How to Start a Transcription Business

A transcription business can serve a wide variety of clients. This is because transcripts are necessary in fields such as law, medicine, and business. The nature of the work means that it is manageable with limited time, as one can easily start doing it in their spare time or as a part-time job before undertaking it as a full-time endeavor.

You may also be interested in additional side hustle ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a transcription business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Transcription Business
  2. Form your Transcription Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Transcription Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Transcription Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Transcription Business
  7. Get Transcription Business Insurance
  8. Define your Transcription Business Brand
  9. Create your Transcription Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your transcription business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Transcription Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a transcription business?

The costs involved with opening a transcription business are variable. At the most basic level, starting your business from home means that you will need nothing more than the computer you already have and a foot pedal to allow you to start and stop audio without your hands: such pedals typically cost between $40 and $100. At that point, the only thing you are missing is clients, and it’s not uncommon to find clients by simply calling them, emailing them, or visiting them directly and leaving a business card, and it’s easy to print out 500 or more business cards for less than $30.

However, depending on what field you want to specialize in, there are some additional potential costs. Those going into medical transcription may choose to become certified in order to attract more customers. Such certification requires you have an Associates degree in medical transcription and then pass the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) certification exam, and doing both of these may cost thousands of additional dollars. Keep in mind that tuition rates will vary, but it is possible to defray some of these costs via Federal grants and loans so long as you are taking at least six credit hours per semester.

What are the ongoing expenses for a transcription business?

Aside from the hours, the most attractive thing about a transcription business is that there really aren’t any ongoing expenses. Working from home means things like rent and utility are one and the same with what you already pay, and you’ll be using the computer you already have (albeit with the addition of a foot pedal). Aside from periodically printing more business cards and visiting local potential clients, most of your marketing and outreach will be conducted for free online, requiring little in the way of monthly expense.

Who is the target market?

One of the benefits of a transcription business is its variable clientele. Depending on your area and any fields that you may specialize in, your ideal customer types will vary. Generally, though, major businesses and corporations make for good, steady clients. This is because they have a larger number of employees and a larger number of projects which may require your services. And, of course, your own quality service to them may result in a steady stream of work.

How does a transcription business make money?

A transcription business makes money by charging its clients for the act of transcribing the documents. The exact payment arrangement may be negotiated between yourself and the client, such as receiving a flat fee for the amount of minutes transcribed or billing them according to the number of hours that it took you to complete the transcription.

How much can you charge customers?

While you can set any amount to charge your clients, it’s good to stay competitive with other businesses. As such, it’s good to charge between one and two dollars per minute of audio that you transcribe. You may consider charging more for certain special requests (such as recording time stamps, transcribing extremely difficult audio, and so on).

How much profit can a transcription business make?

As alluded to before, your overall profitability hinges on how fast you can type and how many projects you can handle. Average speech includes about 130 words per minute, and a speedy typist may be able to type 65-75 words per minute. This means that even on the low end of both billing clients and typing words, you’ll be making a minimum of thirty dollars an hour, not counting time spent editing your work (which, for those good with grammar, will not be long at all). And, as mentioned above, the vast majority of what you take in is pure profit due to the lack of ongoing expenses.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Most ways of making your business more profitable come down to improving your typing speed. This may mean reducing any distractions around your home office area and creating keyboard macros for familiar phrases, saving you time. Becoming more adept at keyboard shortcuts has a similar motivation as the foot pedal: it reduces your need to remove hands from your keyboard. Finally, you will become more profitable the longer you work. This is because you’ll become a faster typist, your network will grow, and you will eventually have as much work as you could ever desire!

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your transcription business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your transcription business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a transcription business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Release of Liability

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, transcription businesses should have their clients sign a release of liability. Here is an example of one such form.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your transcription business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

Services Contract (e.g. MSA)

Transcription businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership (who will ultimately own the content, and how any royalties will or will not be distributed). Here is an example of one such services agreement.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Transcription Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Transcription Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a transcription business

It’s good to have a website to help market your business; it’s easier than ever to create a free website, though money permitting, you may consider hiring a professional. Having features on your site such as informative blogs and newsletters is a good way to increase your site’s perceived value while bringing in more customers. Having a business presence on social media is another fast and free way to make your presence in the community known. Finally, use email to contact potential clients from around the world, and don’t forget that your own city likely has a number of potential clients that would love to work with someone local, so it’s always worth it to call or visit them.

How to keep customers coming back

Due to the nature of this business, the absolute best way to attract and retain customers is to provide quality service. Your existing customers will prefer to come back to someone they know as good, and they will also tell other potential clients about your quality. Also, don’t forget to become a real part of the online community, from emailing potential clients to advertising your business via blog comments to guest blogging in your chosen field. Basically, anything that gets your name and voice out there is likely to help you net customers.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is great for those who like to work at their own schedule and pace. While certain transcription services, such as court reporter, may require stricter scheduling requirements, most of the work involves transcribing audio or video that has been provided to you. As such, the job is also ideal for those who type fast and are comfortable using computers and other related software and technology.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a transcription business?

The most basic day-to-day activities of a transcription business are to transcribe speech, edit the document, and then deliver it to clients. Beyond that, most activities would include things like making contact with prospective customers, corresponding with existing customers, and advertising and managing your business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful transcription business?

The primary skill to help you build your business will be the speed with which you type. If you are not naturally a fast typer, classes (both online and offline) can help you develop this fundamental skill. Similarly, having a very solid grasp of English and grammatical rules can save you time: many transcribers rely on proofreading via services like Grammarly, but being able to edit your own work with accuracy will speed things up. Obviously, good listening skills are a bonus, as audio quality from files you are sent may not always be great. Finally, any formal training in transcription, from either previous work or from formal schooling, can be a major asset.

What is the growth potential for a transcription business?

The growth potential for a transcription business is variable. Specializing in a certain kind of transcription can actually maximize job security; for instance, medical transcription has been a field that has truly boomed within the last 10 years. However, the general growth potential comes down to the persuasiveness of your marketing and the speed of your typing, as the more work you do and the more clients you take on results in steady growth.

Not sure if a transcription business is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a transcription business?

You’re going to be spending a lot of time typing at your computer, so it’s good to invest in a comfy chair and a comfortable and more ergonomic keyboard. While nothing requires you to use special software, use of transcription software can save you time. And time, in this business more than many others, is definitely money. Finally, as with many businesses, make sure you and the client both know what the client wants, particularly when it comes to any special formatting requests for the transcription itself.

How and when to build a team

Deciding to build a transcription team is tricky business. There are a great many major transcription companies out there, so many people who want to work as part of a larger team may already be drawn to those endeavors. However, if you reach a point where you have more clients than you can reasonably service, you may consider taking on a partner or small team. This can allow you to have the best of both worlds because you can churn out more transcripts under your company’s brand while still allowing everyone to work from home, eliminating the need for expensive overhead each and every month.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading