How This Homeschooling Mom Makes Money from Home

I hear from LOTS of stay-at-home/homeschooling moms looking for a legit way to make money from home. They want something that will easily fit into their current lifestyle. A job that brings in extra money to help support their family while still having plenty of quality time to spend with their kids.

Proofread Anywhere fits that need perfectly.

And Kim is yet another graduate who proves that point! She had a lot going on when she decided to take the plunge into the General Proofreading course, but now she is totally rocking her freelance proofreading business. And she’s doing it all while homeschooling three boys. #rockstar

Here’s how she does it!

Q: Welcome to the blog, Kim! Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about your background. What did your life look like before you crossed paths with PA?

Let’s see… Before I discovered PA, I was plugging away half-heartedly with a direct sales company that I loved but wasn’t “in love” with anymore, while homeschooling my three little boys and settling into a new city and state. I was seeking out something that would fill that creative (and financial) hole that tends to form when you’re a stay-at-home mom.

Q: Sounds like you had a lot going on! Props to you for seeking out PA to make money from home 🙂 So when did you start proofreading, and what made you decide to learn how to proofread?

I’ve always been a proofreader, really. I’ve been a self-proclaimed grammar geek for as long as I can remember. My journey to becoming a proofreader has had many starts and stops since high school. That journey started again when I ran across a pin that led me directly to Caitlin’s blog late one night. I knew right away that the universe was speaking to me.

Q: I love it when that happens! Finding the right thing at the exact right time feels like you hit the jackpot. For you, what was the most challenging part of getting started?

The hardest part was convincing myself to spend the money. I wrestled with the decision for nearly a week, even as my husband encouraged me to pull the trigger. I finally convinced myself that proofreading was something I was meant to do.

Q: I know the feeling 🙂 As a General Proofreading student, what was the most valuable thing you learned in the course?

Just ONE thing? I find it nearly impossible to choose. I suppose the piece that I found most surprising was perhaps the most valuable, and that’s the step-by-step instructions on how to utilize the technology available. I’d never set up a website or even used “Track Changes” in a document, let alone marked up a PDF. I’m thankful that information was included in the course. It’s a truly comprehensive program.

Q: I’m so glad to hear that! I make sure my courses teach you ALL the skills you need to succeed. How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?

My first client hired me about five weeks after completing the course. She needed me to proofread three one-page websites. I still have an open contract with her for work later this year. I have had fifteen clients to date, and maintain ongoing contracts with five of those clients.

Not only is Kim kicking butt with FIFTEEN clients, she’s also getting some awesome reviews! Check out what Kim’s clients have to say about her work.

Q: How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the General Proofreading course?

It took me three months to recoup the cost of the course, and I have earned approximately $800 since mid-June. Many of the projects I have worked on have been on the small side, but they have been consistent. I have more confidence to take on larger projects now.

Q: What advice would you give anyone thinking about enrolling in the General Proofreading course to learn how to proofread? Is it worth the money?

If you already have a knack for catching errors and love words, this gig can be pretty fun and fulfilling. There will be frustrations and doubts along the way, but you just have to find your motivation for taking on the course. The course, while still in its infancy, is WELL worth the money. The knowledge and credentials you gain along the way are priceless. Combine that with lifetime access to the course, and you have a winner!

Q: Lifetime access = never-ending learning! So what does your life look like now as a working freelance proofreader?

I love it! I’ve worked on a variety of projects, including business correspondence, websites, emails, novels, how-to books, and articles. I just finished proofing a magazine for a brand new nonprofit organization. I have been contacted by three different individuals who found me on the SPS Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex and am proofing a coaching manual for one of them. That particular client has referred me to another client who I will begin proofing for in late November on a much larger project! I have found my “happy place” at last, and I’m so glad I didn’t pass up this opportunity.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the PA community?

Go into this venture with an open mind. Dig into the content in the course and really learn from it. You don’t have to have all of the answers on the first day or even the first week. If you keep your mind open to learning and growing, you’ll go far! 

Our Take

If you’ve ever made excuses for not following your dreams (I know I have!), I hope Kim’s story serves as the kick in the pants you need to get going. She already had a crazy schedule homeschooling three boys, but she knew what she wanted — and didn’t stop until she got it. That, my friends, is how you win at life 🙂

Your Turn

Interested in joining Kim and working from home while still rocking your parenting/homeschooling lifestyle? Get started here.