1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Editing and proofreading: from your first sample edit to your first paid client

Proofread and edit documents for students, small businesses and writers. This guide covers the 2025 Professional Editors' Guild rates survey, the Safrea 2026 rates report and published price lists, how to quote per word, the line between editing and writing for students, scripts and a 14-day plan to your first paid job.

  • 24 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • about 2 hours in total

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • You have strong English (or another language) and spot errors easily.
  • You can concentrate for long stretches and meet deadlines.
  • You can use Track Changes in Word or suggestions in Google Docs.

Think twice if

  • You are willing to write students' assignments for them. That is academic dishonesty.
  • You find detail work boring.

Honest expectations

  • A first paid job often comes within two to four weeks, often from students or people you know.
  • The PEG 2025 survey shows proofreading at an average of R0.24 a word. Published student rates go lower, for example R0.14 a word at Busy Bee Editing.
  • Big jobs like theses can take weeks. Work comes in waves around university deadlines.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How freelance editing and proofreading worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first client6 min (in the full guide)
    3. Rates and getting paid: real figures5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Do two sample edits3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Write your rates and terms3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first clients: where to look5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Your 14-day first-client playbook6 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Send 20 offers with a free sample page3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Time every job3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Ask for a review3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Common mistakes new editors make4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Join a professional body3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Add one business client3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Free resources to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    7. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Word or Google Docs
  • Free style guides and dictionaries

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.