Is Proofreading A Good Side Hustle? (Personal Experience!) 2023

Is proofreading a good side hustle? The question must be running on your mind if you clicked on this article!

I know it can be daunting browsing through all the different side hustle videos, wondering if you could ever earn an extra income on the side.

I am here to tell you from personal experience doing it myself, that proofreading is an EXCELLENT side hustle!!

Yes, it may be overwhelming but you have already gotten the first step down – which is deciding to start proofreading jobs from home.

When I first started my journey into freelancing, the first two jobs I tried were writing and proofreading. I can safely say that these two skills are still very much useful in my daily life, helping me bring in a high income.

I am forever grateful for learning about this side hustle as it put me on a journey to acheiving financial freedom!

Banish the question is proofreading still in demand from your mind and let’s dive into all the reasons why is proofreading a good side hustle.

Affiliate Link Disclosure

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.

If you want to know how to become a proofreader online but need some training, the Proofread Anywhere course helps you transition into a full-time proofreader/editor and run it as a well-paid business.

The Proofread Anywhere course begins with proofreading basics and then goes on to share advanced proofreading methods, how and where to find jobs, what rate to set, and common mistakes to avoid.

Caitlin is the lady who runs the course and she has been a proofreader since 2007. She turned her love for proofreading into a full-time job and now helps others do the same.

The Proofread Anywhere course is packed with 40+ lessons in 8 modules, grammar-specific worksheets, and real-life example jobs.

After passing with 90% or higher on the final exam you will receive a Certificate of Completion and access to the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex.

Ps; Caitlin is offering a FREE Proofreading workshop that will help you learn the basic skills and decide on whether freelance proofreading is for you. Perfect if you want to know how to become a proofreader with no experience and if you are looking for proofreading courses online for free.

17 Reasons Why Is Proofreading A Good Side Hustle

1. Offers Flexibility

Whenever it works for your life – proofreading can be done.

Are you a night owl instead of a morning person? If you can’t be bothered to wake up at the crack of dawn, you can easily proofread at a time convenient to you.

So long as the deadlines are met and your client is happy, you have the flexibility to set your working hours.

2. No Degree Needed To Start

You can work as a proofreader without having a degree.

Given how much reading and writing are involved in college, having a degree will undoubtedly offer you an advantage in the proofreading industry.

However, most of the proofreading clients I worked with did not ask for a degree!

With that being said, if you are serious about how to start a proofreading side hustle, invest in some courses.

The Proofread Anywhere course starts with the fundamentals of proofreading before discussing more sophisticated proofreading techniques, where to look for work, how much to charge, and common errors to avoid.

3. It Is An Added Skill For Other Jobs

It is no surprise that proofreading requires a lot of reading.

So what does reading help with? Writing skills!

Numerous professions call for strong written communication abilities. By excelling in proofreading, you are unknowingly honing skills for written communication.

Think of writing up a newsletter, a report, or even freelance writing articles. When your proofreading skills are there, you will automatically learn how to craft error-free write-ups that could be an additional source of income for you!

4. Low Startup Cost

If you already have good basic skills for proofreading, like editing, good grammar skills, and attention to detail, your startup cost for proofreading is basically zero.

However, if you were to enroll in some courses, those are the only money you will be spending to start proofreading as a side hustle.

Unlike a college degree, where you will be spending thousands of dollars, aside from paying your internet bill for using your laptop to proofread, your startup cost for this job is fairly low.

5. Works Well With Other Jobs

Considering that you can proofread from any location with a strong internet connection, you can pair this side hustle with any other job.

Say you have a house-sitting job on the weekends. You can always whip out your laptop and start proofreading.

6. Rates Can Be Increased Quickly

Just like other side hustles like freelance writing, or virtual assistant, if you can buckle down and work hard at the initial stage, you will be able to increase your rates quickly.

When you compare a proofreader with 5 samples and a proofreader with 20 samples and stellar reviews from their client, who do you think will charge more?

Bear in mind that when you are just starting out, you should not compare your rates to an experienced proofreader and throw in the towel when you are not earning as much.

Start low and as you increase your expertise, increase your rates.

7. It Is A Timeless Job

Proofreading can be done whenever and wherever, rain or shine.

You can even proofread during a global crisis because it doesn’t involve being close to other people. Jobs like dog sitting or babysitting maybe be disrupted should there be a global crisis but not for proofreading.

I might risk sounding like a broken record, but all you need is a laptop and a good internet connection.

8. Proofreading Can Be Done From Any Part Of The Globe

The reason proofreading side hustle is a great one to start is that it is completely remote.

You could be up in an apartment in Brooklyn, and your client is all the way in Singapore. Proofreading can be done from any part of the globe, with most of the interactions taking place online.

Assignments will be emailed, you complete the tasks, and the payment will roll into your account upon completion.

No need to be stuck in traffic, worrying about the time lost during your commute. Sit in the comforts of your home and start earning!

9. Never Too Late To Start

Are you thinking it is too late to start a side hustle proofreading? No matter what runs through your mind, let me tell you that it is never too late!

Even if you have just retired, this side hustle could be the one for you!

10. Helps Increase Knowledge

You will increase the range of your expertise as a proofreader, as well as your vocabulary. This benefit of being a grammar police is great if you love learning!

11. Secures Financial Stability

The average salary of a proofreader is about $50,000.

I don’t know about you, but having an extra $50k a year is financial stability for me. When you are just starting out, you may not be earning that much.

With that being said, if you continue to hone your skills and actively find jobs, you will be bringing in these numbers in no time.

You may be content with your 9-5 job and feel like a proofreading side hustle might not be worth it but remember that it is always good to know that you can push aside any financial worries that you may have thanks to the income from this gig.

12. Improve Writing Skills

You’ll focus a lot of your efforts as a proofreader on mistakes with grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

By doing this, you can improve your comprehension of the language and grow more aware of problems in your own work.

Making considerable edits to a text to enhance the way the content is presented is a common part of more thorough editing. You may be able to exercise your writing skills by offering appropriate ideas or rewrites.

13. It Will Not Be Conflicting With Your Schedule

Thanks to the flexibility of proofreading, you can navigate your assignments around your day.

If you have an existing job or other commitments, you can simply choose not to proofread that day. Provided you are confident you can complete your tasks before the due date.

14. You Choose The Speciality

While there is a lot of variety in proofreading, you also have the option of concentrating on a particular field or style of writing, such as:

Poetry and fiction
Scholarly writing
Business records

Alternatively, you could decide to focus your side business on a certain market, like students or independently published authors.

15. You Already Have The Skills Needed

As mentioned earlier, you do not need any special qualifications to start a career in proofreading.

However, you will need to have a few key abilities.

These consist of:

A command of the English language
An acute sense of detail
An eye for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
Communication abilities

Skills like the ability to focus and time management are among the skills you already have, both of which are beneficial in your journey to becoming a proofreader.

16. You Will Learn How To Run A Business

Even for publishing houses, the majority of proofreading work is carried out by independent contractors.

If you want to start a side hustle with proofreading jobs, you must be equipped to handle your own proofreading business.

You will be responsible for choosing your own hours or per-word fees, billing customers for your services, calculating your taxes from payments made by clients, and keeping track of any other yearly business expenses.

17. Enhances Your Confidence

Keep in mind that every accomplished proofreader began exactly where you are now. They used to be just a person who enjoyed reading and correcting grammar errors.

Don’t let a lack of knowledge or fear prevent you from exploring the field of proofreading.

Instead, have faith that if you put in the necessary time and work, your interest can develop into greater things.

Best Online Proofreading Jobs From Home

Scribbr

With no experience necessary, you can find remote proofreading jobs online for beginners at Scribbr.

They even provide individualized training to assist you in developing your abilities as an amateur proofreader. Scribbr is an excellent resource for anyone seeking remote or part-time proofreading employment from home.

The application process is relatively simple; to proceed, you must successfully complete the following 3 steps:

Taking a language test on Scribbr
Completing a Scribbr application task
Utilizing Scribbr Academy to learn and complete projects

Proofreading Services

Proofreading Services is the place to go if you’re looking for a platform that offers more than just academic paper editing for hire, such as other proofreading and editing services, like:

The editing of websites
Transcribing
Translation

Proofreading Pal

If you already have the expertise, Proofreading Pal might be the perfect place to seek online proofreading work.

If you’re relatively new to proofreading, the application process is extensive and this one can be a little more difficult to get approved for. However, when you develop additional knowledge, it’s absolutely worth saving for later.

Reedsy

Reedsy was created to bring together writers from all different backgrounds.

When you register a profile on Reedsy, you will be paired with writers and authors to start a job with. Making the choice of which proofreading positions to apply for can be made less difficult, thanks to the auto-matching system.

Upwork

Freelancers and businesses looking to recruit them might connect through Upwork, an online freelancing platform.

Upwork can still be a fantastic way to land your first proofreading job, despite the fact that it is a little time-consuming. I landed a couple of gigs from Upwork when I first started!

You must first register an account in order to start. You can set up a profile and begin looking for online proofreading jobs after your account has been approved.

Start searching Upwork proofreading, and you’ll be amazed at how many vacancies are out there to be filled.

Here are some resources on Upwork that will be useful to you:

Guru

Guru is another online marketplace where you can look for entry-level proofreading assignments.

You’ll build up the profile and then establish an account, just like with Upwork. Once you’ve done that, you may search internet job listings for proofreading to find positions that match your requirements.

Fiverr

Another website where you can check for the best proofreading jobs online is Fiverr.

You can make a profile on Fiverr and promote your proofreading services. You can choose which proofreading services to provide and how much to charge for them.

FlexJobs

The advantage of using FlexJobs over other career sites is that you have a higher chance of finding high-paying positions. It’s a great place to seek proofreading jobs with high monthly salaries.

If you are not content with these job options, here are 61 Best proofreading Jobs Online No Experience is Required!

FAQs

What Is Proofreading?

Wait, what is proofreading? Have all the definitions online confused you? Let’s get that sorted.

Proofreaders provide a quality check on documents to make sure there are no grammatical, spelling, or punctuation problems. They typically review written content before it is released.

Today, proofreading may be done entirely online and is a crucial step in the process of writing.

Proofreading jobs involve you revising articles, entrance papers, ad copy, cover letters, publications, application letters, and a lot more because proofreading is an important step in almost every business.

Proofreading Vs Editing

Proofreading	Editing
Proofreading is done on the writing’s final version before publication	Editing is done on the writing’s initial version and continues until the final version has been produced
Highlights issues in spelling, grammar, and punctuation	Highlights issues on the content of the writing
Producing error-free content is the aim	Improvement in quality writing is the aim
No adding or removal of text is required	Alteration of context may be applied where needed
The task can include fact-checking	The depth of content is reviewed with editing

How To Get Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners?

So, how to get online proofreading jobs for beginners?

There isn’t a magic formula to start earning from proofreading.

However, there are several things you can do to set yourself up to get your first work, and expand your work, whether it remains a part-time endeavor or becomes a full-time one.

1. Start Simple

With all the freelancing platforms out there, it can be overwhelming, so start simple. Pick one or two platforms and start working on your samples.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of navigating through these sites, then you can try out different freelancing platforms to take on more work.

2. Offer Discounted Rates

No, I do not mean for all your work.

However, when you first start out, you will need reviews and recommendations from your clients to be shown in your portfolio. How about offering a small discount to your first few clients in exchange for an honest review?

Developing yourself on websites like Upwork and Fiverr depends on reviews.

Although you cannot force a review, you can state that you are growing your company and would like to hear from customers so that you can inform potential customers.

3. Networking Is Important

Networking is one of the most underrated tips when starting out remote work.

Your network consists of your relations, pals, colleagues, neighbors, etc. Blast out your services on social media, send out emails, and put the word out there that you are starting your own proofreading business.

4. Start A Website

With Bluehost’s low rates, you can launch a WordPress website!

All you need is a straightforward website that briefly summarises your background, client testimonials, and the services you provide.

This is a fantastic approach to promote your company and connect with customers who aren’t using freelance sites.

5. Join Social Media Groups

Community discussions are one thing that Facebook does pretty well. Free communities for freelancers exist and these groups frequently exchange fresh job postings before they appear on the large job boards described above.

Check out these groups below:

Is Proofreading A Good Way To Make Money?

However, is proofreading a good way to make money? Yes, proofreading is a good way to make money.

Depending on your level of knowledge and the kind of clients you work for, different online proofreading jobs pay differently.

Salary.com shows that the average income for a proofreader ranges between $49,846 to $64,864.

Online proofreaders can simply work from home on a full-time basis. Beginner proofreaders should aim to charge between $25 and $50 an hour.

Is Proofreading Still In Demand?

So, is proofreading still in demand? Yes, it is!

With more authors choosing to self-publish, there is a growing need for online proofreaders.

Since they no longer require publishing agreements to publish their work, authors can now engage independent proofreaders for less money.

To ensure their firm survives and thrives, numerous companies are also attempting to have an online presence. They require experts to make sure their blog entries, captions, and emails are free of mistakes.

Is Proofreading A High Income Skill?

You may be wondering is proofreading a high income skill?

Yes, proofreading is a high-income skill. As mentioned in the income range above, you can earn a solid income from proofreading.

So long as you have these skills below, you can start finding steady proofreading jobs.

Comprehensive knowledge of grammar
Strong spelling abilities
A decent command of capitalization and punctuation

Although certain online proofreading jobs might call for a native English speaker, if you are fluent in English despite it being your second language, there are many possible clients that might be prepared to work with you.

Is Freelance Proofreading Worth It?

Have you wondered is freelance proofreading worth it?

Yes! Freelance proofreading is worth it.

Just remember, that proofreading is just like any other side hustle out there. It requires focus and dedication at the beginning stages. Once you’ve got the ball rolling, it will be easier.

Proofreading can be scaled into a full-time company, it makes well, requires neither a degree nor specialized training and has low to no initial expenses.

Conclusion

I hope you have your answer on is proofreading a good side hustle!

Life today is pricey. That is the fundamental justification for why so many people decide to work a second job.

The ability to leave your normal work and begin to pursue your dream remote job is another benefit of having a side hustle.

Whatever your motivations and goals are, working from home as a proofreader is a great way to supplement your income.

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