10 Proofreading Side Hustle Ideas for 2024

Are you the sort of person who sends a second text to correct the typos in your first? Do error-filled TikTok captions annoy you? Are you already scanning this article for grammatical errors? If so, you were probably born to be a proofreader.

So, what do proofreaders do? Proofreaders correct written content for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Proofreaders are typically engaged just before content is ready for publication. The proofreader is the final gatekeeper who ensures the work is consistent and error-free.

Several factors are likely to make proofreading a high-demand skill in 2024. For one, online content is seeing exponential growth. The self-publishing sector is booming. International businesses continue expanding into the U.S. market and look for native English speakers to adapt content for American audiences. The popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) content generators (like ChatGPT and Bard) makes creating content faster and easier than ever before, which should only fuel growth.

This article will explore 10 viable avenues for starting your own proofreading side hustle and offer a few tips to help you make money proofreading.

What’s ahead:

• Can proofreading be a worthwhile side hustle?
• 1. Freelance content editing
• 2. Proofreading for online businesses
• 3. Academic proofreading services
• 4. Proofreading for non-native English speakers
• 5. Proofreading social media content
• 6. Proofreading resumes and cover letters
• 7. Proofreading eBooks and self-published works
• 8. Audio and video transcript proofreading
• 9. Proofreading corporate documents
• 10. Collaborating with translation services
• Tips for success as a proofreader
• Generative AI tools for proofreaders

Can proofreading be a worthwhile side hustle?

Absolutely! Proofreading is a potentially lucrative side hustle for detail-oriented individuals who can help businesses and individuals produce error-free documents. If you have the skill set, proofreading is a great part-time gig work opportunity that you can do from home. As you gain experience, you can choose your projects, set your own hours, work from home, and even turn your side hustle into your own business. You can also make anywhere from $20 to $60 an hour depending on your skills and the needs of your clients.

Below is our comprehensive guide for beginning or expanding your proofreading side hustle, including exploring some available opportunities and more tips for earning extra money.

1. Freelance content editing

You may hear the terms proofreading and content editing used interchangeably. However, copy or content editing helps clients improve their written content's overall quality, while proofreading is more of a final check for already edited content.

Content editors help creators improve the clarity and appeal of articles, blog posts, website copy, and other deliverables. If you can add value to your clients with content editing, it's another service you can charge for, and in turn, it helps you deliver a better final product for your clients.

  To get business as a freelance copy editor, you can start by creating a profile on a freelancing platform like Upwork, as a place to showcase your work and search for opportunities from reputable companies.

To excel, you’ll want to establish a competitive project or hourly rate scale and invest time in building a solid portfolio that showcases your proofreading prowess. These tips apply to most freelance proofreading jobs, including the other segments listed in this article.

Tips for setting competitive rates

• Research the market. Start by investigating what current freelance content editors are charging. Platforms like Upwork are a good place to start that research and find a ballpark figure.
• Evaluate your expertise. Rates vary based on experience. You might start with a lower rate if you're an entry-level editor, but experienced editors with specialized skills (e.g., technical or medical editing) should charge higher prices.
• Consider the project's scope. Some projects may require more intensive editing than others. Factor in the depth of proofreading or content editing required, the article length, and any additional services you offer.

Building your editing or proofreading portfolio

• Start with samples. If you're starting, consider editing various content types (blog posts, articles, book excerpts) to showcase your versatility. This can give potential clients an idea of your editing style and proficiency.
• Testimonials and reviews. As you complete projects, ask satisfied clients for testimonials or reviews. Positive feedback can significantly boost your credibility.
• Showcase your best work. Whether on a personal website or a platform like Upwork, let your clients see samples of the work you’re most proud of, in some cases with tracked changes showing the value you added to original content.

Related:

• How to Become a Freelance Editor in 6 Steps
• 12 Best Writing Tools for Planning, Editing, and Optimizing Content
• How To Negotiate Freelance Rates: Charge Your Worth
• 4 Ways To Create a More Successful Freelancer Portfolio

2. Proofreading for online businesses

Online stores, particularly e-commerce websites, often require product descriptions and content optimization, including thorough proofreading. Misspellings and other product description errors can hurt a brand's credibility and negatively impact SEO efforts.

Broadening your skill set to include value-added services like SEO integration or high-converting copy is another way to increase your income potential with online business clients.

There may be partnership opportunities with e-commerce platforms, like Shopify or WooCommerce, or web developers who build websites for WordPress or other platforms. These partnerships are one potential way to keep a steady flow of leads for your work. You can also work on fostering relationships with digital entrepreneurs, who often diversify with multiple e-commerce web properties.

A targeted profile on a job board site like Upwork can help you locate individual targets or companies needing your services and offers a place to send qualified leads from your partnerships.

Related:

• 10 Tactics for Increasing E-Commerce Sales
• E-Commerce Design Examples and Pro Tips

3. Academic proofreading services

Every year, students across academic levels, from those pursuing bachelor's degrees to those immersed in graduate degree research, dedicate countless hours to dissertations, essays, and research papers. The weight of these documents is hefty, with potential impacts on GPAs and academic reputations. Meanwhile, professors, with their reservoirs of expertise, often seek an extra set of eyes to perfect their content before submitting it to academic journals.

Establish a presence on prominent platforms to connect with academics needing proofreading services. Websites like Upwork are a fantastic starting point. Craft a compelling profile there that emphasizes your academic proofreading experience. Showcase samples if you have them. Be sure to include your familiarity with various academic writing styles APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and CMS (the Chicago Manual of Style.) If you aren’t familiar with them already, you’ll want to start there. If applicable, leverage content knowledge you have from your own educational or work experience to show that you can “talk the talk” of specific academic areas.

Another avenue worth exploring is online forums and student groups. These platforms often brim with students seeking proofreading assistance. Participating actively, sharing insights, and even offering quick tips can make you a valuable resource in these communities.

When working with this segment, upholding academic integrity and confidentiality is critical. Your proofreading work is about enhancing, not altering, content. Treat each project with discretion, respecting its importance. Use features like Microsoft Word's "track changes" and Google Docs' "suggesting" mode as you work. These tools allow you to make transparent edits and enable students and professors to see and understand your changes, fostering a sense of collaboration.

Related: What Kind of Jobs Aren’t Allowed on Upwork?

4. Proofreading for non-native English speakers

Proofreaders who can help non-native English speakers with written communication are in demand. Growing international businesses, even those with English language content, can benefit from American proofreaders who can adjust copy for U.S. grammar, punctuation, spelling, and specific cultural sensitivities.

You may also offer translation assistance and proofreading services if you’re fluent in another language, like Spanish or German. You can tap into the Upwork network to find new opportunities in this growing space. We'll talk about partnering with translation services in a bit.

Proofreading for non-native English speakers offers a way to explore the world from your home office and connect with diverse clients while helping them communicate effectively.

5. Proofreading social media content

You’ve heard of social media, right? You’re also aware that companies and individual influencers must create large amounts of content on several platforms to stay fresh in their followers' feeds. Your proofreading and copyediting skills can help ensure that their business content does not contain grammatical or spelling errors.

For individual influencers, errors can have a more significant impact and be a considerable pain in the neck. Errors may lead to consequences to address in the comments that take up valuable time managing and detract from the intended messaging.

As a proofreader, you can offer the promise of error-free posts and assistance by editing post copy to ensure it follows up-to-date best practices for length, calls to action, hashtags, and brand credibility. Paying attention to these details can improve user engagement and conversion for your clients.

You can utilize platforms like Upwork to advertise your specialized services or find social media proofreading jobs.

6. Proofreading resumes and cover letters

Professional proofreaders help job seekers make their resumes and cover letters stand out. Their detailed review will help ensure that their documents are not dropped in the (literal or digital) dustbin because of careless errors.

Much like optimizing a webpage for search engines, online applicants will have a better chance of getting moved to the next stage by submitting resumes customized for specific job descriptions. If job candidates work from templates or prior submissions, proofreaders can help to catch and correct remnant errors from the previous job listing iterations.  

To target these clients, consider collaborating with career coaches and offering low-cost services to get your foot in the door. Working with career coaches as a proofreader will help you to get feedback on current best practices and provide other insights for improving your craft.  

Promote your services by highlighting the effort and customization required by job seekers today and adding value with additional insights that help your clients get hired for the day jobs they want. As a bonus, this niche offers the satisfaction of contributing to someone's career success.

Related:

• 5 In-Demand Management Skills for Your Resume
• The 7 Best Resume Builders
• How Long Should a Resume Be? Studies, Data, and Answers
• How To List Your Freelance Work on a CV: Tips and Examples
• How to Write a Great Resume That Stands Out
• 20 Resume Writing Tips to Stand Out and Land Your Dream Job
• Top Skills To Put On Your Resume, with Examples

7. Proofreading ebooks and self-published works

The digital publishing industry is bursting with would-be authors looking to self-publish their work. In fact, 526 million ebooks were sold last year. The size and expected growth of the market makes ebook proofreading a lucrative niche. Ebooks come in various lengths, so you can take on larger projects (50,000 words or more) or stick with shorter projects (5,000 to 10,000 words) and still make good money.

Networking with authors, publishers, and copy editors can help you grow your business, and their perspectives can be helpful as you hone your proofreading skills. Specialize in specific genres like non-fiction, fiction, or academic writing—and once you have completed some work, you can share examples of past results to demonstrate your expertise.

Find more opportunities to collaborate with authors and e-publishers by promoting and advertising your ebook freelance proofreading on Upwork. By offering a slate of services tailored to the unique needs of ebook authors, experienced proofreaders can become an essential part of a writer's creative journey.

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8. Audio and video transcript proofreading

If you've ever searched for a podcast or YouTube video, you know there’s no shortage of content for these platforms. With the sheer volume of content, the need for accurate transcripts on these media is significant. Audio and video transcript proofreading requires keen attention to detail, as you'll be working with spoken language, which may include slang, colloquialisms, and specialized terminology.

Audio-video transcripts are essential for content creators for a few reasons. For one, creators need accurate transcripts to make video and audio content visible to search engine crawlers, which helps YouTubers and podcasters reach their audience through search. Creators can also repurpose the transcribed text for future social media and website content. Additionally, transcripts provide accessibility for those unable to hear the content.

Looking for transcription proofreading services jobs on Upwork will help you connect with content creators worldwide. To market your work effectively, create a profile highlighting benefits for podcasters, YouTubers, and video content creators. Highlight the importance of accurate transcripts for reaching search audiences and improving accessibility and compliance in your messaging.

Be sure you know and understand popular audio and video and transcription formats, and choose your transcription tools in advance to highlight your specific capabilities.

Related:

• The Four Types of Transcription, With Examples
• 14 AI Productivity Tools To Help You Work Smarter

9. Proofreading corporate documents

Corporate documents such as business plans, contracts, employee handbooks, and marketing materials must be error-free. Proofreaders are critical in this capacity, as inaccuracies have the potential to be very damaging. Corporate proofreading services are valuable to businesses of all sizes, including startups and large international corporations. If you like to work with small businesses, consider offering proofreading services to help them perfect their business plans.

Medium and large-sized corporate clients will expect perfection when hiring a proofreader, but they are also typically precious clients who pay well and reliably. Approaching small businesses and startups and offering specialized proofreading services can help you develop long-term client relationships.

To succeed in corporate proofreading, you should familiarize yourself with industry-specific terminology, style guides, and formats. Maintain a professional tone in your proofreading approach. Consider including value-added services like formatting and structuring. Adding layout and design capabilities to your skill set is a good idea, as you may find opportunities to expand services to proposals and other business documentation.

Creating an Upwork profile highlighting corporate proofreading and editing skills allows you to network within industry events and online communities—and find more opportunities to expand your business. To excel, be sure you understand the unique needs of different industries, so you can provide tailored services that contribute to organizational success.

10. Collaborating with translation services

If you’re bilingual, combining proofreading experience with language translation opens doors to international markets. Consider seeking partnerships with translation agencies that can benefit from both services. This collaboration can lead to consistent, rewarding work that connects cultures and businesses.

To be successful, you'll need to have an understanding of cultural nuances and the ability to maintain the original meaning while ensuring grammatical accuracy. This is a sought-after skill that can help you meet the demands of clients working in global markets.

Start your search for translation agencies or international businesses needing your services by leveraging platforms like Upwork. Highlight both your translation and proofreading skills on your profile for the best results.

Related:

• What Is a Translator? Common Tasks, Types, & Skills
• The Most Common Translation Mistakes

Tips for succeeding as a proofreader

If you're ready to step into the world of proofreading, either as a side hustle or a full-time job, here are a few essential tips on how to make money with proofreading.

• Sharpen your skills. Before embarking on your proofreading business journey, ensure you're proficient in grammar rules, common proofreading symbols, and styles. Consider tools like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, essential for any freelance proofreader. Their built-in proofreading and editing features, like "track changes," are invaluable.
• Network and market yourself. Creating a LinkedIn profile highlighting your proofreading skills can open doors to numerous opportunities. Many bloggers and businesses scout LinkedIn for proofreading services. Moreover, joining proofreading groups on the platform can keep you updated with industry trends.
• Embrace copy editing. While proofreading and copy editing services are different, intertwining them can be beneficial. Copy editing jobs delve deeper into content structuring and clarity, amplifying your service offering.
• Specialize and stand out. While general proofreading is popular, specializing can give you an edge. You can command higher fees and establish authority in your chosen domain by catering to specific niches.
• Expand your learning. Continuous learning is the backbone of any successful proofreading career. Platforms like "Proofread Anywhere" offer proofreading courses to help you stay ahead. Beginners might also benefit from expert advice from following pro proofreaders like Caitlin Pyle.
• Tech essentials. Apart from having a reliable internet connection, familiarize yourself with tools beneficial for proofreaders. Google Docs is perfect for collaborative work, while Microsoft Word offers many proofreading tools.
• Craft a portfolio. Starting a blog or website showcasing your work can be a game-changer. It acts as a digital portfolio where potential clients can gauge your skills. Platforms like Upwork can also serve as reference points for your work.
• Optimize your work environment. The beauty of proofreading work is its flexibility. Many opt for home jobs, enjoying the comfort of familiar surroundings. Ensure you have a dedicated, distraction-free space. This increases efficiency and ensures you deliver top-notch work every time.
• Engage with the proofreading community. Being a freelance proofreader can sometimes feel isolating. Engaging with fellow proofreaders on platforms like Proofread Anywhere or through LinkedIn groups can provide insights, leverage shared experiences, and even open doors to collaboration opportunities.
• Set competitive rates. Remember to value your skills. Set competitive rates for your proofreading services that reflect your experience and expertise.
• Invest in yourself. Startup costs for proofreaders are generally minimal, but investing in quality tools like Grammarly, Adobe Acrobat, or specialized proofreading software can enhance your efficiency.
• Be professional. Proofreaders need to be professional and reliable. Be prompt with your submissions and always meet your deadlines.
• Master style guides. Proofreading requires a keen understanding of the English language and familiarity with best practices found in standard style guides like the APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and CMS (the Chicago Manual of Style).
• Harness the power of Upwork. Upwork stands out as one of the premier platforms for freelancers. For aspiring proofreaders, it offers a vast network of potential clients. Regularly update your profile, showcase your specialties, and be bold in those initial, smaller gigs that can build your reputation.

Generative AI tools for proofreaders

Proofreaders may become even more essential as creators can produce massive amounts of “OK” content very quickly. To keep up with demand, proofreaders may benefit from their own AI tools.  While AI cannot replace a human's nuanced understanding of the language, it’s quite useful for catching basic errors or suggesting style improvements. Here are some worth mentioning:

• Grammarly. Perhaps the most recognized name in this space, Grammarly offers real-time grammar checking, spell checking, and style suggestions. Its AI examines your content against hundreds of grammar rules. It also has a plagiarism detector which can be helpful in protecting your client.
• ProWritingAid. This tool provides comprehensive feedback on writing, offering suggestions for grammar, style, and structure. It also offers in-depth reports to help writers strengthen their work.
• Hemingway Editor. While not purely an AI, Hemingway Editor uses algorithms to detect lengthy, complex sentences and common errors. It also provides readability scores, helpful for writers aiming to simplify their content.
• Slick Write. This AI-driven tool checks for grammar errors and stylistic mistakes, and provides feedback on structures like adverb usage, passive voice, and more.
• WhiteSmoke. Using natural language processing (NLP) and statistical machine translation technologies, WhiteSmoke not only checks grammar but also offers style, tone, and punctuation suggestions.
• Ginger. Ginger checks for a wide range of grammatical errors and offers ways to rephrase sentences for better clarity.
• PaperRater. Backed by computational linguistics and data science, it offers grammar and spell-check capabilities. It also has a plagiarism detector.

Start your own proofreading side hustle with Upwork

In the vibrant content creation landscape of 2024, there's never been a more opportune time to turn your proofreading skills into a side hustle or even a full-time career. Upwork offers a multitude of niches, catering to both beginners and experienced proofreaders. Whether you wish to get a work-from-home day job or expand into your own business, the proofreading market is ripe for exploration.

From freelance proofreading jobs to corporate collaboration, the paths are numerous and exciting. Find the best online proofreading jobs on Upwork today! Let Upwork be your partner in this journey, and embrace the challenges and rewards of this fulfilling profession.