We’ve all heard the stories; companies only want dedicated, full-time, in-person employees ready to drop it all at a second’s notice, but that just isn’t an option if you’re a stay-at-home mother. That’s where jobs like remote proofreading come in—with angel wings and a flexible schedule in tow. 

Considering we see a whopping 7.5 million new blog posts every single day and close to 1 million self-published books every year, you don’t have to worry about running out of demand anytime soon, either. 

Packed with real remote jobs for stay-at-home moms, job-hunting secrets, and tips from pros making $50,000+ right from their living room, here’s exactly how to become a proofreader to supplement your income as a mom. 

What Are Stay-at-Home Proofreading Jobs? 

But, wait! What exactly is a proofreader? 

A professional proofreader is the final quality checkpoint in the content creation assembly line. Unlike editors, who restructure and rewrite, proofreaders are the ones detecting surface-level errors like spelling and grammar with their eagle-eyed skills. 

Professional proofreaders commonly work on: 

• Books and E-books (Average project rate: $500-$1,500): Both traditional and self-published authors rely on proofreaders to create error-free manuscripts before publication. With our General Proofreading Course under your belt, you could start looking for stay-at-home jobs immediately!

• Digital Content and Blog Posts (Average rate: $25-$50/hour): Content marketing is a $400 billion global industry, with major companies producing tons of written content—all of which (you guessed it!) needs polishing before publication. 

• Business Documents (Average rate: $30-$75/hour): Corporate communications, reports, proposals, and presentations all undergo meticulous review to maintain professionalism. Guess who does that? Proofreaders! This sector also represents a large part of the remote proofreading market, making it a lucrative option if you’re interested in the niche. 

• Academic and Research Papers (Average rate: $20-$45/hour): With over 19 million college students in the US alone and more than 2 million published research papers annually, academic proofreading remains a consistently high-demand sector requiring specialized knowledge. So, if you’re a stay-at-home mom with experience in academic research, you could do really well in this niche. 

• Legal and Medical Documents (Average rate: $45-$95/hour): Because this area requires more accuracy, you can charge a pretty penny for your services. Legal proofreaders, like those who proofread court documents, earn more on average than general proofreaders.

Understanding Service Levels: Proofreading vs. Copyediting vs. Content Editing 

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, you need to understand the most common service levels. This way, you won’t undersell your services and your time. 

• Proofreading is about playing detective, detecting and correcting technical errors. That includes catching everything from typos and grammar inconsistencies to punctuation mistakes and formatting issues.

• Copyediting, on the other hand, is about turning a seventh-grade rough draft into a masterpiece. Think clarity, readability, word choice enhancement, and consistency checks. As a copyeditor, you may also make minor rewrites—while (of course) preserving the author’s voice and style.

• Lastly, content editing is all about addressing common structural issues like content flow, audience alignment, and overall effectiveness. Content editors are the people who recommend rewrites, reorganization, or content additions to turn silver into gold. 

As you increase your skill level and portfolio, you can increase your earning potential by branching out and offering tiered service packages. 

Why Proofreading Is a Great Remote Job for Stay-at-Home Moms

Stay-at-home moms have pioneered the remote proofreading revolution. A large majority of our Proofread Anywhere graduates were finally able to achieve their desired income level while preserving their work-life balance—a super important issue for stay-at-home moms looking for work. 

We truly can’t overstate the benefits of a remote career in proofreading for stay-at-home moms!

Truly Flexible Scheduling

Unlike many “remote” home jobs that have rigid set hours, proofreading lets you set your own hours, create your own schedule, and work at your own pace.

You can work during nap times, school hours, or even quiet evenings, all without sacrificing your family life. As you can imagine, the flexible hours make becoming a proofreader a super appealing work opportunity for modern moms or stay-at-home parents in general who want to stay at home with their kids while bringing in extra money.

Minimal Startup Investment 

One of the biggest setbacks for our mommy entrepreneurs is start-up costs. Compared to online businesses, which come with expensive inventory, equipment, or software investments, proofreading has remarkably low barriers to entry! 

With so many low-cost to free proofreading resources, it’s easy to get started with a small budget. You’ll rarely have to invest more than $1,500, and that’s on the expensive side of the spectrum!

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Transferable Skill Leverage

If you’ve got an impressive skill set in another niche, bring it with you! 

The most successful proofreaders come from backgrounds with varied and interesting skills. Whether you have experience as a virtual assistant, data entry operator, computer skills, or endured customer service roles, you can transfer those skills to your proofreading career and niche down. 

Administrative support, freelance writing, and customer service experience are especially great skills and can help you reach profitability much faster than those without similar experiences.

Sustainable Market Demand

Digital content production is only getting more popular, with content marketing spending increasing annually since 2018. Want to guess what niche is part of this global content marketing? Proofreading! 

That means you don’t have to worry about work drying up when you need the money the most, like when your child starts a new (expensive) extracurricular activity like ice skating. You can enjoy long-term opportunities for the foreseeable future. 

Complete Location Independence

Similar to nomadic jobs like virtual assistants and web developers, proofreading offers true geographic freedom. We’ve trained successful proofreaders from all 50 states as well as 137 countries. The majority of our proofreaders travel regularly while maintaining a very happy and lucrative client base, creating a truly portable career.

As you can imagine, this is particularly great for moms looking for profitable home jobs! Whether you’re traveling with your partner and children or just looking for unlimited earning potential while staying at home, proofreading is the way to go. 

Skills You Need to Succeed as a Remote Proofreader

The top proofreaders don’t achieve their skills (and income) randomly. Based on our research, the most successful proofreaders have their own set of patterns and skill development. 

So, to make the most of your remote work proofreading opportunity, we suggest that you cultivate these skills to make yourself stand out from other job seekers. 

Strong Grammar and Punctuation Knowledge

As a successful proofreader, you need to develop your own personal internal library with extensive knowledge of English grammar, punctuation rules, and structural conventions. 

Beyond basic rules, you need to understand the subtle applications across different content types and audience needs. The higher your abilities, the more you can get paid for your one-of-a-kind skills. 

Recommended development includes:

• Completing structured grammar and style guide training
• Written and verbal communication skills 
• Regular practice with standardized assessments
• Creating personal error databases from frequently encountered mistakes
• Developing content-specific checklists for different client industries

Attention to Detail

You know that book, The 5 AM Club? Don’t worry—no one says you have to wake up before the sun to succeed. However, if you want to make real money from this, you do need a solid system to catch mistakes and stay on top of small details.

Instead of just trusting your gut or “having a good eye,” it helps to follow a consistent process that makes spotting errors easier and way more reliable.

What works? Things like:

• Go through your work a few times, each time looking for something specific—like grammar, formatting, or clarity
• Notice the kinds of mistakes you tend to make and create a little style guide for yourself
• Practicing ways to stay focused longer so you can catch more and fix faster
• Using helpful tools (hello, spellcheck!) but still giving everything a careful human look

Time Management and Self-Discipline

The most profitable proofreaders are the ones who stay productive without burning out from pushing it too hard. This is especially important for our moms out there, who already have a lot on their plates. 

Ultimately, the better you are at time management, the more work you can take on, but this efficiency doesn’t just happen. It comes from deliberate productivity techniques and strong organizational skills, which are things you can learn. 

Productivity best practices include:

• Implementing the Pomodoro technique (25-minute focused work periods with 5-minute breaks)
• Developing specialized templates and checklists for recurring project types and the most urgent deadlines
• Tracking personal productivity metrics to identify peak performance patterns
• Creating batched workflow systems that minimize context-switching 

Familiarity with Style Guides

There are a lot of writing styles out there, and learning the most common style guidelines can help you earn more as a stay-at-home mom. 

The most valuable style guides include:

• AP Style (Associated Press): Dominates journalism, news content, and most digital marketing materials. In highest demand among corporate clients and content marketing agencies.

• Chicago Manual of Style: The standard for book publishing, both fiction and nonfiction. Essential for working with independent authors and publishing companies.

• APA (American Psychological Association): Required for academic and scientific publications. Particularly valuable for working with researchers, graduate students, and educational institutions.

• MLA (Modern Language Association): Used widely in humanities fields and academic writing. Valuable for educational content and literary analysis.

Basic Tech Skills

Modern proofreading goes so far beyond just basic word Jenga. You also need efficient digital workflows to streamline and maintain your family life and confidently manage customer inquiries across various platforms. 

These are the skills that will make all the difference: 

• Advanced Word Processing Features: Beyond basic Track Changes, a proven track record working with the styles, macros, and advanced formatting capabilities in Microsoft Word and Google Docs will help you increase both your quality and efficiency.

• Specialized Proofreading Software: Strategic utilization of tools like PerfectIt, Grammarly Business, and industry-specific checkers can help you supplement your manual review skills.

• Digital Project Management Systems: Fluency with platforms like Asana, Trello, or Monday will help you with client collaboration and workflow management—a very underrated skill. 

• File Management and Version Control: Systematic approaches to document organization, versioning, and client revisions can help ensure quality control.

Recommended Training and Certification: Making Smart Educational Investments

While formal credentials aren’t mandatory—proofreading is the ultimate start from the bottom industry—strategic skill development can for sure accelerate your entry into the home jobs market. This is particularly true if you want to land the best remote jobs in the proofreading market. 

With over 15,000 graduates and a documented 82% success rate (defined as achieving the desired income within 12 months), our comprehensive program represents the gold standard in proofreading education. 

So, we suggest using these premium training programs (with proven results) to learn exactly how to get paid to proofread with Proofread Anywhere:

• General Proofreading Course: Covers all essential skills for proofreading books. It will provide training in proofreading blogs, websites, and business materials. Includes over 40 practice documents, personalized feedback, and marketing training.
  
• Transcript Proofreading Course: Focuses on the lucrative specialty of legal transcript proofreading, which commands 30-50% higher rates than general proofreading.

You can also do paid editorial freelancers’ association courses (on average $179-299 per course) and focus your studies on specific proofreading specialties, including:

• Medical/Scientific Proofreading
• Legal Document Review
• Technical Documentation Proofreading

Lastly, you have University Certificate Programs (an average of $1,500-3,000). Institutions, including UC San Diego, New York University, and Emerson College, offer in-depth editing and proofreading certifications that can help you gain the skills and credentials you need to start your own proofreading business.

While clients rarely ask specifically for credentials for stay-at-home jobs, recognized and completed training can really help get your foot in the door, bringing with it higher initial rates, faster client acquisition, and higher acceptance rates. 

A certificate or two can also provide that confidence you need to step into a more specialized niche and rake in the cash.

No-Cost Skill Development Resources

If you’re struggling with a tight budget but still want to get better at proofreading, we’ve got great news. There are dozens of amazing, free resources that can help you boost your skills from “meh” to “book her again!” 

Grammar and Style Resources

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Comprehensive grammar, punctuation, and style guide references
• GrammarBook.com: Free guides to common conventions and usage rules
• The Editor’s Blog: In-depth articles on how to edit content and common grammar applications

Practice Opportunities

• Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders: Volunteer proofreading for public domain books
• Medium.com articles: Practice identifying errors in published content
• r/proofreading subreddit: Opportunities to practice on real documents while building portfolio samples

How to Find Stay-at-Home Proofreading Jobs

The biggest difference between struggling and thriving proofreaders is their approach to client buy-in. 

You know the old saying: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. As with any remote work, from being a virtual assistant to a proofreader, you need to use multiple client channels to get your name out there—rather than relying on a single source.

Tiered Freelance Platform Strategy

While platforms like Upwork and Fiverr receive criticism for low rates, freelance platforms can help you get started with freelancing and achieve higher earnings. However, the secret sauce to finding the best stay-at-home jobs is combining freelance platforms with independent acquisitions (which we also cover below). 

You can use popular platforms like: 

Upwork

Upwork is easily one of the top remote job platforms for job seekers. The platform lets job seekers post their services and fees, while customers can look for the service option that matches their budget. 

Success factors include:

• Specialization in 1-2 high-value niches rather than general proofreading
• Development of proposal templates for different project types
• Immediate response to invitations (people see a higher win rate for responses within 2 hours)
• Strategic use of profile skill tests (proofreaders scoring in the top 10% receive more invitations from customers)

Fiverr

Another very popular option, Fiverr is a package-based home jobs platform with strong potential for passive client acquisition. Strong communication skills and a robust portfolio are key to finding the best remote jobs in this sector. 

Optimize your chances with: 

• Creation of tiered service packages with clear deliverables
• Focus on specialized gig categories with less competition
• Strategic use of portfolio samples matching target client needs
• Implementing satisfaction guarantees to reduce purchase hesitation

Contra

Contra is a newer platform with less competition for job seekers. Not only are you more likely to find home jobs, but you can also generally charge more for your services. 

Best practices include:

• Creating detailed service descriptions emphasizing specialized expertise
• Connecting platform profile with published articles on Medium or LinkedIn
• Leveraging the platform’s no-fee structure to offer competitive rates while maintaining margins

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is more popular with European and international clients. It’s a great option if you’re looking to diversify your portfolio. 

Success tactics include:

• Flexible schedules and hours to accommodate European time zones
• Creating hourlies (packaged services) focusing on quick turnaround needs
• Participate actively in the platform’s community features

Industry-Specific Job Boards and Opportunities

The above job platforms are for all sorts of stay-at-home jobs. While there is a large customer base, it does come with tons of competition. Standing out from the crowd can be a tad difficult. 

That’s why it’s important to incorporate specialized job boards in your acquisition strategy. These specialized boards are home to more high-quality work opportunities—jobs with less competition than general freelance platforms. 

The most productive specialized sourcing channels include:

• Editorial Freelancers Association Job Board: Legitimate proofreading remote jobs averaging $30-65/hour with well-known proofreading companies and publishers.

• ACES: The Society for Editing: Positions focusing on journalism, publishing, and corporate communication, typically ranging from $25-55/hour.

• ProofreadingServices.com: Proofreading service connecting talented freelancers with their client base; requires an assessment test but delivers consistent work.

• MediaBistro: Focuses on media, publishing, and content marketing positions, with both freelance and contract opportunities.

• FlexJobs: Curated remote job board with verified and legitimate opportunities (requires membership fee).

However, success on these job boards requires a game plan. There are a lot of talented proofreaders out there. So make sure you keep these secret weapons in your inventory to find home jobs that suit your schedule and needs as a stay-at-home mom: 

• Create job search alerts with specialized keywords to get immediate notifications.
• Develop application templates for quick customization
• Track application-to-interview conversion rates to optimize your future approaches
• Build relationships with companies posting regular opportunities

Direct Outreach and Relationship-Based Acquisition

The highest-earning proofreaders typically make most of their money through direct client relationships and outreach. This involves reaching out directly to the client. Scary, we know, but the payoff is worth it. This approach eliminates platform fees and competition. You can also charge premium rates because you’re not immediately competing with other job seekers. 

Strategic LinkedIn Optimization

LinkedIn, which is chock full of business managers, recruiters, and CEOs, is a great place to reach out to and find proofreading work. 

To optimize your approach: 

• Use “Proofreader for [specific industry]” in your profile headline
• Continue learning with courses like this LinkedIn Client Magnet course to find clients and build strong relationships
• Create content demonstrating your expertise (articles, posts about common errors, etc).
• Strategically engage with content from your target clients
• Build connections with content managers, marketing directors, and publications editors

Targeted Cold Email Campaigns

Cold outreach campaigns take a lot of work, but they tend to be very lucrative, especially for catching long-term, repeat clients. Amp up your “wow” factor with catchy headlines and pitches, and we guarantee you’ll catch a big fish or two. 

Best practices include:

• Create industry-specific prospect lists of 50-100 potential clients
• Personalize your outreach based on content review (identify actual errors to fix in existing content)
• Follow proven email structures with clear value propositions 
• Implement systematic follow-up sequences (3-5 follow-up emails over 2-3 weeks)

Virtual and In-Person Networking

There’s no better place to find work than an industry powwow. If there are any industry events near you, we’d suggest joining. Take a chance. Chat with clients and other proofreaders. 

We also understand that the biggest appeal of remote positions is not having to do business in person—freelancing is introvert-friendly.

Fortunately, you can network even when you do stay-at-home jobs. Join proofreading and industry groups on platforms like Reddit and LinkedIn, and sign in virtually to online conversations to chat with potential customers. 

Effective approaches include:

• Participate in writer and author groups (in-person and online)
• Attend publishing and network marketing conferences
• Join industry-specific professional organizations
• Leverage alumni networks, online communities, and professional associations to find remote work

Final Tips and Resources for Aspiring Proofreaders

Like pro athletes, professional proofreaders have certain skills and techniques that help them stay at the top of their game. We’ve done the surveys, collected all the best maxims, and compiled them here for you to supercharge your proofreading career. 

Physical Workspace Considerations

Proofreading requires long hours of focused work, which can be difficult when you’re a stay-at-home mom—and that’s putting it mildly. So, as a first, we always recommend creating a work environment that minimizes distractions and physical strain. 

Ergonomic Setup

Having your workspace set up just right is majorly important for avoiding those annoying repetitive strain injuries—especially for all you amazing moms out there juggling work and family responsibilities. 

First things first, pop your monitor up to eye level so your neck isn’t sore by the end of the day. A good keyboard and mouse setup will save your wrists so much grief. We also suggest a great chair. Your back will thank you later. 

Since proofreading means you’re besties with your screen for hours on end, getting your setup right and keeping good posture is key to staying happy and productive in the long term.

Visual Comfort Optimization

Eye strain is such a common issue for us proofreading folks (ugh, I know, right?). We’ve all been there with those nasty headaches and that tired, gritty feeling after a long day of catching typos. 

So mix some lovely natural light with adjustable task lighting to keep your eyes happy! Also, remember to take a quick break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

Blue light filters are also pretty awesome. You can add a filter either through your screen settings or some cute blue-light glasses (they also make you look super studious).

Remember, taking care of your peepers is critical in keeping you on your A-game so you can spot every misplaced comma with eagle-eye precision. 

Digital Workflow Optimization

Okay, so you know how remote proofreading isn’t just about spotting those sneaky typos, right? It’s really about getting your digital game on point so you can make the most money possible from your cozy home setup. Here are a few tips guaranteed to change your life. 

Project Management System

Listen, a good project system can literally save you 5-7 hours every week! That’s practically a whole workday you get back for actual paying work. Asana is awesome for visually tracking everything. Trello is super popular, too.

Google Workspace is perfect if you want to keep everything in one place, or if you’re juggling tons of clients, check out Bonsai or AND.CO. They’re perfect for keeping your contracts, invoices, and to-dos all organized without losing your mind. 

Time Tracking and Productivity Measurement

Real talk: The key to making more without working yourself to death is knowing exactly where your time goes. Time-tracking tools are a must.

Toggl and Clockify will break down exactly how long each project takes (no more undercharging for that client with the complicated technical docs). RescueTime is also great because it shows you where you’re getting distracted (hello, social media rabbit holes).

Connect and Continue to Grow

Do you want to know the true secret to success? Don’t ever stop learning. 

Continue to improve your skills by reading classics like The Elements of Style by Strunk & White and The Chicago Manual of Style! Take a General Proofreading course! Practice, practice, practice! 

Connecting with like-minded people is another awesome way to improve your skills. Use Facebook groups, Reddit threads, and LinkedIn groups to connect with other proofreaders. These communities often share job leads and awesome industry tips.

Launch Your Proofreading Career with Confidence

The world of proofreading has opened up amazing ways to achieve financial freedom for all our detail-oriented parents, all thanks to the internet and the remote work revolution. It’s no longer just a dream but an achievable path for anyone willing to put in a bit of effort.

By following the approaches we’ve discussed throughout this article, you can create that flexible schedule you’ve been dreaming about and build a career where you’re calling all the shots—and where you have enough time to be the best mom ever. 

Ready to jump in? The best place to start is right where you are; assess your existing skills and pick a training option that feels right for your unique background and goals.

Whether you decide to try our General Proofreading course or start with our free Transcript Proofreading course, today could be the first day of your new career adventure. Why wait? Your proofreading journey starts now!

The post Stay at Home Proofreading Jobs: How to Work Remote appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

We all go through seasons of change in our lives. Sometimes they are good changes and sometimes they’re difficult. Whether it’s raising your kids, retiring, or moving to another part of the country or world, it involves some kind of upheaval.

No matter what the circumstances, we need to make plans for the future so we can adapt. What if you could maintain some sort of financial and career consistency throughout these changes? What if your ability to earn an income from wherever you are is the one thing that didn’t change?

It’s totally possible if you start a freelance proofreading business that will allow you to work completely online. Then, no matter where you are or what stage you’re at in your life, you can take your business with you wherever you go!

In this article, we’re going to dive into why proofreading jobs from home are such a fantastic gig for people who want the freedom of remote work—without sacrificing their income. Ready to see why a proofreading career could be your perfect fit? Let’s get into it! 

What Exactly Are Proofreading Jobs from Home?

So what exactly does it mean to have proofreading jobs from home? It’s a job that allows you to work from anywhere, whether it’s proofreading at home, at a local coffee shop, or even while you’re traveling. The beauty of these jobs is the freedom to choose your environment and schedule. 

As a freelance proofreader, you’ll work on projects for various clients who need assistance ensuring accuracy in their writing. The range of work includes editing technical documents, romance novels, blog posts, website pages, and more! 

In fact, the global proofreading and editing market is expected to grow significantly, with its industry projected to reach $1.65 billion by 2033—showing just how much demand exists for high-quality content.

When working remotely, proofreading jobs offer you flexibility. Many clients will hire proofreaders on a project basis, giving you the ability to decide when and how many hours you must work to meet the most urgent deadlines.

And let’s not forget the most exciting part: you can work from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re seeking remote work full-time or looking for special projects that fit your schedule, proofreading jobs online allow you to make it happen.

Most of these roles involve editing documents to ensure accuracy, focusing on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency. This gives you the chance to put your editing skills to the test while helping others perfect their content. If you have a strong command of writing and love helping people polish their writing, this could be the job for you. 

Top Benefits of Proofreading Jobs from Home

Think you’re ready to get paid to proofread from the comfort of your home? Whether you’re an experienced editor or just starting out, remote proofreading jobs come with plenty of perks that make them an attractive and flexible career choice. Here’s why so many professionals are diving into the world of freelance proofreading:

No Commute = More Time and Less Stress

If you’ve ever worked in-office, you’ll know how much time you waste commuting going there and back every day. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, crammed onto a crowded subway, or waiting for that always-late bus, it’s not just frustrating—it’s exhausting. And let’s be honest, it’s also a huge waste of time that could be spent on something more meaningful. 

But with proofreading jobs from home, you can say goodbye to the stress of rushing out the door and fighting through delays. No more frantic morning routines, no more expensive gas or train fares, and no more worrying about getting to work on time.

Instead, you get to reclaim that extra time and use it however you want. Work on more projects to increase your income, spend quality time with family, or finally take up that hobby you’ve been putting off. You’ll also have the freedom to set your own schedule, making it easier to balance work and life on your terms.

Beyond the convenience, working from home can have major mental health benefits. No noisy offices, no workplace drama, and no distractions from chatty coworkers. Instead, you can proofread in a peaceful, familiar environment, which helps boost focus and reduce stress. 

Plus, when you’re in control of your workload, you won’t feel the pressure of meeting tight corporate deadlines. You can manage your proofreading jobs at your own pace. It’s a win-win!

Low Start-Up Costs and Overhead

One of the best things about starting a proofreading business is how little you need to get going. Unlike many other freelance jobs, you don’t need to spend thousands on fancy office equipment or software. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and your trusty brain. If you’re proficient in using MS Word, you’re already halfway there!  

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If you want to take your proofreading game to the next level, you can always grab some affordable tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or PerfectIt. However, the most important investment is your time and effort. Proofread Anywhere students start with a small upfront cost and build their businesses over time, meaning you don’t need a large financial commitment to get started.

Additionally, most proofreaders start by offering their services to local clients or through freelance platforms like Hubstaff Talent, which provides a steady stream of opportunities. And since overhead is minimal, it’s easy to start earning sooner rather than later.

If you’re serious about getting started, Proofread Anywhere offers step-by-step training to help you develop the proofreading skills you need. Whether you’re interested in General Proofreading or want to specialize in Transcript Proofreading, our courses give you the tools to launch a successful career with a proofreading certification right in your back pocket!

High Demand for Skilled Proofreaders

You might be wondering, “Is there even a need for proofreaders?” Good news: There absolutely is! With so many businesses, bloggers, authors, and academics putting their work online, there’s a massive demand for professional proofreading and editing services.

Everyone needs someone to help make sure their content is error-free and polished. As more people self-publish, launch blogs, or create online content, the need for editing services and proofreading companies grows. Whether it’s content for websites or proofreading documents for businesses, there’s plenty of work to go around. 

Freelance proofreaders are sought after in fields ranging from academic writing and court reporters’ transcripts to romance novels and beyond. And it doesn’t stop there. The publishing industry and content creators are constantly on the hunt for a successful proofreader who can ensure that their written work meets high standards of accuracy. 

Whether it’s research for a new book, editing social media posts, or proofreading test assignments for students, the demand for skilled proofreaders is never-ending.

A Career That Grows With You

Proofreading jobs from home can start as a side hustle, and with a little hustle, it can grow into your own proofreading business. As you gain more experience and work with more clients, you’ll be able to charge higher rates and take on more specialized projects. 

Imagine transitioning from proofreading website pages to editing technical documents or even entire books for major publishing companies! As a freelancer, you’ll also have the opportunity to expand your skill set by tackling a variety of projects. You can become a freelance proofreader who edits everything from romance novels to business proposals to court reporters’ transcripts. 

Plus, your writing skills, editing skills, and research skills will continue to improve as you work with different clients. The more experience you gain, the more attractive you become to potential clients. Your ability to attract clients and consistently deliver excellent results will directly influence the growth of your proofreading business.

Whether you’re at the start of your career or have been working for a while, there are always new opportunities on freelance platforms and from clients seeking proofreaders with a strong command of grammar and attention to detail.

Ideal for Introverts or Independent Workers

If you’re someone who prefers a quiet, focused work environment, proofreading jobs from home are perfect for you. Most communication with clients happens over email or project management tools, so you can get the job done without the need for endless Zoom meetings or small talk.

Proofreading is all about working independently, which means you get to choose when and how you work. Whether you’re a full-on introvert or just someone who prefers a bit of peace and quiet, proofreading jobs allow you to work on your own terms.

You’ll thrive in an environment where you’re in charge of your time and space, and you don’t have to worry about the noise and distractions that come with working in an office. Plus, proofreading jobs from home offer the opportunity to work across different time zones and cater to clients who need flexibility. 

Whether you’re working with clients in the U.S., Europe, or anywhere else, the remote work nature of these jobs means you can easily find work at any time of day. It’s perfect if you enjoy the independence and freedom of working remotely without the need for constant in-person interaction.

Proofreading Can Be Personally Fulfilling

You know that little rush of satisfaction you get when you spot a typo in a book or a blog post? Imagine turning that into a career where catching errors isn’t just a habit—it’s your superpower. 

As a freelance proofreader, you get to play a crucial role in ensuring accuracy and consistency in everything from blog posts to technical documents, academic papers, romance novels, and even website pages. It’s more than just fixing grammar and spelling mistakes—it’s about helping writers refine their message, ensuring clarity, and giving their words the polish they deserve. 

The exciting part? No two projects are the same. One day, you might edit content on court reporters’ transcripts, and the next, you could be perfecting the final draft of someone’s self-published novel. Every assignment offers a new challenge and the opportunity to assist clients in creating high-quality, error-free content. 

Plus, knowing that your skills help authors, businesses, and students put their best foot forward makes this career even more rewarding. Proofreading isn’t just a valuable and profitable skill; It’s also one that allows you to make a real difference—one sentence at a time.

How to Get Started with Proofreading from Home

If the benefits of proofreading jobs from home sound like a dream, then guess what? They’re 100% achievable! Whether you’re drawn to the flexibility of remote work, the ability to set your own hours, or the satisfaction of helping clients create error-free content, a proofreading career could be the perfect fit. 

The demand for skilled proofreaders is growing with businesses, authors, and content creators constantly seeking professionals who can ensure their writing is polished and professional. The best part is that you don’t need an advanced degree or years of experience to break into this field. 

All it takes is a sharp eye for detail, a love for language, and the willingness to learn the essential proofreading skills that set you apart. If you enjoy spotting errors, refining content, ensuring accuracy, and following style guidelines, you already have a solid foundation to succeed in this industry.

One of the easiest ways to kickstart your journey is by checking out our free workshop. This workshop gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become a freelance proofreader, covering everything from mastering editing skills to finding clients and building a successful proofreading business.

Whether you’re interested in editing technical documents, general proofreading, or working with court reporters, this workshop provides the insights you need to attract clients and grow your expertise.

Proofread Anywhere has already helped thousands of people turn their passion for language into a thriving career, offering expert guidance on learning how to proofread. So, if you’re serious about transforming your love for grammar, consistency, and accuracy into a legit work-from-home job, don’t wait!

Conclusion

Proofreading jobs from home offer the perfect blend of flexibility, independence, and fulfillment. Whether you want to ditch the daily commute, create a work schedule that fits your lifestyle, or build a thriving proofreading business, this career path has something for everyone. 

With companies, authors, and businesses constantly seeking skilled proofreaders, the demand for error-free content continues to grow, making it a reliable and profitable career choice.

The journey to a successful proofreading career starts with a single step. Ready to see if proofreading from home is the right fit for you? Join our free workshop today!

The post The Benefit of Proofreading Jobs from Home appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

So, it’s 2025 and you want a side hustle. Whether you’re sick and tired of going into the office every day and want to work from home, or you want some more spending cash, proofreading is the way to go. 

With the steady rise of content creation and most companies working digitally, proofreaders are in high demand. An extra eye is always needed to double-check any work that needs to be published.

If you want to enter the world of freelance proofreading, we couldn’t recommend it more! You’ll have flexible work hours, no long commutes to and from work every day, and you can seriously grow your business if you want.

Plus, the different avenues that you can work in are endless! For example, you can proofread academic papers, romance novels, medical journals, and even copy for social media posts. 

The Benefits of Starting a Proofreading Side Hustle

Flexible Schedule and Work-from-Anywhere Opportunity

Can you make money with a proofreading side hustle? That’s the big question on the agenda today. 

Of course, we firmly believe the answer is yes — freelance proofreading is the perfect side hustle for anyone with a pair of eagle eyes!

A proofreading side hustle offers the flexibility to manage your own schedule. You get the opportunity to make money doing something you enjoy. And you can work from home or anywhere in the world. 

Just because you’re interested in becoming a proofreader — for whatever reason — doesn’t mean it has to be your full-time gig. You determine how much work you take on and how much money you make. The sky’s the limit!

Of course, everyone’s situation is different. We all have varying amounts of time we can spend on our side hustle. And we all have different needs when it comes to how much extra money we need to make. But you can adapt your business to suit your own needs. 

Low Startup Costs

When looking for online proofreading jobs, you probably don’t want to be paying exorbitant fees. While we do suggest taking some proofreading courses, we know the startup costs should be minimal. 

Let’s take the example of a stay-at-home mom. If this is you, we get it! You’ve barely got time for yourself, let alone the cash flow to buy new resources. With proofreading, all you need are a few basics like a laptop, an internet connection, and some helpful proofreading resources and tools. 

If all you’ve ever wanted is to stay home with your kids and watch them grow, the reality that your budget can’t accommodate this can be difficult to accept. Well, you don’t have to accept it. It’s totally possible to find proofreading jobs online and earn money from home without sacrificing too much time with your kids. 

Before she started proofreading from home as her main source of income, Amanda worked in her family’s restaurant. There were days she didn’t even see her son; she left for work before he got home from school, and he would be in bed by the time she got home. When she was pregnant with her second child, she made the decision to stay home. Now she can be there for her family while also contributing to their household income. Win-win!

Even when your kids are a bit older it can still be a struggle to juggle a full time job with their needs. They seem to always need to be driven somewhere! After moving across the country, Peggy was searching for a job, but she couldn’t find one that fit in with her family’s needs. 

Finally, she ran across proofreading, and her prayers were answered. Her biggest income month brought in $2,700 with part-time hours! Imagine what she could earn if she went full-time?

Sometimes it’s not only our kids that need our attention. Older family members sometimes need a little help around the house, which can be difficult to balance with a full time job. 

When Patti’s mother got sick, it was a blessing that Patti was able to be home with her. The fact that she can proofread anywhere makes it really easy for Patti to balance it with her mother’s needs. 

Earning Potential of Proofreading Side Hustles in 2025

Curious about how proofreading could pad your wallet in 2025? Let’s check out the surprising earning potential of this flexible side hustle!

What You Can Expect to Earn

Earnings from freelance proofreading jobs differ with each project and experience. Naturally, if you’ve been a proofreader for years and have a quick turnaround time with expert proofreading you can price your work quite high. 

However, when you’re just starting off you should think about your own rates and how much experience you have. Will you be able to deliver a polished paper within x amount of time? Do you have academic proofreading experience? These are the sorts of questions you’ll need to think about when setting a pay grade.

But let’s turn to some of our Proofread Anywhere graduates, so you can see how and what they earned. If we look at Tiffany, she doesn’t want proofreading to be her main job. And that’s fine! If you need to earn some extra cash, we get it!

While Tiffany loved proofreading, her current focus is now on writing. She works part-time on her blog and other various freelance writing gigs, and she still proofreads about 8–20 hours a week. There’s nothing wrong with being multi-passionate. As we always say, mo’ skills = mo’ money! 

Despite proofreading very part-time, she consistently pulls in an extra $400 to $1,200 a month! That’s not too bad if you ask us! Balancing her proofreading with working in house, she still manages to earn a lot of extra cash. 

Now if you really want to hear a success story, listen to this! Since childhood, Mary has always had at least one side hustle going. When she completed the General Proofreading course, she jumped straight into the Transcript Proofreading course — and she continued her side hustle as an internet marketer! 

Mary didn’t let the loss of her day job due to her long-term disability hold her back. She made her comeback in the online world! 

Scaling Your Side Hustle Into a Full-Time Income

So, you want to turn proofreading into your full-time gig? Well, we’re here to tell you how to become the best freelance proofreader you can be. Before we jump into the actionable tasks, we want to share some stories about how one of our graduates turned her proofreading side hustle into her full time job. 

Beth intended to proofread on the side of her day job in Google for at least another 8–12 months. However, once she started networking, clients started rolling in and she decided to quit her job. 

Linsey balanced her proofreading side hustle with her full time job for several months when she was trying to pay down debt. She didn’t have to do it for long though! She started earning enough to quit her day job after only eight months of working as a proofreader for court reporters! 

Because she loved being able to earn money from home, she added even more skills to her repertoire — general proofreading and writing. She’s a freelance machine!

Steps to Get Started With Your Proofreading Side Hustle

Assess Your Skills and Build Expertise

When you start freelance proofreading, there are some helpful things to know. Your main job is to find small mistakes such as grammatical errors, punctuation slip-ups, and style adherence. 

And hey, maybe you have some expertise in this already! Do you have a bachelor’s degree? Or maybe a graduate degree? Perhaps you’ve done a Proofread Anywhere course and now have these specific qualifications to show for it. 

Before you begin your freelance proofreading side hustle, you’ll want to go over these skills and assess your strengths and weaknesses.

One of the best skills you can arm yourself with is proofreading courses and books. Having a proofreading qualification under your belt is a very attractive element to your resume and a sparkling skill to own. 

You can never learn enough, so by enrolling in some proofreading courses you are only bettering your skills (and your chance at a future job!). 

Finding Your First Clients

So, now starts your journey of offering proofreading services. Okay… what do you offer? Resume writing? Proofreading tests? Academic editing? 

Once you’ve figured out your niche, it’s time to market yourself. We suggest starting off with platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn. While these websites don’t promise jobs, they help with networking and finding online jobs. 

To find clients you need to network. Check out Facebook groups, community job boards, and heck, even chat with friends and acquaintances and ask around. Don’t be shy!

Tools and Resources to Boost Efficiency

As you start off your new life filled with exciting editing jobs, you’ll want to have some handy resources at your disposal. Once you’ve become familiar with these and the way that they can help you, you can start applying for higher paying jobs. Pretty cool benefit. 

You’ll probably be working with your own freelance site, like Google Docs, so you’ll want to get comfortable using tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid. This helps pick up the small errors like spelling (especially useful for late-night working — we’ve all been there!). 

Similarly to Grammarly, using style guides and glossaries is very important! Your client might use a different spelling guide or sentence structure guide. Or, if you’re proofreading academic work they might be using referencing. Then you really need a close eye. 

The further you get down the road of proofreading and editing, you’ll find that these tools become a great help. The quicker you get used to them, the better.

Time Management

Let’s talk about time management. Being efficient on your own schedule isn’t always the easiest, especially if you work from home. Time is a limited resource, and there never seems to be enough of it. 

But maybe you might be able to reclaim some time where you think there isn’t any? Anyone here with a Netflix addiction raise your hand! Or Amazon or Hulu or cable TV, for that matter. 

According to Neilsen, the average American over the age of eighteen watches over four hours of TV a day! That’s four hours you could be earning money from home!

I bet there are other ways you could steal back some of your time too. Got kids? How about proofreading while you wait for them at sports practice? Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Even if you work forty hours a week at your day job, it’s still possible to earn a little extra money in your spare time. 

When Stephanie’s son started preschool, she was looking for a way to fill in the time she used to spend with him in the mornings before she went to her full time job in a medical lab. Proofreading turned out to be a great fit! While she loves proofreading, she has no desire to leave her day job just yet. Proofreading is her “hobby job” — something she enjoys doing and makes money while doing it.

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Real Stories: Proofreading Success in 2025

Let’s talk about how proofreading has impacted people’s lives. We’re going to show you two different stories: Debbie, a retiree who was looking for short working hours, and Alaina, a young graduate who needed to pay off her debts. 

A lot of people are crippled with student loans or medical bills they have no idea how to pay off.  If you’re good at grammar and you have above-average attention to detail, proofreading could be a great way for you to attack those loans or bills. 

Alaina had a big goal to get her finances under control. She wanted to pay down all credit card debt, get an actual savings account going, and do a better job of budgeting. Not to mention the fact that she lives in one of the most expensive cities in the world — New York! 

Through her proofreading side hustle, she earns an extra $600 a month and she’s on track to pay off her credit card twice as quickly as she was previously!

Sometimes, no matter how hard you worked over the years, retirement income just doesn’t stretch far enough. But most of us don’t want to get another full time job after retirement. 

We’ve spent years fantasizing about our retirement lifestyle, and these fantasies probably didn’t include working all day! Turning a hobby into a money-making side hustle is the best way to supplement your retirement income while still enjoying the freedom you’ve earned.

Debbie retired from her stressful job after twenty-three years of service. She wanted to find a way to supplement her retirement income that didn’t require her to stick to a strict daily schedule. Enter proofreading! Now she can supplement her pension while still having flexible time to live the retirement life. 

She works just a few hours each day, hikes with her dog, rides her bike, takes a yoga class, or just relaxes in the backyard with a book. Debbie has the best of both worlds! Maybe you just want to keep your mind active when you retire instead of plonking yourself in front of the TV all day. 

Conclusion

As you can see there are lots of ways you can benefit from a proofreading side hustle. Just because you start a proofreading business, it doesn’t mean you have to work on it 24/7. You can make it fit around your life and needs.

Ready to break into the freelance marketplace with proofreading and bring in extra money? Check out our FREE Intro to Proofreading workshop!

The post Why a Proofreading Side Hustle Is Great Income for 2025 appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

If you’ve heard anything about Proofread Anywhere, then you know how much we believe in working from anywhere and working in a field that you enjoy! 

And we’re not just looking at things with rose-colored glasses. We’ve had thousands of graduates go on to lead successful careers all while getting paid to proofread. 

You don’t even need to live in the United States to be a successful proofreader. 

Take Silas, for example. Originally from the UK, Silas emigrated to Australia for love. Dealing with visa work restrictions led him to search for location-independent jobs and, eventually, he found proofreading. 

After Silas took our General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading courses, he was able to work for court reporters in the US (despite not living in or being from the US) AND he can work with other clients from around the world. 

Keep reading to find out how Silas gets paid to proofread!

How Silas Found Freelance Proofreading

Q: Hi, Silas! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with PA and started getting paid to proofread?

Before I crossed paths with PA, I was very skeptical about any “make money online” course. My first experience with entrepreneurship involved unknowingly getting sucked into an MLM (often synonymous with pyramid schemes) while raising money for charity in 2012.

I was in my first year of university, full of optimism and naivety. I was indoctrinated into thinking we’d all be making money together and helping each other out. It took me quite a while to work out for myself what I’d gotten into and stop being a part of it.

Fast forward a few years and, although my entrepreneurial spirit had been dampened, the idea of making money online never left me. I’m English, but I moved down under in 2016 after falling in love with an Aussie.

I had lots of dead-end jobs while dealing with visa work restrictions, and I was always on the lookout for a way to make money with something I was already good at and enjoyed doing. I love to read and naturally pick up grammar mistakes, so when I found Proofread Anywhere, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Becoming a Professional Proofreader

Q: Those MLMs can really suck you in! I’m glad you found an alternative path that suits you better. When did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to learn how to proofread?

I started the general proofreading course in the second half of 2018. I completed it within a month and jumped straight into the transcript proofreading course. That took me about four months to finish, and pretty much as soon as I graduated, my partner and I embarked on a four-month trip house and pet sitting through Europe and Asia. During our travels, I got everything set up, began marketing, and got my first client!

I’d always wanted to try earning while traveling. Although I didn’t really earn much — I was having too much fun to put any real time into my business — just knowing I could make money from literally anywhere is an amazing feeling. With the amount of online proofreading jobs, I could choose how much I wanted to work and how much effort I wanted to put in. 

I made the decision to start my proofreading business after doing a lot of jobs that I didn’t enjoy and finding that I could earn an income with something I was naturally good at. My history of working online left me with a healthy dose of skepticism. I researched everything I could find about PA and Caitlin Pyle, asked lots of questions, and thought long and hard before making the decision to start with PA.

Finding Potential Clients 

Q: I totally agree; having the freedom to earn money wherever you are in the world is awesome! What was the most challenging part of getting started?

One of my biggest roadblocks was finding clients. I thought that there would be no work left, particularly as both of the courses had already been out for a few years. I didn’t realize that proofreading services will always be needed. 

On top of that, I’m English and doing an American course. I was concerned that the skills wouldn’t transfer outside of the US and nobody would pay me for it. I tried finding other courses to weigh up the decision, but they were all theory and had nothing in terms of marketing, finding clients, or support of any kind.

Now, I actually find it easy to switch between US and UK English. They almost feel like separate languages, so it really stands out to me when the wrong version of a word is used or there are spelling mistakes.

Marketing and Finding Remote Proofreading Jobs

Q: The demand for freelance proofreading jobs is growing all the time thanks to the boom of self-publishing! There’s work out there for anyone willing to work hard. What was the most valuable thing you learned during the course?

That’s a tricky question. There’s so much great content! If I had to pick one, I’d say the section on marketing. When you first start, you might hope that just listing your services online and sharing a link to your website will get you off the mark, but there’s much more to it than that. It’s all about making genuine connections, engaging with others, and providing value first, rather than going straight to the pitch.

There are also options to offer editing services along with freelance proofreading so you can charge higher hourly rates to find a wide variety of potential clients. 

If you follow Proofread Anywhere online, you’ll see they really practice what they preach. Their blogs alone contain so much valuable info for free. Check out any of their stuff and you’ll get an idea of how to market and grow your freelance business in an authentic way.

Q: How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?

I got my first client within a month of graduating from both courses, but I didn’t get any more for another three months or so. Keep in mind, though, I was traveling the whole time, and I spent waaay too long getting “set up” before reaching out to find new clients. (I literally spent months building my website. Wouldn’t recommend.)

Once I made proofreading a priority, I began picking up lots of one-off freelance proofreading jobs and new clients pretty quickly. Now, I have about four regular clients and five semi-regular clients. I was also able to find clients from other freelance proofreaders in the Proofread Anywhere Facebook community. If you put in the work, you’ll find online proofreading jobs all over the internet. 

A couple of times, I’ve told my friends how many pages I’ve got to read, and they’ve said they couldn’t think of doing anything worse. That shows that many people will pay for someone else to proofread their work, and if that doesn’t put you off, then proofreading might be for you.

If you truly enjoy finding grammatical errors, then being a professional proofreader is one of the best things you can do. You would be shocked at what people are willing to pay for proofreading services and editing services, even if you don’t have a university degree! 

Advice for Those Looking for a Freelance Proofreading Career

Q: Yes, not everyone likes getting into the nitty-gritty and searching for errors. How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

Around six months for both courses.

Here’s what some of Silas’s happy clients have to say!

Q: Awesome! What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money? Are there enough online proofreading jobs? 

First, make sure this is actually a good fit for you. Go through all the free training, check out some reviews, and do your own research. You’re not going to make money overnight. You will have to read. A lot (obviously). And they are by no means easy courses. The transcript exam was more difficult than most of my university exams.

In saying all that, it has been so worth it for me. Becoming a proofreader and gaining proofreading experience has been so worthwhile. Proofreading is a real and valuable skill that people pay for. It’s not going away anytime soon, it’s a relatively short learning curve and investment compared to other ways to make money online, and the other skills you learn in the course will set you up to do so much more in the future.

Since graduating, I’ve launched another part-time business in a completely different field, using a lot of the transferable skills I learned in the PA courses. I’ve also gained so much experience in editing which has led me to do more as a freelance editor. 

If you’re thinking about enrolling, I’d recommend starting with the general proofreading course first. It’s much shorter, less of an investment, and allows you to dip your toes into the proofreading world to see if it’s for you. You’ll also probably be able to start making money quicker through this route. Don’t waste your time getting a graduate degree in English when you don’t need proofreading certifications in the US. 

Life as a Freelance Proofreader

Q: What does your life look like now as a working freelance proofreader?

I proofread on a very part-time basis. Proofreading has given me location and time flexibility. I’ve proofread on the couch, in the car (I wasn’t driving), at the beach, and on a plane (I wasn’t driving). I get to set my schedule, work around other things in my day, and plan it around my other business.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. I have to work hard. I have to stay disciplined. I have to wear many different hats, and there have been some struggles along the way, but capitalizing on my proofreading skills has allowed me to earn enough to live comfortably and support myself while doing something I enjoy.

It’s an amazing feeling to reflect and see what I’ve accomplished. PA has helped me to build something for myself from nothing, something I can look back on and be proud of.

Q: I’m proud of what you have achieved as well, Silas! Anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

1. Don’t take forever to get everything ready. When I first graduated, I spent a long time building my website. While I enjoyed working on it, it literally took me months to do. However, barely any of my clients found me through my website. I could have used all that time reaching out to find clients and start getting paid. That proof of concept is critical for your motivation. Get set up as quickly as possible, then focus on getting clients. After that, when you’re getting paid, by all means, spend any other time you have perfecting your brand or tweaking your homepage.
2. I have to mention the PA community. The Facebook groups and the Proofread Anywhere team are THE BEST. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging. We all help each other out and even share jobs and opportunities for one another. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or voice any doubts. Every time I’ve reached out to the support team, they’ve gone above and beyond to ease my concerns and give an individualized response to each question. The Proofread Anywhere team truly wants you to succeed and will help in any way they can.

Your income will be a reflection of how much value you can bring to the marketplace. If you can learn and offer skills that solve other people’s problems, you’ll be set. Proofreading is one of those skills.

The post How to Get Paid to Proofread And Work From Anywhere appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Some of you may know this already, but when Caitlin started Proofread Anywhere, she was living in Ecuador and traveling the world. She was literally freelance proofreading anywhere and practicing what she preached. It’s a lifestyle that we stand behind 150%

Even with the name “Proofread Anywhere”, we still get questions from potential students nearly every day asking if they can proofread outside the US. The answer is a resounding YES.

You can absolutely make extra money freelance proofreading around the world! There might be a few kinks to work out if you’re in a different country than your client — time zones, payment fees, language differences, etc. — but it’s nothing insurmountable. You CAN make it work.

Catherine is a perfect example of the Proofread Anywhere lifestyle. She signed up for the General Proofreading course after moving to Canada from Ireland, and she’s now running a successful freelance proofreading business.

Catherine is further proof that it doesn’t matter where you’re located — you can make freelance proofreading into a legitimate work-from-home gig. And the best part? Your business follows you wherever you go!

Read on to hear more about Catherine’s journey.

How Catherine Became a Freelance Proofreader

Q: Hi, Catherine! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with Proofread Anywhere?

C: I’m originally from Ireland, but I moved to Canada in March. Before this, I worked in the financial sector for eight years. Although I liked a lot of things about my previous job, it wasn’t very creative and could be a bit tedious at times. When I moved to Canada, I decided I wanted to take the opportunity to create something for myself so that I didn’t end up in the same rut again.

How She Gained Experience and Confidence

Q: Sounds like a great path to take! When did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to learn how to proofread?

C: I started proofreading as part of my previous job in the financial sector. I proofread my division’s contribution to a quarterly report that was published on the company’s website. This was the highlight of my job and something I looked forward to every quarter.

So it was a no-brainer when it came to deciding what I wanted to do to earn a living in Canada, I knew I wanted to become a proofreader. But I really wanted to make sure that my skills were up to scratch before I started advertising as a proofreader. The General Proofreading course sounded perfect as it promised lots of proofreading practice, marketing information, and a graded exam to verify my skills.

Q: I love that you wanted to solidify your skills before starting your business! So what was the most challenging part for you in getting started?

C: Having the confidence to put myself out there. I’m very shy, so I struggle with the marketing side of things. However, the benefits of this course don’t end with the course material.

If you pass the exam, you can list on the Self-Publishing School’s Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex. (Update: While we no longer have the preferred outsourcer rolodex, graduates are still listed on hireaproofreader.com.) This is invaluable and has led to some great work for me.

Now that I’ve had some real-life experience, I feel more confident about marketing and networking.

How Proofread Anywhere Taught Her Proofreading Skills

Q: Having confidence is key, and it sounds like you’re gaining more and more every day What was the most valuable thing you learned during the General Proofreading course?

C: The most valuable thing I learned is how many amazing resources there are to help you proofread to the best of your ability. The course has pointed me in the right direction toward the best books, reference guides, and software to use to help me grow my business.

Without guidance from the course and tips from other students in the Facebook group, I would have been lost when trying to figure out a difficult grammar or punctuation issue, when trying to set up my website, or when searching for online proofreading jobs.

Her First Proofreading Client

Q: That’s so great to hear! One of the best perks of our courses is the support from the Facebook groups. So how long did it take you to find your first client? How many clients do you have now?

C: I graduated from the course in June and had my first client by the end of July. The beauty of general proofreading is that you can work on so many different types of content for all sorts of different people.

So far, I’ve proofread nonfiction e-books, academic papers, online course material, website content, blog posts, email newsletters, legal documents, college essays, and job-hunting documents.

I’ve proofread over 150,000 words! I have two regular clients so far while the rest have been ad hoc. I love the variety that comes with proofreading for different people! I can even make extra money by offering editing services along with my proofreading services. 

Recouping her Proofreading Course

Q: Variety is the spice of life! How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

C: I recouped the cost of the course about six weeks after graduating. I graduated in June and have earned more than the course fee every month since then. I’m not earning a full-time income yet, but I feel very confident that I will be able to achieve that.

Advice for New Proofreaders or Prospective Students

Q: I have no doubt you will achieve that as well! What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the General Proofreading course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money?

C: It’s definitely worth the money! I would advise anyone thinking of enrolling to be clear about how much work they want to put into it.

This isn’t the kind of course that’s going to hold your hand every step of the way. You need to do independent study as well. What the course will do is provide enough proofreading practice to allow you to become an excellent proofreader. Getting access to this level of practice would be very difficult on your own.

Information about the English language and how to spot grammatical errors, alone, is so valuable even for fluent English speakers.

Another great thing about the course is that you get lifetime access. Since I completed the course, the content has tripled! I took the opportunity to work through the new material and learned even more.

Most experienced proofreaders will tell you that your learning doesn’t stop after one course. It’s so important to keep up to date with changes to style or usage guides. Think of this course as just the beginning of your proofreading training. Not only do you learn from job opportunities, but you also learn from additional courses and from other professional proofreaders. 

Being Your Own Boss with Freelance Proofreading Jobs

Q: What does your life look like now as a freelance proofreading business owner?

C: I am living the dream! I love working from home and setting my own hours. Don’t get me wrong; when I’m working on a project for a client it can be full on, and I have to remind myself to take breaks, but I don’t spend two hours a day commuting or going to unnecessary meetings, so I definitely feel like my time is my own. I can sit outside in the sun and proofread if I want to. I wouldn’t have been able to do that at an office job!

Completing this course has also reignited a passion in me for continuous learning that I haven’t felt in years. I’m devouring grammar books and blogs just for fun to try to learn as much as I can.

I’ve also since completed a copyediting and copywriting course as I want to be involved in different types of editing and expand my service offering. Having experience in editing and writing allows online proofreaders to make even more money by completing editing jobs along with their proofreading side hustle. 

Check out what one of Catherine’s happy clients had to say about her work!

Final Thoughts

Q: Mo’ skills = mo’ money! Is there anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

C; The course isn’t easy, and there will be a time that you feel as though you’re just not getting it (by “it” I mean those damn commas!), but if you put in the effort and expand your proofreading skills, it will click eventually. Deciding to do this course was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.

If you’d like to start finding freelance proofreading jobs to make extra money, check out our General Proofreading and Transcript Proofreading courses! We also offer a Freelance course that helps you start your freelance business in as little as 30 days! 

For more info, see our Freelancer Resources page! 

Updates

Did you love reading about Catherine’s story as much as we did? She truly embraced a growth mindset and not only completed the online proofreading course but also dedicated herself to lifelong learning. And that’s what is going to make her even more successful as she offers her proofreading services and editing services down the road!

Update 2019: Catherine is once again proving that you can proofread anywhere. In early 2019, she worked as a proofreader while she traveled around the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Love it!

The post How Catherine Made Extra Money Freelance Proofreading From Canada appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

The following interview is a conversation between Reyné Pearson and Brooke Andrews. All opinions belong to the conversation participants and don’t necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Proofread Anywhere. 

Hello everyone! I’m so excited to share an interview with our Community and Customer Queen, Brooke! She has been with Proofread Anywhere for almost 5 years and is an essential member of our freelance team. 

Brooke is known for always raising her hand whenever someone asks for help, grading a mountain of student exams, and bringing a bright smile to every Zoom meeting!

I’m so happy that you all can get the opportunity to know her better. So, let’s dive in! 

Finding Proofread Anywhere 

Reyné: Hey Brooke, thanks for sitting down with me! To start out, can you talk a little bit about how you heard about Proofread Anywhere and what you do now? 

Brooke: I was just scrolling through my phone one day and saw an ad on Pinterest.  I’ve always been somewhat of a word nerd and I loved English and spelling in school. It’s just always been my thing. 

I wasn’t specifically good with grammar, but I loved writing and reading so when I saw the ad, it felt like a perfect fit. At the time, there was only a Transcript Proofreading course because General Proofreading hadn’t been made yet.

I remember reading an interview with a student and she was explaining how she felt going through the course. I felt intrigued right away. Immediately I looked up the course and thought “Yep, I’m just going to sign up”. I thought, worst-case scenario, it if doesn’t work out and I don’t find clients, it’s still really great information that I could apply to almost any career. 

Reyné: That sounds like a great way to start with the course.

From Side Hustle to Freelance Expert

Reyné: How did it feel once you started learning? 

Brooke: I just ate everything up.

After taking the course, I had a couple of clients, but I was also working a full-time job. At the time, I was working for the county as an administrative assistant, and I had four little kids. Life was a bit crazy! My initial goal, at the time, was to work from home full-time, but I didn’t think I could just do that with court transcript proofreading. 

I didn’t think I could fully replace my income, so I just did a bit of proofreading work on the side and kept an eye out for something else that would allow me to leave my full-time job completely. 

Then, when I saw the customer service job was open and saw that Caitlin was looking for somebody, I thought maybe I could do that too. I could answer some emails and earn a bit of extra money until I build up my proofreading clientele. 

So, I sent an application and got an email response asking me to take a personality quiz to see if I was a good fit. Haha! I got the job, and it has evolved into what I do now. 

At the time, this was back in late 2016, I had no idea what virtual assistants were or anything like that. The Transcript Proofreading course was the first step and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities of working online. 

Reyné: Absolutely! When I interview students, even if they aren’t working in proofreading, they are all still working as freelancers, and making money online, because the course was able to give them the skills, and the perspective, to make it in the online world.

You Don’t Have to Only Proofread

Reyné: Did you dabble in other kinds of online work? 

Brooke: I have an e-commerce business so I still dabble a little bit with that, but I currently mainly work as a freelance virtual assistant. 

Reyné: That’s so cool! I had no idea that you did e-commerce. What do you sell? 

Brooke: So, I have a women’s clothing boutique (I actually took a course to do that, too!), but I am phasing out of that as we speak and have my own blog that is currently in the works where I want to shed light on mental health issues, particularly anxiety and OCD. I have struggled with both my whole life, and I find writing and journaling to be therapeutic.

Being able to relate with others and make an impact on their lives by shining a light on anxiety with empathy and humor feels so incredibly fulfilling and meaningful. I will likely still weave some e-commerce into my business with relatable products; however, I am focusing on one thing at a time with that. 

I had always dabbled a bit in e-commerce, like selling on eBay when my oldest daughter was a baby, and I sold quite a bit on Poshmark, but I didn’t actually find success until I started my own boutique business.

During COVID, things really blew up with my shop. I was actually packing and shipping all of my own orders and things got so crazy for a while. I was doing everything by myself and still working with Proofread Anywhere. I had a little bit of everything going on. 

Reyné: Wow! That does sound busy! 

Brooke: Yeah, I did get a little bit burnt out from it, and I just wanted to narrow my focus a bit.  

Sometimes, when I do all of these different things, it’s like my mind never shuts off. 

Freelancing is perfect for me because I’m able to do a lot of different tasks, so there is a good variety.

Reyné: That totally makes sense.

A Diverse Work Background With One Common Thread

Reyné: So, before Proofread Anywhere, what was your background?

Brooke: Well, I did a lot of different jobs growing up. My first job as a teenager was in fast food, so I learned how to work with people right away, especially unhappy people. Defusing difficult situations was something that I became really good at early on, and simply having to get out there and talk to people I didn’t know really helped me come out of my shell as a shy and anxious kid. 

I was also a dental assistant for a little while, but after completing my schooling for that, I found that I liked working in the front office more than the back office. I liked doing all of the administrative stuff as opposed to working in the back office and being on my feet all day. 

Reyné: I know exactly what you mean. I had so many odd jobs in college. Do you feel like your educational background helped with these jobs? 

Brooke: Yes. For sure! I did also end up getting my bachelor’s degree online in psychology a few years later, and then I got my master’s degree in organizational leadership. 

Reyné: Wow! That’s impressive! 

From Lost to Freelance Boss

Reyné: How do you think Proofread Anywhere helped your career? 

Brooke: It really helped me launch my career as a freelancer.

I have been with PA since early 2017 and when I first started, it was only meant to be a very part-time customer service gig that I could do from home while I built my clientele as a transcript proofreader.

I had no real aspirations with PA beyond that other than to make a little extra money since I was still working full-time outside of the home. It turned into me doing a whole lot of other tasks on the backend of PA, and I absolutely loved it! I loved being part of a little virtual team and all of the opportunities that came with that. All of my foundational knowledge as a VA came from PA. 

I feel like Proofread Anywhere is where I have learned almost everything, and it really inspired me to keep going and think about what else I can learn. What else can I do?

It really just opened up a whole new world for me that I didn’t even know existed.

The world is your oyster and there’s so much opportunity out there that I would never have discovered without starting with Proofread Anywhere.

Reyné: I love that! It was your springboard into all things freelance! What is your favorite thing about being a freelancer? 

Brooke: The fact that I can be creative and come up with new ways to do things. I have duties at PA, of course, and repetitive tasks that are expected of me as a team member, but I love that I can come up with new ideas and contribute them to Proofread Anywhere. It inspires me to be creative in my own freelance ventures as well. 

I can also make my own schedule (for the most part). If I need to take a day off, I can do that and don’t need to ask permission. If I want/need to take a break midday for a couple of hours, I can do that too!

I have a really hard time setting work boundaries (the boundaries thing is a work in progress!), but I love that I can just be there for my kids. Even though my youngest is 13, if they need a ride somewhere or I need to drop something off at school, it’s no big deal. Little things like that are reminders of why I’m glad I don’t have to work a 9-5!

The Truth About Proofread Anywhere & The Future

Reyné: What is something that you wish more people knew about Proofread Anywhere? 

Brooke: That we have all been in their shoes, at one point. I mean, we are all freelancers too.

Some people take the course for different reasons, but I would say that the majority of people sign up because they want to be full-time freelancers. Some people also want a side hustle or something to help them after retirement but, whatever the reason, we have all been in their place too. 

We understand how overwhelming it can be, at first, and we just want everyone to succeed. 

Reyné: Absolutely! It feels even more personal when you get to help people that you relate to so closely. What are your dreams for the future of Proofread Anywhere? 

Brooke: I hope that we can keep branching out and offering more types of courses. 

I have been with PA since 2017 and seeing how much things have grown since then has just been amazing! It started out as a little blog with a small number of students and has exploded into this huge, awesome community full of students from all walks of life! I love seeing so many of our students realize that proofreading is just the beginning of so many more doors opening for them in the freelance world. 

I would also love to keep growing and keep doing more, myself, but overall I like seeing how we’ve been coming up with different courses where we can branch off from proofreading. Now we teach social media marketing in our Ideas to Impact course, and we just launched a freelance business course, Freelance Formula.

It’s perfect because so many people who take the proofreading course get inspired and start thinking about all of the other things that they can do. 

It’s not just about proofreading. You can do almost anything once you’re inspired to work from home. It’s a huge world that’s open for you. 

Reyné: I couldn’t agree more! I’m still learning about new remote jobs every day! 

Everyone Needs a Hand Sometimes

Reyné: What do you think your favorite memory from PA is? 

Brooke: When I’ve really gotten through to a student or someone who is struggling. Some people just need a little empathy. I might be able to talk them through a course issue, or it may not even be course-related. Sometimes we get people in our inbox who are just having a really rough time. 

Some people can be really unkind, but once you can acknowledge them and show them kindness, I find that a lot of the time, their attitude completely changes. So that really puts a smile on my face. Sometimes people just want to be heard and have some acknowledgment that they’re having a tough time. They just want someone to be empathetic with them. 

Those are the feel-good moments. It makes me so happy to brighten someone’s day or to help them in some way. 

Reyné: You definitely do! We’re always getting amazing reviews about how you and Rebecca make people feel so warm and reassured! 

If I Can Do it, You Can Do it!

Reyné: What is something that our students and graduates should know about you? 

Brooke: I think the biggest thing is just that I know where they’re at, and I want them to succeed. I know how desperate it feels at the time.

I used to have terrible self-esteem and just thought that there was no way I could do it and that I wasn’t good enough, but if I can gain the confidence to succeed, I really believe that you can too. It’s something I had to work really hard at, but you just have to jump in, trust the process, and you will get there. 

Reyné: Yes! You have done so so well in your career and it all started with a leap. Do you have any other words of advice? 

Brooke: Use your resources, and DO NOT give up! Ask for help and don’t be afraid, especially in the Facebook groups. They are amazing communities. You can search for any question in those groups and find incredible answers. 

We really want to teach you to be resourceful and use the tools that we give you. There are no dumb questions, and everyone starts from a different place, so don’t compare yourself to everyone else. Their journey will be different than yours.

Reyné: I haven’t spent a ton of time in the groups, but any time I need help or want to find information, I’m always surprised by how helpful everyone is.

Where Can I Find More of Brooke? 

Reyné: If people want to get in touch with you, where can they find you? 

Brooke: If somebody is having a really tough time or they have questions I can help them at brooke.a@proofreadanywhere.com.

If they have failed a test or an exam and they really need extra help, I would suggest tutoring, but if they just have a few questions, they can come to me.

You can always reach out and I’ll try my best to help because I really want everyone to succeed. I don’t want people to feel intimidated. Yes, the course can seem overwhelming at first, but with  

I still remember submitting my first exam and watching my email nervously for a reply. Now I’m on the other end, and I know exactly how they feel! We’re here to help!

The post Meet the Proofreading Posse: Brooke Interview appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

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This is an update of an interview that was conducted in 2020. 

We get asked all the time if you can make money proofreading online even if you don’t live in the US.

And our answer is always YES!

As long as you have a laptop or tablet and a reliable internet connection (and the proofreading skills to complete the job!), you can work anywhere as an online proofreader and earn extra money.

Here’s one of our Transcript Proofreading graduates who’s making money proofreading online outside of the US!

Rae is a Canadian who currently lives in Mexico, and she has NEVER met any of her clients, or potential clients, face-to-face. Her location simply doesn’t matter because all communication and work can be completed online.

Keep reading to learn more about Rae’s story!

Rae’s Transcription Background & Proofreading Experience

Q: Hi, Rae! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with PA?

Before crossing paths with PA, I was already a full-time, professional freelance transcriptionist and proofreader occasionally working in the legal field.

In late 2008, I quit the rat race after a short career in the Canadian civil service, bought an RV, and hit the open road. I quickly realized that I needed to find something I could do from home that would be portable.

It took a few years, but I settled on transcription due to the low start-up costs and started doing that full-time in 2011. I had also been doing a little proofreading here and there for about twenty years and knew that was actually what I wanted to do, but I didn’t have the mental energy or budget to go back to school to get any sort of certification or graduate degree that would truly get me in the door in the proofreading field.

Transcription clients cared more about my performance than my credentials, so that was just easier and a smaller investment.

By late 2015, I knew that I had to get out of transcription as I was close to hitting the ceiling earnings-wise and was tired of not being treated like the professional I was. I happened to come across the Proofread Anywhere Transcript Proofreading course and knew it would be the perfect fit for me, but the time wasn’t right.

Fast forward to late 2018, I’d emigrated to Mexico, was staying put in one location for longer than six months for the first time in over a decade, and the transcription field was going through a lot of transitions that resulted in rates going even lower.

It was really time to get out. My tax advisor told me that the PA course qualified as a tax deduction for me and that I needed it for my 2018 taxes, so it was time to become a proofreader. The course took me a full year to complete because I wanted to get through all the practice transcripts without rushing.

Why She Chose to Start a Proofreading Business

Q: I’m glad the timing was finally right and you decided to take the leap! When did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to make money proofreading online?

I have been proofreading since I was a teenager — books, websites, marketing manuals, college papers, etc. I’ve always loved languages (I speak three, and the English language is actually the second I learned!). I’ve always been a reader and a writer.

University taught me the CMOS and AP style guides. Legal transcription introduced me to the styles and resources used in that industry. So, I never really made a decision to learn how to proofread; it’s always been something I dabbled in and knew I wanted to do full-time.

Proofread Anywhere gave me a certificate that gave me the resources to reach clients I couldn’t find before.

Q: Investing in yourself can open a lot of doors. What was the most challenging part of getting started?

Transcription is mentally exhausting. It was hard to get into the headspace of committing to working on the course for an hour or two most evenings after writing all day. And I didn’t do it most days, hence why it took so long.

Her Experience With Proofreading Opportunities & Clients

Q: Taking the course does require an investment of your time, but it’s worth it in the end. What was the most valuable thing you learned during the course?

How to market myself to court reporters and where to find them.

Q: How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?

It only took a few days to find my first proofreading gig. I finished on December 9th, so everyone was looking for coverage for the holidays!

I currently have eight transcript proofreading clients, but I’ve also found legal transcription clients and one audio-to-text proofreading client through resources provided by the course.

I’m currently juggling fourteen freelance jobs total, including transcription clients I’ve had for a very long time (one for ten years).

Here’s what some of Rae’s happy clients have to say:

How Freelance Proofreading Jobs Paid for Her Course

Q: That’s amazing that proofreading transcripts led you to finding other clients as well. How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

I paid off the course in about three weeks — but only a small part of that was proofreading work.

Taking the course gave me access to some Facebook groups that wouldn’t let me join before. Through one of those, I got a huge and very lucrative rush transcription contract one weekend that covered something like 90% of the cost of the course! But I still say that counts because I would never have found this now repeat transcription client with my old networking resources. That single client’s invoices 100% paid for the course.

Since I graduated on December 9th, strictly in online proofreading jobs and not other work directly received from taking the course, it took just over four months to recoup the cost of the course.

Advice for Beginner Proofreaders

Q: What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money?

Get some transcription experience first so you understand what you’re doing as a professional proofreader. I found that that was the biggest deficiency in the course. I’ve had several clients who have tried other PA proofreaders before me and who say that there is a huge difference between an experienced proofreader who understands transcription and one who doesn’t.

I also think that you need to be a writer and a reader to be a good proofreader. Just one course on punctuation and spelling mistakes isn’t enough. You need to know how language flows naturally for the actual mistakes to pop out at you. Otherwise, you will be like some online proofreaders I’ve met who struggle and find the work tedious and slow because they question everything.

For me, the Transcript Proofreading course was absolutely worth the money. The course hasn’t changed my life yet, but I know it will once I get a stable enough base of proofreading clients to do this work full-time.

I think this course is worth money to anyone who uses it as continuing education, and I’ve recommended it to several fellow transcriptionists also looking to get out of the field. But I wouldn’t recommend the course to someone with no prior experience in the field as I don’t feel the course is complete enough and may give false expectations for someone with no prior related experience. [Beginner proofreaders with no experience would be better off taking the General Proofreading course first.] That’s not to say I haven’t met PA grads with no prior transcription or proofreading experience who are doing very well, but it seems like they might be the exceptions.

Life as a Freelance Proofreader

Q: What does your life look like now as a working freelance proofreader?

I enjoy working so much more. I really love this profession.

Transcription always felt like something that paid the bills, but I never warmed up to it. My proofreading career doesn’t feel like work in the same way.

I mean, I just got back from “vacation,” during which I worked almost full-time without resenting it! All I needed was my iPad, which I could reach for while waiting at the airport, for a meal at a restaurant, sitting in a park, or even in bed in my rental apartment.

Before, I transcribed while traveling around Europe for nine months and I dreamed the whole time of being able to just work from my iPad because it was so hard to find a quiet place with a proper desk to work from, plus I had to carry so much equipment. I’m now living that dream!

Also, online proofreading jobs pay a lot better than transcription, despite needing the same skill set. In the weeks I have a full proofreading load, I’m working a lot fewer hours for the same or better money. I’ve taken up two outside hobbies since I graduated and I actually have time for them!

Advice for Finding Remote Proofreading Jobs

Q: Anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

Cast a wide net when looking for potential clients and job opportunities. There is a current slowdown in the industry due to the pandemic crisis. Some jurisdictions are proving to be slower than others in getting set up for electronic depositions.

Colleagues who only have clients in slower areas are really struggling. But I have clients in about a dozen states, plus in Canada, so things are thankfully steady right now if not a tad slower than normal (fingers crossed!).

Also, I’m sure that in-person marketing really helps, but I’ve found success in my freelancing career without ever having met a single client in person. So if you’re someone living in another country (like I am), don’t let that stop you. Just take responsibility for things like time zone differences, payment processing fees, and even communications (like being the one to make the long-distance phone calls).

Proofreading Services Rate 

My hourly working rate ranges from $20 USD to $40 USD. Most days, I’m earning about $25 USD per hour. That’s reading 63 pages per hour at my standard rate. This is pretty good, but remember that I have taxes, business expenses, health insurance, etc. to deduct from those earnings, plus I don’t get paid vacations or holidays. But it’s plenty for me because I live in Mexico, which has a much lower cost of living than the U.S. or Canada.

I’ve seen many graduates who are brand new to this who work at a much slower pace. This is often because they have no experience reading and/or writing all day and lack an understanding of transcription, which makes them question and mark up everything possible. They’re usually the ones who complain about earnings being lower than they expected. But I’m seeing similar numbers to mine from those who are experienced proofreaders.

Speeding up Your Proofreading Tasks

Work processes also affect speed and therefore the hourly working rate. I’m pretty streamlined and efficient because I use a lot of stamps and other shortcuts to reduce how much time I spend marking up a transcript. It can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting to send a client back a transcript with lots of annotations as it makes it clear you spent a lot of time on the transcript, but that’s actually not always that helpful and can even overwhelm the client.

Also, proofreaders who work around a lot of distractions, like at their kid’s soccer game, often report slower progress than those, like me, for whom this is a full-time job with my proofreading services being done in a dedicated, distraction-free workspace during set hours.

An Update from Rae in 2023

As this interview is from 2020, we reached out to Rae to see how she is doing and if her proofreading skills have led to her success. 

Job Opportunities and Working as a Scopist

Can you update us on where you are now, what you’re doing for work, do you still feel like the course set you up for success?

Well, I’m not proofreading transcripts full-time, but I’m still working full-time in the legal industry as a scopist (providing editing services to court reporters).

Up until the pandemic, being mobile was my only priority. I took a short trip to Oaxaca City right before the pandemic shutdown, lived the dream of working from anywhere with my iPad, and I loved it. But then the world shut down and I realized that I was not happy just proofreading on my iPad at home all day.

It was hard to get into work mode when I wasn’t sitting at a desk and I didn’t find the work engaging enough. A lack of online proofreading jobs meant that the pay wasn’t great, either. So my mind began to open up to other possibilities.

I don’t know how many people had told me that I would want to transition to scoping, but I couldn’t imagine it at the time that I was starting with proofreading transcripts.

Working in a Windows environment was a non-starter, I didn’t want to work my way around the world lugging a heavy foot pedal again, and the startup costs for scoping were intimating. But there was also this pandemic situation that could last for another month or a decade. Who knew?

Scoping would definitely provide me with a better income and would be more engaging. By this time, there was software called Parallels that would let me run Windows software alongside my Mac applications, so I wouldn’t really be working in a Windows environment.

I approached a couple of scoping schools and one of them put together a curriculum to fill in the gaps in my experience so I could start scoping as quickly as possible — just the note reading and Case CATalyst modules.

I spent August and September of 2020 getting ready to scope and really began at the start of October. With my experience, I had no trouble lining up quality clients immediately and I haven’t searched for work since.

Still Earning Money Online

I’m earning about double what I was averaging while proofreading and am much happier. I still do a few remote proofreading jobs for a couple of reporters, but that’s really overtime work for me, a chance to keep my skills sharp, and an opportunity to get paid to cuddle with my cats on the sofa!

The income from scoping made it possible for me to buy the house I’d been renting in Mexico and has definitely shifted my priorities. Now, I want to travel as much as possible without having to work, so being mobile in my job isn’t nearly as pressing as it was before the pandemic.

Was the Proofread Anywhere Course Worth it?

I do feel that, for me, the Proofread Anywhere course did set me up for success in terms of teaching me how to make the connections I needed to keep moving ahead in my career.

I’m still surprised by all the twists of fate that led me here, but I am still working with the proofreading clients that I picked at the beginning, so there is continuity there.

Thank you for such a thorough response! We wish you the best of luck as you continue your freelance lifestyle! 

Once You Start in the Industry, You Can Always Shift

Rae is proof that, even if you start out making money proofreading online and choose to shift into a different career, the skills that you learn from taking online courses can still provide you with opportunities that you never could have imagined before!

We love to hear from students and graduates who are finding their way in the freelance world. If you would like to share your proofreading journey with us, please send an email to our Content Manager, Reyné, at reyne.p@proofreadanywhere.com. 

The post How Rae Makes Money Proofreading Online appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

Many of us spend too much time worrying about what will happen if we don’t get any proofreading clients. 

So much so that we don’t even try to get any clients!

How crazy is that?! It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

If we actually just tried to reach out to some people to see how we could help them and let them know about our services, eventually we would be successful. 

That’s what Ann did. Her fear of failure stopped her from trying to get proofreading clients. She finally decided to give her business a year and started trying to get clients. Now she’s fully booked!

Keep reading to hear more about Ann’s story! 

Q: Hi, Ann! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with PA?

Before PA, I had been a political science major and then jumped into teaching high school social studies. Then I got married and became a mom to a special needs child. Soon after, we adopted a special needs child and I wanted to bring in some income, but I couldn’t take a traditional job with everything else going on. I saw Proofread Anywhere and thought that was right up my alley; I could definitely take those skills and turn them into something. 

Q: Proofreading can definitely be a flexible side hustle for moms. When did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to learn how to proofread?

I started proofreading in elementary school. Grammar and spelling and punctuation and words and writing—all of it—has always come easily to me. I probably started that young and then it just was something I always did: proofread papers. 

Q: What was the most challenging part of getting started?

Getting over the scarcity mindset. I knew what I wanted to focus on (what I wanted as my niche) but felt like the market was saturated and I didn’t know how to find clients. I actually wasted a whole year on fear. 

I started the course in January 2018, had to pause briefly, and finished in August 2018. Then I spent until December 31, 2019 just paralyzed by the fear of failure. I finally decided I needed to at least TRY and so I built a very basic website and pushed publish on New Year’s Eve. I told myself I’d try for a year, and if nothing happened, I’d pivot and try something else. 

Q: The only way to really fail is to not even try! What was the most valuable thing you learned during the course?

That the market isn’t saturated. You just have to find the clients that you would best serve. And to really love those clients because it shows through your communication (even just over email) and your final product for them. Repeat clients are invaluable. 

Q: How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?

Because I stalled for so long, I got my first client in February 2020. I had five more lined up right as COVID-19 shut everything down and my five all backed out. (Understandably because nobody knew how this would affect life for the immediate future.) In April, I started getting authors requesting services and I have been booked solid ever since. 

I take on about eight authors a month. I offer three services and so I fit them in based on what they need and how long their manuscripts are. I am not doing this full-time right now because my kids have to do virtual learning this school year, but maybe if things even out and they can go back, I can definitely up my workload. I turn down a lot of authors. 

Q: That’s awesome that you’re fully booked! How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

Once I started getting clients, it took three clients to recoup the cost of the course. Because of COVID-19, this took three months instead of the month or so I had lined up. 

Q: What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money?

I believe that courses are worth the money if you are willing to look at the big picture. It was great to have a refresher that was well-organized on how to proofread, what proofreading is versus editing, etc. It was also nice to have a really basic outline on marketing, how to set up a website, how to get your business up and running; things I had some idea about but wanted all my information in one place instead of from various sources. 

The course was $500. I have now made close to $5,000 this year (really in four and a half months), very-part-time, with minimal overhead. I call that a huge win. Definitely worth the investment. You can take these skills and apply them to all sorts of areas, even if you decide you don’t want to just proofread.  

Q: You’re killing it! What does your life look like now as a working freelance proofreader? 

BUSY! I’m blessed with lots of authors who refer me to their author friends, and repeat authors. I definitely have all the workload I can handle right now. Someday I’d like to scale and grow bigger (or even jump into social media management for indie authors) but this is good for the time being. 

It’s all about time management. Making sure you hit your deadlines and do quality work, keeping lines of communication open with clients, and being professional. I also believe in being willing to share the names of other proofreaders when I can’t take a client, and pass along some opportunities. 

Q: I love that! We’ve built a really great proofreading community with the Facebook groups. Anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

If you’re looking to make a quick buck, this isn’t the place for you. There are a lot of work-from-home opportunities that are a better fit. 

This is a community that needs quality proofreaders—it’s a large community but people talk, so if you are going to do a poor job, we all hear about it. Be professional. If you’re willing to work hard and be a team player within the PA community, this is a great place to be! 

Our Take

I love that Ann overcame her fear of failure and became fully booked! One thing is for sure: If you don’t try to get clients, then chances are you never will. It takes some time and effort, but once you get that first client under your belt, there’s no stopping you! 

Your Turn

If you want to be a fully booked freelance proofreader like Ann, check out our free proofreading workshop to see how you can get started!

The post How Ann Went from Fear of Failure to Fully Booked appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

A large portion of the readership of this blog are women from all walks of life — stay-at-home moms, retirees, new graduates, etc.

But I know there are also a lot of men hanging out there in the shadows wondering if men can be freelance proofreaders too. 

The answer is a huge YES!

Men can work from home as proofreaders. 

In fact, we have many male graduates of our proofreading courses who have gone on to build successful careers. 

However, the men in our group tend to be a little shy when it comes to tooting their own horn, so I want to share stories from four of them today to give them some recognition.

If you’re a man who wants to make money from your love of words, then keep reading! I’ll be answering some of your questions about how to become a freelance proofreader and highlighting graduates who are proofreading anywhere in the world!

Or if there’s a man in your life who you think would make an awesome proofreader, share this blog post with him!

I know there are lots of stay-at-home moms who proofread. Can dads proofread from home too?

Think only women can be proofreaders? Think again! We have lots of men and dads in our Proofread Anywhere student groups. Men have eagle eyes too — and they also want the freedom to spend more time with their family.

I want to give a huge shout out to Derek! He was our very first General Proofreading course success story! Derek’s wife had just had a baby, and he was working the night shift at a hotel. Working like a vampire made him feel like he was stuck in a rut and wishing he could find work doing something he loves. 

A natural talent for proofreading prompted him to give the course a go, and he found his first client within days of getting his proofreading business set up. And that’s despite not having a degree! 

(Heads up: you don’t need to have years of experience or a degree to be a proofreader!)

Now Derek sees a bright future for him and his family.

Darcy is another dad who wanted to have the freedom to spend more time with his wife and four children.

This work-at-home dad started proofreading part-time because he loves helping authors produce inspirational works by ensuring their content is as error-free as possible.

At the time we interviewed Darcy, he was on the verge of quitting his full-time job to work from home as a proofreader and editor, having hit a huge milestone of $5K per month. He was super excited to soon have the flexibility to be home with his wife and four children. 

Can retired men proofread to supplement their retirement incomes?

Many of my readers — male and female — are worried about not having enough money for retirement, and they’re wondering if proofreading could be the answer to their prayers. 

It sure can! 

Richard was laid off from his engineering job in October 2015 and needed a bridging income to get him through until he could collect his full pension. After a year of no luck finding a job, he felt as though the prospects for finding just a part-time job at his age, experience level, and salary requirement were not promising. 

He didn’t throw in the towel though! His super smart wife suggested he go back to his childhood love of proofreading. So that’s what he did!

Now, at the age of 63, life is looking good for Richard! He owns his own business and makes much more money than he would in a part-time job in much less time. 

You don’t need to rely on other people to provide you with a secure income in retirement. You can create your own job and give yourself financial security using your skills!

What if I’m a man living outside the United States?

One big question I receive often: Can I proofread if I live outside the United States?

Not a problem! You do not need to live in the United States (or be from there) to be a successful freelance proofreader. 

However, you do need to be fluent in English and have excellent knowledge of grammar and punctuation rules. 

Case in point, Silas. Originally from the UK, Silas emigrated to Australia for love. <3 Dealing with visa work restrictions led him to search for location independent jobs, and eventually he hit on the idea of proofreading. 

Silas took both my courses and has been able to find clients — both court reporters and people in need of general proofreading — despite not being from or living in the US.

It really doesn’t matter where you live!

As long as you have a laptop or tablet and a reliable internet connection (and the skills to complete the job!), you can work anywhere as a proofreader.

Your location simply doesn’t matter because all communication and work can be completed online.

I know your next worries are “What about the time difference?” and “How will I get paid?”

Let me address these issues right now:

Time zones:

Being in a different time zone can work to your advantage! If your client sends you stuff at night while you’re asleep, you can start working on it while they’re still asleep and have it back to them by the time they wake up!

Getting paid:

There are tons of online payment processors you can use to get paid if you live outside the US. Here are just a few: PayPal, Skrill, TransferWise.

Thanks to the internet, the world is really a small place, and there are more opportunities than obstacles if you’re willing to focus on the opportunities.

Our Take

What do you think? Are you convinced that men can be just as good at proofreading as women can be? It’s a battle of the sexes! May the biggest word nerd win!

Your Turn

Want to be a freelance proofreader just like the wonderful men above? Check out our FREE proofreading workshop to learn how you can get started!

The post 4 Men Who Are Killing It as Freelance Proofreaders appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.

We all dream of making money doing work we enjoy.

No one wants to be stuck doing work they hate every day! 

But even though millions of people love reading, not that many of them consider reading when thinking about what they’re going to do for a living. 

Can you even make money reading?

Duh! It’s been staring you in the face your whole life!

You can make money reading by being a proofreader or editor. 

Merideth and her husband laughed at the idea of her making a living reading, but then she found Proofread Anywhere and learned how it’s possible to earn a good living as a proofreader. 

Keep reading to learn more about Merideth’s journey…

Q: Hi, Merideth! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with PA?

I’d put my career in human resources on hold when our third child was born (he was a “surprise” after our first two were grown). What I’d thought would be a break of a few years turned into fifteen (so far) because his special needs require me to be more readily available than a full-time job would allow.

I’ve worked from home for years as the owner of three Etsy shops and an Amazon Handmade shop, but I missed exercising my mind every day at work. Thank goodness I’ve always been an avid reader, so my brain didn’t have a chance to atrophy much. Ha!

One day I told my husband it was too bad I couldn’t make a living reading. We laughed and forgot about it, but a couple of days later I saw a Proofread Anywhere ad in my Facebook news feed. I clicked over and read a bit, visited the blog, and researched reviews. A few weeks later, I told my husband I’d found a way to earn money (proof)reading and I started saving for the course.

Q: So many people don’t realize they can use their word-nerd skills to make money! When did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to learn how to proofread?

Well, I’ve been a proofreader, albeit unofficially, my whole life. I taught myself to read at the age of three because I so desperately wanted to be able to decipher the “secret code” I saw everywhere… and then I annoyed my poor parents for years by pointing out every spelling error I saw. Yeah, I was a weird kid. I remember the first time I saw my elementary school teacher diagram sentences on the chalkboard. I. Was. Hooked.

I was a strange child, but those traits made me the perfect proofreader for my junior high, high school, and college classmates’ essays and research papers. Even years later as a human resources professional, I was a proofreader. I may have been auditing a company’s policies and procedures for employment law compliance, but I was also compelled to correct all the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting mistakes I came across. I’ve always done the same (in my mind) while reading for pleasure: I enjoy the casual flow of the text, but spelling and punctuation errors yank me right out of the story.

Q: Me too! There’s nothing more frustrating than getting distracted by errors when all you’re trying to do is relax with a good book. What was the most challenging part of getting started?

Waiting until I’d completed my research and decided which course (Transcript or General) to purchase was probably the biggest challenge. I was impatient to just get started!

Q: I’m glad you made the decision to join us! What was the most valuable thing you learned during the course?

Easy: It’s not all about the grammar. All the extras Caitlin includes are so useful. I already had a firm grasp on all the mechanics of proofreading content, but I found it difficult to connect the dots from there to actually earning money as a proofreader. I really needed the step-by-step of how to start a proofreading business.

I was also raised to believe talking about money is distasteful, so The Money Mindset Transformation was eye-opening.

And the Facebook groups? What a godsend to have that ready-made group of supporters and mentors.

Note from Caitlin: If you sign up for the General Proofreading course, you get the Money Mindset Transformation workshop for free as a bonus!

Q: So true! Starting a successful proofreading business takes a lot more than just good grammar knowledge. How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?

I am a super-introvert, so marketing is never going to be my forte, but I decided I could comfortably start with people I already know. (Or if it wasn’t exactly comfortable, at least I could be reasonably certain I would not die.) So, when I came to Modules 5 and 6, I contacted one friend with an offer to proofread her online content, and another—who’d gone back to school—with an offer to proofread her upcoming final essay. Both hired me.

I participated in a couple of “proofread swaps” with other PA grads too. Have I mentioned how wonderful it is to have the PA Facebook groups?

My first official, paying, a not-from-my-personal-life client came about three months after I finished the course. A grad with a successful proofreading business of her own who knew I had expertise in the exact area a recurring client needed for this job (and according to her, also knowing my drive to do stellar work) outsourced that project to me.

Q: Congratulations. It just shows that other proofreaders aren’t our competition; they’re our colleagues! How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?

I haven’t yet, but I know I’ll get there. This isn’t a full-time gig for me yet. My boy still requires so much of my time and focus, but I’ll keep going at a steady pace. When he’s more independent, I’ll be well-prepared for my business to take off.

Q: Creating a schedule and workload that suits your circumstances is important. What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money?

I think I’d say the first step is to decide whether they truly want it. Proofreading isn’t for everyone, and PA isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s an investment that must be worked on for it to pay off. And that’s exactly the advice I’d give to those who decide to become proofreaders: commit and then work hard. If you do, you’ll find PA is more than worth the cost. 

The book of Proverbs is chock-full of wisdom, and I think this verse applies here: Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. Proverbs 13:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

Q: Well said! What does your life look like now that you make money proofreading?

I feel proud of my accomplishments and excited about having a long and profitable career. I love the variety each new project brings. On the days I don’t have a job from a proofreading client or when I begin feeling impatient for the day I can proofread full-time, I remember I’m fortunate to have time to sharpen my skills and strengthen my network.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

As I write this, we are smack-dab in the middle of a global pandemic, with millions of people having lost their jobs. It’s a scary mess, all right, but times of crisis frequently produce opportunities and provide clarity. Now may be the perfect time to refocus your energy and change your life. Learn a new skill, build a new business…  Work to gain your independence and security. Now’s the time!

Our Take

I love how Merideth went from laughing at the idea of making money from reading to being excited about creating a long and profitable career as a proofreader! Once you start to see the options available to you, there’s no stopping you. Get out there and start making money doing something you love!

Your Turn

Want to make money reading like Merideth and many others do? Check out our free proofreading workshop to learn how to get started!

The post Can I Make Money Reading? Merideth Does! appeared first on Proofread Anywhere.