages out to round $1 per audio minute, give or take. I personally want 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 focuses on all types of industries, together with insurance coverage and authorized transcription (so this firm can be a very good match for those who resolve 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 need to 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 determined by how briskly (and precisely) you’ll be able to full the task.
Nonetheless, Glassdoor stories 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 for those who 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 have got extra incomes energy as a authorized transcriptionist than a normal 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 strains per web page, and a particular variety of characters per line, so every web page is identical quantity of typing.
I haven’t labored with Allegis personally, however transcriptionist mates 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 accessible, so it’s not at all times constant.
8. Deposition Providers, Inc.
That is another choice for locating authorized transcription jobs. Deposition Providers, Inc. (now eScribers) gives a two-week on-line coaching program for its authorized transcription work. It focuses on transcribing depositions, hearings, conferences, and seminars.
It pays a per-page price, however it 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 take a look at is difficult, and also you’ll seemingly want a good quantity of expertise — particularly with focus teams involving a number of audio system—to go it.
A lot of its work focuses on oral historical past interviews and focus teams. It has an internet software and requires a resume and canopy letter as nicely. It additionally requires a screenshot of a typing take a look at displaying a efficiency of 75 phrases per minute or extra with a minimum of 98% accuracy.
10. TranscriptionServices.com
One other firm that stories its at all times hiring distant transcriptionists is TranscriptionServices.com.
It requires that you simply go a 10-minute take a look at so as to be a part of the group, and it mentions that it consists of fairly difficult audio. Based mostly on the issue of its take a look at, this firm sounds finest 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. Nonetheless, it used to begin at $25 per audio hour for very clear audio as much as $50 per audio hour for essentially 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 price of listening to assist 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, educational and medical on-line transcription jobs for those who work with this firm.
Though it doesn’t listing pay charges on its web site, the corporate says, “Our transcriptionists/translators sometimes earn between $1,000 to $3,000 per thirty days, relying on their abilities and the sort of work they take.”
If you happen to’re prepared to tackle harder assignments or full assignments with fast turnaround instances, you’re more likely to earn way more. Plus, though no expertise is required for this transcription job, the extra you have got, the higher.
To use, submit a resume and take a brief transcription take a look at. Like many others on our listing, GMR Transcripts helps you to work whenever you need and as usually as you need. And all you might want to begin is a pc with high-speed web, Microsoft Workplace, a foot pedal and over-the-ear headphones.
12. Scribie
Scribie affords normal transcription jobs you are able to do from residence, offering freelancers brief audio clips of 10-minutes or much less that you simply get to decide on your self—meaning you’re not obligated to work on any task you’re not desirous about.
Earlier than you apply and take its certification take a look at, you’ll be able to follow with tons of its follow exams to make sure your abilities are as much as par. As a result of past a very good typist, the corporate at all times desires transcribers who can right handbook and automatic transcripts.
As soon as employed, transcription jobs with this firm pay $5 to $25 per audio hour. Fairly 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 linked PayPal account at anytime.
A bonus: Right here’s the way to get the perfect transcription jobs
I’ve shared a number of corporations which might be stable choices whenever you’re simply getting began as a transcriptionist. However I’ve had essentially the most success—and undoubtedly made the perfect cash—discovering my very own purchasers to work for.
This will embrace so many various individuals and professions: pastors, public audio system, podcasters, legal professionals, medical doctors, writers, journalists, analysis corporations.
Advertising your self and on the lookout for purchasers is a time-consuming course of, however as soon as you discover the best ones, your incomes potential is way increased working for your self fairly than as a subcontractor for another person.
For instance, Rev costs their purchasers $1 per minute for transcription, they usually pay their subcontractors about half of these earnings. You probably have your personal purchasers and cost them the identical price, you’d hold that complete $1/minute to your self.
Once 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 velocity, resembling having a mess of autocorrects.
Simply take into account that whenever you work for your self, you’re chargeable for all the go-between together with your purchasers and all the enterprise administration facets of the job, whereas as a subcontractor, all you actually need to deal with is the precise transcription work.
Just a few locations to search for your personal purchasers embrace 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 companies by yourself web site as nicely, like I do for my firm, Q Transcription.
A ultimate word of encouragement
As you begin out, keep in mind it’s OK to begin 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 quicker and extra skillful doing transcription jobs from residence, I used to be capable of earn extra.
After just a few months, I knew my skills have been price extra, and I began on the lookout for purchasers of my very own so I might cost the next price.
I presently have 4 purchasers who hold me extraordinarily busy, and I now not work for any of the businesses I began out with. I’m capable of make a very good revenue every month whereas staying residence with my kids, which is strictly 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 enterprise.
Professional tip: Begin with its free transcription mini-course to see if this trade is an effective match for you.
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