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Revision of texts? Proofreading?

by ongur
2 replies
Is it possible to make a living through the revision of texts? I think it's called proofreading in English.

So me and my brother have a talent for grammar (in Dutch). How likely is it that we would be able to start a small business, just us two, and get enough customers so we can work 8 hours a day?

I always thought it was a stupid idea, BUT... Today I discovered there are actually companies in Belgium charging €0,02 per word they need to proofread and change if necessary. That means they earn 20 euros per 1000 words they read, which is like 3 pages I guess. Seems like a lot of money to me.

Does anybody have more knowledge about this? Are there companies in the United States doing it? And do they have success?


Thanks for reading!
#proofreading #revision #texts
  • Profile picture of the author Viviana
    Hi, Ongur -

    You could test whether there's a demand for your Dutch proofreading skills on sites like www.elance.com, or guru.com. Another way is to spend some time Googling what you do and seeing what kind of language agencies or services come up. Perhaps you could freelance for another company, which (if you get some paying gigs) will help you gain experience and/or testimonials until you decide whether or not it's worth you setting up your own Dutch proofreading website.

    Another great site is Fiverr: Graphics, marketing, fun, and more online services for $5 where people do all sorts of things in return for $5. You could offer to proofread a set amount of words or pages in Dutch for $5 and see where that leads you. The sites are free to join and a great way for you to a) determine whether there's a market for your services; b) possibly earn some cash while you're getting started; c) build up confidence, expertise and a set of testimonials from happy clients; d) get you ready to start your own business/website, if that's what you eventually want to do. Wishing you both every success, V.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    There is definitely a call for this service. I do it in English and have regular clients. I also work as a writer/rewriter. However, working 8 hours a day for 2 people is a huge ask. You need to do lots of marketing to see if you can find regular work. Check out the various bidding sites for starters. Run your own classified ads. You also need a site of your own as a reference point and to show off your work.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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