While getting into the business of transcription, deciding upon your rates can be one of the toughest aspects to cover. Various individuals and organizations have different rates and methods of pricing.
Some transcribers charge per line. However transcription rates are mostly based on the audio minute or the audio hour. Rates differ from industry to industry and individual to individual. Some also choose to charge by the hour or per 100 words. Yet, there is usually an industry standard, which you can gauge by doing a little research or asking around.
If you’re new at the job it would be advisable to set your rates slightly lower than the industry standard. If you charge too much you are likely to get less work. This will help you to ease your way into the business and develop a strong database of clients. At the same time, remember not to short change yourself. Your time and effort is valuable, and like any job, transcription should not leave you overworked and underpaid. Also, if you set your rate too low you might be discouraged at the small amount of money you receive for all the work you put in.
Know your competition. There are a lot of transcribers and it is important to know what kind of work is being done and at what price. Work given out of the country may often be done at a cheaper rate, but don’t let that make you drop your prices too low. Remember, your clients are paying you for quality too.
Eventually you will understand the industry standards and where you stand in comparison. As you progress, you can increase your rates based on the amount of work you get and the speed and competence and which you complete it. It will not be long before you are confident enough about your work to know exactly how much you deserve, and to charge it.
When you develop a regular set of customers, give those who have been with you longest some kind of discount for continuously trusting you with their work. The rates in the market are always changing, so don’t forget to keep tabs on the current rates.