Have you always wanted to work from home, but don’t know where to start? Getting transcription jobs online for beginners is one of the best ways to get paid at home, even if you have no experience.
Transcription is for those who are excellent typists and have great listening and grammar skills.
I’ve included transcription in my list of the best work-at-home jobs for beginners because it offers lots of flexibility and you can do it no matter where you are.
“Time freedom is the absolute best thing about working as a transcriptionist. We’re not tied to the 9-to-5 grind or working on anyone else’s schedule.”
Janet Slaughnessy from Transcribe Anywhere
A lot of people have also found success in online transcription jobs and have even turned this side gig into a full-fledged sustainable business.
What is transcription?
What are transcription jobs? Well, in a nutshell, transcription is the process of listening to an audio file and then typing out the words into a word processing system. The files could be anything, from minutes of a meeting, movies, podcasts, conferences to informal conversations.
Therefore, you can start with transcription jobs from home if you’re a pretty fast and accurate typist and a good listener.
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What should you know about working from home as a transcriptionist?
Transcription jobs work from home are some of the great ways to earn an income without going to a physical office. You can take your job anywhere, and transcribe files around your schedule.
Transcription offers a ton of flexibility in terms of your working hours and location. You can work while your baby naps, when the kids are in school and even at the dead of the night when everyone is asleep.
But before you jump in and apply for transcription jobs online, it pays to understand these points:
Skills
The necessary skills you need to start working from home as a transcriptionist are impeccable listening and typing skills. Once you’ve got the hang of transcription, you need to learn to network with potential clients and market your business.
General requirements
At the very least, you’ll need a fast and efficient computer with a word processor, an internet, and excellent pairs of headphones. You may also invest in a foot pedal to speed up your work. Also, consider putting up a business website for your transcription services for a more effective marketing campaign.
Application process
If you want to break into transcription jobs from home, you can take a look at the numerous companies offering transcription jobs with no experience.
Typically, you will have to fill up a form that details your personal information. Then you will proceed with a test or two, which would gauge your comprehension, listening, and typing skills. Once you pass the tests, you should be able to grab transcription tasks from their portal and start working.
Transcription Jobs Online For Beginners: Top Places to Find Transcription Jobs With No Experience
1. QUICKTATE
Quicktate is one of the popular transcription companies that offer transcription jobs online for beginners. You need to take and pass their test and then submit yourself for a background check. However, you have to pay $20 for the background test. If everything checks out, you can start working. Most of the audio files are short, often less than 5 minutes, typically in the form of voice messages, memos, and recordings. The company pays $0.0025 per word every week through PayPal.
2. CASTING WORDS
Castingwords is another legit company that has a stream demand for transcriptionists, even entry-level ones. You will work as an individual contractor and grab jobs that appeal to you. Some projects have base pays, while others have bonuses (depends on your badge levels). Pay depends on a per-project basis, but the average is $0.08 to $1 per audio minute. You can submit an application to CastingWords through their website, but you must be at least 18 years old and be able to receive PayPal payments.
3. TRANSCRIBEME
TranscribeMe is a popular transcription agency that accepts both newbies and professionals. You will have to apply at their official site and then do a simple test. Once you pass the test, you can start getting jobs. Otherwise, you will have to wait for the next opportunity to take the test. The files are short, often between 2-4 minutes, and their rates are good at $20 an audio hour. The company pays every week via PayPal.
4. SPEAKWRITE
SpeakWrite is one of the best companies to find transcription jobs online for beginners, although getting in seems more stringent than others. The company has a solid customer base coming from the legal and government sectors. If you want to work for SpeakWrite, you need to pass their exams and demonstrate high-quality transcription skills with 60 words per minute typing speed and 90% accuracy. They pay up to $20 per audio hour, twice a month, via check or direct bank deposit.
5. ACCUTRAN GLOBAL
AccuTran Global was founded in British Columbia, Canada and has been in the industry since 2002. They have a vast repertoire of clients, ranging from legal, medical to financial sectors.
The pay starts at $0.004 per word but could go higher for more challenging projects. If you work hard and diligently enough, you may earn around $15 per audio hour. To qualify, you need to take a test and must have a typing speed of at least 70wpm. You also need to be a resident of Canada or USA or own a bank account from these countries.
6. REV
Rev is a renowned company offering captioning, translation, and transcription services for its clients and is always actively accepting freelancers into their platform.
To get accepted into Rev, you’ll need to pass a transcription test. If you failed the test, you’ll need to wait one month and a half to retake it. Rev accepts transcribers from around the world and pays via PayPal. Rev pays up to $20 per hour, depending on your efficiency.
7. UBIQUS
Ubiqus is a 60-year-old company that offers transcription, translation, and interpretation services to its thousands of clients. As for transcription jobs, the company provides legal, medical, and foreign language transcriptions. Most of their projects require timestamps and templates. All freelancers must be native English speakers and reside in the US. The average pay is between $0.005 to $0.007 per word, paid every two weeks.
8. SCRIBIE
Scribie is another legit platform offering home-based transcription jobs for beginners. The materials to be transcribed vary in length and format but are often videos and interviews.
To get accepted into Scribie, you need to pass their test. They pay around $10 per audio hour. Both US and non-US residents can work with Scribie as long as you can receive PayPal payments.
9. BABBLETYPE
Babbletype is also a go-to destination for transcription jobs for beginners. The company has thousands of files that need to be transcribed, and they always have a demand for efficient transcribers. Babbletype imposes a 24-hour deadline for most of their projects, so it pays if you’re a detailed and fast typist. The pay is between $12-$15 per audio hour and paid via PayPal.
10. GMR TRANSCRIPTION
You can also find tons of transcription jobs from home, even without experience, at GMR Transcription. The company has a steady stream of transcription projects, and they always need new transcriptionists to help out. You need to do a small quiz before you can apply and then take a qualification test. Once you’re in, you need to commit transcribing one hour of audio file per day. GMR pays between $0.7 to $1 per audio minute.
11. SPEECHPAD
SpeechPad is another excellent freelance transcription platform for beginners. With Speechpad, you can work as much or as little as you want, without any set schedule. You have to apply online, pass their basic test, and sign up a confidentiality form. You also need to be able to type at least 40WPM and have a good understanding of English grammar. Speechpad pays around $0.25 per minute or around $15 per audio hour.
12. TIGERFISH
Tigerfish is one of the oldest transcription companies, being around as early as 1989. Some of its biggest clients are GAP and AirBNB. It is also known to accept people looking for transcription jobs from home part-time. To apply to Tigerfish, you need to provide three samples following the company’s style guide and use their software for the transcription process. You also need to have a typing speed of 65WPM or better, attention to detail, and a good sense of the English language. The company pays an average of $0.005 per word, translating to roughly $8-$11 per hour.
13. CROWDSURF
Crowdsurf accepts transcriptionists with zero to minimal experience to transcribe video captions. Most tasks are short, allowing you to create a flexible working hour. You can apply online, take a quick assessment, and wait for 24 hours to see if you passed. The editors will grade your work, and you must get at least 3.5 out of 5 to keep your job. Crowdsurf pays 10 cents per 25 audio seconds.
14. DAILY TRANSCRIPTION
Daily Transcription is a US-based transcription company that was founded 14 years ago. The company serves a huge range of sectors, but they’re well-known in the entertainment industry for transcribing audiotapes. Daily Transcription also has clients from foreign countries, so bilingual transcribers are also welcome.
You get accepted into Daily Transcription, you need to pass a transcription test. The company pays between $0.75 – $0.85 per minute via PayPal. Their top-performing transcribers make between $300-$900 per week.
15. GO TRANSCRIPT
GoTranscript, formerly known as SpeechtoText, is a translation and transcription company that works with Netflix and BBC, among other well-known clients. You need to apply online, study their style guide, and then take an online test. If you qualify, you can start getting jobs from their portal. Go Transcript pays around $0.60 per audio minute and pays every week via PayPal or Payoneer.
16. BAM! TRANSCRIPTION
BAM provides mostly entertainment and legal transcription services. They accept applications looking for transcription jobs with no experience, and their hiring process is simple and straightforward. The rate per project varies, but a lot of their transcribers earn around $0.75 per audio minute.
17. 1-888-TYPE-IT-UP
1-888-Type-It-Up offers a much higher pay rate than other transcription service providers. The company pays between $1-$2 per audio minute, allowing you to earn at least $60 per audio hour. The downside is that the company has a lengthier hiring process. You’ll also need to pay an application fee of $35.
18. 3PLAY MEDIA
3Play Media is a well-known transcription service provider working with Procter and Gamble, Yale University, and MIT, among other huge companies. You may join the company as a beginner, but you do have to be based in the US to qualify.
With 3Play Media, work consists of correcting and formatting of files that have already been transcribed by machines. The company pays between $19-$30 per hour.
19. APPENSCRIBE
Appenscribe is an excellent platform for transcription jobs for beginners. The company hires newbies and even non-US residents. You will need to apply online and then pass a few exams. With Appenscribe, you don’t have to work with a rigid schedule. The base pay is $0.005 per transcribed word.
20. BIRCH CREEK COMMUNICATIONS
Birch Creek Communications is a company that specializes in corporate and legal transcription, and sometimes general transcription. The company pays reasonably well, with $0.40 and $1.50 per audio minute for corporate transcription, and $0.65 and $1.75 per page for legal transcription. You need to be a US resident and willing to undergo a background check to apply.
21. FOCUS FORWARD
Focus Forward is a transcription business that hires transcribers. Files are lengthier, often around 60 minutes, and workers need to transcribe them fast and accurately. They pay $10 for every 15 minutes of an audio file, but Spanish transcribers are paid more. You need to work at least 4 hours each week to stay employed.
22. HOLLYWOOD TRANSCRIPTIONS
Hollywood Transcriptions is a well-established company that has been in the transcription industry for quite some time. You may apply as a beginner, but you need to have at least 65wpm typing speed. You also need to have an excellent internet connection and transcription software. There is no advertised pay rate for transcribers, but some commenters say you may earn around $400-500 per month.
23. TRANSCRIPT DIVAS
Transcript Divas generally deal with general transcript needs, and they hire newbie transcribers as well. If you type and fast accurately, you can send your application online through their website. Projects are varied and come in a steady stream. They pay their transcribers an average of $16 per hour.
24. VERBAL INK
Verbal Ink is yet another great company to apply for if you’re looking for transcription jobs work from home gigs.
To get accepted into the compay, you need to pass a transcription test. The company pays between $10-$20 per audio hour.
25. TERESCRIPTION
Terescription is a well-known transcription business in the entertainment industry. You need to be a fast typist with 70wpm minimum and can transcribe a file within 24 hours (turnaround times vary depending on the project). You also need to be a US resident, sign an NDA agreement, have excellent English grammar and punctuation understanding to qualify. They reportedly pay around $0.07 per line for one speaker audio file, and more for multi-speakers.
Transcription Jobs Online For Beginners: Are You Ready To Make Money?
Transcription online jobs for beginners are some of the gigs to get if you want a breakthrough with working from home. You don’t need any fancy skill or a diploma to get started (although a transcription training or course certainly helps!) As long as you’re an excellent listener, a fast typist and can go over and correct your own work, you should be on your way to making money from transcription.
If you want to learn more about transcribing and want to make transcribing as your career, I highly recommend Transcription Foundations. It is a FREE 7-lesson mini course that will teach you about general transcription, things you need to know about this job and more.
Good luck!
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