Why become a proofreader? If you are reading this page, it’s likely you’ve given some thought to the idea. Perhaps you are good at finding mistakes in text and want to know if there’s any money to be made in proofreading for hire. Maybe a friend or coworker has mentioned you would make a good proofreader. Or possibly you were just good at English in school and are looking for a potential side gig.
Regardless, if you are considering going down the path of becoming a part- or full-time proofreader, it’s a good idea to start with “why?”
There are a number of reasons why you might decide to become a proofreader, whether as a full-time career, a side hustle, or something in between. These reasons include schedule flexibility, career and learning opportunities, personal fulfillment, and steady income. Let’s discuss each in turn.
Proofreading allows for flexibility and work-life balance
One of the biggest benefits of freelance proofreading (or any freelance role) is the flexibility it provides.
As a freelancer/contractor, you have a different relationship with your clients than an employee has with their employer. Specifically, the power dynamic has more of a balance. In an employee-employer relationship, the employer holds most of the power. The employee must adhere to the company’s policies and take direction from their boss(es). Vacations must be approved in advance, and working hours are usually predefined.
A freelancer-client relationship, however, is much more of an equal partnership. While, of course, you want to do everything you can to satisfy your clients, they are not your bosses. For instance, a client can’t tell you when or where to work as they would with an employee, nor do you need to ask your clients’ permission to take a sick day or go on a vacation. Instead, you get to decide when and where you will work and let your clients know. This can lead to a better work-life balance for you and your family. You can decide when to start and stop your workday. If you need to pick up your child from school or daycare at a specific time, you can work around it. You can even take your laptop with you on vacation and work from your Airbnb if you so choose.
Freelance proofreaders also have the choice of clients with whom to work. As an employee, your sole source of income is often your job. This fact alone makes it much harder to leave a role you are no longer interested in or one that is causing undue stress. As a freelancer, you likely have multiple clients at any given time. If you have a contract or relationship that isn’t working out or you no longer want to pursue, it is much easier to end things. You won’t be sacrificing all of your income, and you can always pick up another client or two to make up the difference.
Proofreading provides career and growth opportunities
The Stoic philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” This is certainly true when it comes to proofreading.
Getting started is often the hardest part. But once you are an established proofreader, opportunities will often find you. When you put in the time and effort to become good at what you do, word will spread. Your existing clients may refer you to their friends or colleagues; people will start to reach out on Facebook or LinkedIn; If you have a website, it will start to generate traffic and leads. This can lead to career and growth opportunities. It is possible to raise your rates by taking on new clients, for example. You may also be presented with the chance to try your hand at more substantial editing or even writing. Each of these can expand not only your income but also your overall business and skill set.
Quality people are always in need, and proofreading is no different. Do everything in your power to become an excellent proofreader, and one day you will find yourself having to turn down work.
Proofreading provides diverse learning and work opportunities
Because any kind of content can be proofread, the door to working with clients in many different industries is opened. From business to legal to academic content and more, you will not only clean up all manner of copy but also learn about many subjects in the process.
While reading for comprehension or pleasure is not the goal of a proofreader, it is almost impossible not to learn about a subject when you begin to review a large amount of related content. Indeed, good proofreaders should learn enough about the subject at hand to familiarize themselves with the terminology and nomenclature being used, not to mention determine whether or not the text on the page makes sense. This can also help you grow your business. As you proofread more types of content, you may decide to niche down and specialize in one or more areas. If you have a lot of clients in the medical field, for example, you will no doubt learn the ins and outs of that type of content, and in turn may decide to market yourself as a specialist in that area. Niching down can be a great way to differentiate yourself from other freelancers and win more work.
Proofreading is personally fulfilling
In a lot of jobs, it can be difficult to see exactly how you are providing value. This is especially true when it comes to white-collar knowledge work. Many people go to work every day whereupon they sit in a cubicle, attend meetings, and answer emails. At the end of the day, there is scant evidence that they accomplished anything. Such is not the case with proofreading. When you have finished reviewing a document, the value you provide is on the page and literally in black and white. You (and your client) can see the corrections you made and how the text has benefited from your time and effort. This means that at the end of every day, proofreaders can look back on their work and know they contributed to their own and their clients’ success.
Additionally, finding and fixing errors can be very rewarding and even cathartic in and of itself. As strange as it may sound, keeping the world from another misspelled word or incorrectly used idiom can be a very rewarding endeavor for the right kind of person! And you can take a lot of pride in taking mediocre content and making it shine.
Proofreading can lead to steady income
More and more written content is being produced every day. Every company and brand seems to have their own website, a blog, and a social media presence—and the ones that don’t have plans to start. Not only that, but scores of books are published every day. Thousands of academic research and business white papers are written each week as well.
There is always a need for good proofreaders to review written content and address any issues. This means the field is wide open, and there is money to be made. Yes, you have to pursue them, but the opportunities are there.
You might be wondering exactly how much money is in these opportunities, which is a fair (and important) question. The market rate for proofreading and editing work is between $20 and $40 per hour. You may not command these rates at first, but it is reasonable to expect that you’ll get to this level within one or two years. This could easily translate to several hundred dollars per week as a proofreading side hustle, or upwards of $1,000 per week if you pursue full-time freelance work.
While proofreading is not likely to make you a millionaire, it is still very much a profitable endeavor. It could help you pay for that vacation, fund your Christmas budget, or form your total income for the year. It all depends on your goals and willingness to put in the time and become a sought-after freelancer.
Summing it up: Why become a proofreader?
Before going too far down the road of freelance proofreading, it’s important to answer the question “why become a proofreader?” for yourself. You will need intrinsic motivation for the journey ahead and knowing why you have your goal is crucial to success.
Common reasons why people choose to become proofreaders include having an enhanced work-life balance, accessing career and growth opportunities, achieving personal fulfillment and learning, and developing a steady source of income. Although each of these is a good reason, it’s best to spend some time thinking about what your own reasons are. Write them down and look at them often; they can provide you with goals to work toward and motivation when times get tough.