Home Business Idea: Editor
Business description:
Becoming an editor at home does not require any kind of specific qualifications. However, if you want to become an editor you are going to need to love reading, but you must also have an eye for detail. The reason for this is that when becoming an editor you are going to be reading rough drafts or even final drafts. While you are reading these drafts, you are going to need to figure out what needs to be left out, changed, or expanded on even more. Your job as an editor is to improve the writing you are reading.
Materials needed:
- Computer
- Internet connection - having a faster connection is a benefit because you will be using the internet to stay in contact with your clients
- Microsoft Office or similar computer software - you will need to be able to open up various documents for reading and correcting
- Printer
- Red pencils
- Paper
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Space requirements:
To have a successful home editing business you are going to need to have at least a small office space. The room that you use for your office is going to need to have room for a computer desk, file cabinet, and a computer chair. You should also make sure that there is enough room for two chairs and a coffee table; this is just in case you meet with clients in your home. You want your office to look professional, but comfortable at the same time.
Time requirements:
How time consuming becoming an editor from home becomes is going to depend on how much you want to work. In this job, you are going to be the one who sets your hours, how long you want to spend editing, how many editing projects you take on, etc. The only time restraints that you are going to need to consider are deadlines for getting the work done. You will be the one who tells your client how long it is going to take you to edit the work. Remember the faster you can get it done the happier your customers will be, just remember to give them realistic deadlines.
Income potential:
4 ½ - how much you charge is going to depend on how much experience that you have. According to the Editorial Freelancers Association, you can make up to $50 an hour doing heavy editing on manuscripts.
Keys to success:
- You need to have a good computer and a fast internet connection. The reason for this is that most of your work is going to be done in your home office and you will be communicating with the campiness and agencies online. The faster your connection the more reliable it is. You should also have an instant messenger program to help stay in contact with the people you are editing for.
- You need to have a good eye for grammar. To help develop this eye you can download text from the internet and edit it or you can get editing samples that provide you with practice texts, along with the solutions, so that you can compare your work against one that was professionally edited.
- You must have a great website set up. The reason for this is that you are going to be working at a distance; you will be working for people throughout the country, and possibly even overseas. To get the work you will need to advertise your business, which is going to include samples of your past work
Risks:
- Your biggest risk in this business is not attracting any clients. The main reason for this is that your website is not set up properly or you do not have enough experience. With editing you do not need to have any professional credentials, but the more experience you have the better your chances of attracting clients.
- Another big risk you face is falling victim to the numerous scams that are out there. Many scams online will require you to pay a membership fee to gain access to writers who need your editing services. If you have to pay to receive a list of companies, you want to avoid it.
