Proofreading is reading through a written document to correct grammar mistakes like poor punctuation. Every written work should be proofread before it is delivered to the intended person. Proofreading can improve your writing skills, so the quality of the work. Are you new to the proofreading industry and want to know how much you should charge per 1000 words? Professional proofreading rates vary according to experience, the deadline, and the genre of writing. When it comes to wages, you should find a reputable proofreading company to get the best value. This article discusses every aspect you should consider as a proofreader to help you know how much to charge for proofreading 1000 words.

How To Set Your Rates for Proofreading Rates

Setting the price for the services you do can be challenging and confusing because different editing companies pay differently. Some charge per hour, while others pay according to the number of words. As a proofreader, there are various steps to consider when you want to set your rates for the services you offer including;

Decide To Set Per Hour or Per Word

People who charge their services per hour earn differently from those who set their rates per word. Most proofreaders use hourly rates, a great deal if you look to work with long-term content. Sometimes you may not predict how long your project will take, so picking a rate that reflects your work may be critical. For this reason, clients are less likely to hire proofreaders giving an hourly job to avoid getting lost by paying for inefficient work. If you get a manuscript that requires much of your attention, that is time and resources, think about an hourly rate.

Also read: How Proofreading Works

Determine The Amount of Work with A Sample Proofread

Manuscripts are created differently, thus, you should have an accurate overview of the project you want to work on. Before you order for a job, ask your client to give an extract from the manuscript to be proofread, and do a sample proofread. This gives you a clear estimation of how much work you are yet to do. Furthermore, it helps the client to prove the quality of your work. Probably, mistakes would be there needing correction. As the client highlights the mistakes, it will help you to know where to correct them. Thus, the more correction you make, the more you improve your quality, and the higher the rate you should charge.

Consider The Deadline

As a proofreader, deadlines can be great deals to increase your earnings. They become important when a client leaves things to the last minute. Jobs that need to be done extra quickly should be paid higher. Proofreading 1000 words should take an experienced proofreader 4 to 5 days. If a client asks you to do it in time less than that, you should charge an extra amount in addition to the normal rate. It is important to discuss with your client to let you know early the agency of the work to avoid late delivery and poor-quality work done under deadline pressure. You can also professionally adjust your client to make negotiation go smoothly to protect your work. However, as a qualified proofreader, you should order multiple jobs at any given and deliver on time, so when you get manuscripts with longer word counts you are likely to deliver quality work before the deadline.

Account For Your Experiences

In every workforce, the more experienced you are, the more expensive your services can be. Freelance and proofreading have many rules one should be familiar with to deliver quality work. For instance, standard formatting and language presentation like punctuation and capitalization marks the basis of proofreading.  Thus, as an experienced proofreader, you should be familiar with all these, and present both US and UK languages professionally, so the higher your rates can be. As your experience grows, you should review and update your rates every year to enjoy your growth.

Defend The Case for Your Rate  

Sometimes it is challenging to set the rate, especially when you send out a freelance proposal and quote and clients responds negatively by claiming the rates are too high. Several clients set low rates that do not meet the quality of your work. Furthermore, some minimize the costs even after paying the agreed amount for some time. When this occurs, even if the client defends his rates, you should stand with your rates. If it means going back on the table, you can undersell yourself a little because you deserve to be paid fairly for your professional work. Since the client is working with you, it means you are the expert. Thus, be ready to defend the case for your rate through negotiation. Explain politely to your clients about your case for your quote.  Since you have the knowledge and experience to help the clients, probably, some would listen to your case.

The Type of The Document You Are Proofreading

Many proofreading companies pay the same rate for all types of documents, whether it is the essay, SOP, manuscripts, or research papers. However, others like word vice editing services separate document types into different categories These services differ in technicity, some require you to do intense editing taking much of your work. Therefore, as a proofreader, you should set your rate according to the type of work you do.

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The Bottom Line

Proofreading is highly skilled work that requires both theoretical and hands-on- knowledge. A proofreader requires to be familiar with various language versions like the US and British English. There are several proofreading services like a manuscript, research paper, essay, admission, and SOP. As a proofreader, there are various points to consider when setting your rates. Since proofreaders have varied skills level and backgrounds, their rates may differ. As a professional proofreader, for instance, determining the amounts of work with a sample proofread and deadline. Furthermore, decide to set your rate per word or hour. In this case, paying hourly rates can be a bit risky, especially if mon