13 Weekly-Paying Side Hustles to Supercharge Your Proofreading Business
Owning your own business is hard! It can take a while to build up a client base, and even well-established proofreaders have slumps and slow periods.
You may need to rely on side hustles to pay the bills. But, as a business owner, you need ones with flexible hours that pay quickly. It would be great if they helped build your skills and resume, too.
Well, look no further because we have compiled 13 great side hustle ideas that pay weekly and can help build your business.
1. Guest Posting
If you have a website for your business, posting guest blogs on your site can be an easy way to make some extra money. A guest blog is an article that links back to the client’s site. Clients use posts like these to give their websites some extra visibility.
Hosting guest blogs requires minimal effort on your part — you just have to maintain an organized and well-formatted site and post the blogs as they come in. You’ll get weekly invoices and payments in exchange.
Your site should still be about your business and your content should take center stage. You should make sure that guest posts are tagged so readers know which content is from you. As you attract more eyeballs to your site, your value as a host for guest posts goes up, too. If you ever needed a little extra incentive to tidy up your web presence, guest posting is it!
You can also use the money to reinvest in your website. You can earn money from hosting as a side hustle, but you can use that money to fund your own guest posting campaigns.
Working with an established web marketing company like SEO Butler is a great way to get your blog out there as a side hustle while creating high-quality backlinks of your own. What’s not to love?
2. Transcription
If you’re detail-oriented and a fast typist (and you probably are if you’re a proofreader), transcription may be a great fit for you! As a transcriptionist, you’ll be listening to various sound recordings and producing accurate transcripts of the speech or conversation.
There are several major transcription agencies online, like Rev, that you can sign up with. Most pay weekly, and they all offer a great deal of flexibility. You can work as many or as few hours as you wish and get your choice of assignments.
One benefit of transcription is that it’s never boring. You may need to transcribe interviews with a journalist, focus group conversations, medical reports, or academic research. You can stick with topics you’re familiar with or branch out to learn something new.
Some agencies also deal with video captions. These tasks typically pay a slight premium over audio-only. Video captioning is also a real growth market — more people and companies are working to make their content accessible and disability-friendly.
Plus, transcription can be a great addition to your proofreading resume. This experience shows clients that you’re detail-oriented and can work with tight deadlines. Side hustles that pay weekly don’t get much better!
3. Data Entry
It may not be thrilling or glamorous, but data entry can be the perfect side hustle as you grow your business. Being detail-oriented, organized, and reliable is a must — but those are all skills you should already have as a proofreader.
There are all kinds of data entry jobs out there — you may be entering orders into an online system, keeping customer information in a database up-to-date, or spotting discrepancies between two sets of records. Most of these jobs pay weekly, and many are part-time or project-based assignments. This flexibility makes the gig easy to fit around your current schedule of proofreading clients.
If you’re doing work on a part-time basis, your experience may be more structured than your freelance life. You’ll be working under a manager that you report to, and you may have to communicate with other co-workers.
Depending on your work style, this can be a good or a bad thing. If you’re planning a return to the corporate world at some point, it’s good to show that you can work on a team within a business hierarchy. You may also get a bit of social interaction, which is often a plus when you’re a freelancer!
On the other hand, data entry jobs may have set hours or less flexibility but will still pay weekly — if you’re working around family responsibilities or are just a night owl, data entry may not be a good fit.
Still, many professional proofreaders love side hustles that are straightforward and flexible, while still giving regular weekly paychecks. If that’s you, take a look at data entry.
4. Customer Service
You may have built your own proofreading business partially to get away from bad customer service jobs. But when you get to work from home and take calls in your pajamas, customer service can be a fun way to earn on the side as you grow your business.
The explosion in work-from-home jobs and the pressure from the Great Resignation have made it easier than ever before to get a customer service job that meets your needs. Many CS gigs are part-time (as few as ten hours a week!), and you can do many of these jobs from your own home.
Like several other side hustles that pay weekly, a customer service position will likely hold you to a particular schedule and require you to have a manager. So, this gig may not be the best choice if you get work done at odd times.
Also, a freelancer having a manager may feel a bit difficult if you’re used to being your own boss. If you don’t mind sacrificing a little flexibility, customer service may be for you!
5: Translation and Interpretation
Do you write and speak a foreign language fluently? You may be able to turn that skill into a side hustle that pays weekly.
There’s a broad universe of jobs out there that require foreign language skills. Some will merely have a test or a brief assignment to check your language fluency. Other industries require certain degrees or certificates — this is especially true for medical and legal interpretation.
On the less stringent side, you’ll find jobs like translating subtitles for video clips and TV shows. Companies may also need your skills to translate their website or internal documents. You can access this work through an agency where you’re paid by the project.
If you speak a less common language, you may be able to find work with a service that offers interpreters on call. Hospitals, law enforcement, and other public agencies typically purchase access to an interpreter hotline.
The opportunities in the translation sector vary — if you speak a less common language, you may find fewer jobs, but those that are out there tend to pay quite well. If you speak Spanish or French, there are more opportunities, but typically lower pay and more competition for jobs.
If you’ve thought about branching out your proofreading business into non-English languages, translating and interpreting can help you keep your skills sharp. And you’ll be earning a weekly paycheck to boot.
6. Editing
Side hustles that pay weekly can also help build your skills. Why not diversify your proofreading business and add editing to the mix? There are plenty of jobs that allow you to work from home, even part-time, in the editing sphere.
Of course, editing requires a different skill set than proofreading. As an editor, you’ll make sure that the author of the piece gets their point across in well-constructed, easy-to-read sentences. You may be giving notes on tone, register, and word choice.
Editing is also a more collaborative process — you’ll be working with the writer, perhaps through several drafts, to perfect the piece.
There are a large number of jobs and side hustles that fall under the editing umbrella. You can find work cleaning up AI-rendered speech-to-text transcripts, editing copy before it goes live on a website, or editing book pitches and manuscripts for authors. Much of the work available is paid by the project or weekly.
Editing isn’t for everyone — you need good soft skills to work productively with writers. Depending on the gig you get, you may have to work under a manager or collaborate with co-workers.
Still, editing is a great way to develop skills that can benefit you in the long run. After you have a few editing jobs under your belt, you may be able to offer editing services to your proofreading clients! Take a look at Grammar Lion if you need a grammar refresh.
7. Tutoring
As a proofreader, you likely know more about grammar and writing than most people. Why not share your gift?
The global tutoring market was estimated at over $98 billion in 2021, with demand expected to grow. And yes, it is worth talking about the global market here, not just the US or English-speaking world. Students around the globe take courses and receive tutoring in English, often as a prelude to attending undergrad or graduate school in the US or UK.
Tutoring does require a specific skill set — you need patience, good people skills, and the ability to explain complicated ideas in simple terms. Depending on the agency, you may also need to provide your academic transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, or other proof of expertise in a subject area.
There are likely local tutoring companies in your area you can choose to work with. Or, you can work through an online agency where you video chat with clients around the world. The choice is up to you.
Once an agency has selected you, you can choose who you want to work with in most cases. If you’re not good with little kids, you can stick with teens and adults.
Tutoring is a great line for your freelance resume and shows clients that you have good people skills and can explain difficult concepts. If you’re looking for side hustles that pay weekly, tutoring should definitely be on your list.
8. ESL Teaching
People around the world want to improve their English for work, school, and socializing. If you’re a native English speaker and like teaching, you may have everything you need for success in the ESL world.
ESL jobs are many and varied. You can stay on your couch and Skype with students, help new immigrants in your community, or travel to far-flung regions around the world. The sky really is the limit!
If you’re trying to fit a gig around your current proofreading jobs, going with an online school or agency is probably your best bet (online agencies generally pay weekly, too). Some agencies focus on a particular country or region (like China or Latin America), and some focus on a particular aim (like coaching students for the TOEFL or school exams).
For most of these agencies, being a native English speaker is non-negotiable, though a few will accept any candidates fluent in English. Agencies may also have a preference for style of English/accent (American and British are the top two).
You may also need to get a TEFL certificate. This is typically a month-long course that includes both classroom and teaching components. If you live in a major metro area in an English-speaking country, chances are that you will have a TEFL school close to home.
Much like tutoring, ESL teaching shows potential proofreading clients that you’re a good communicator and have exceptional English grammar skills.
9. AI Tester
Do you want to work with the latest technology and help make decisions that could affect millions? That’s exactly what you’ll be doing as an AI tester!
Companies are racing to develop AI chatbots and other tools. There’s also much more public awareness about potential problems with AI chatbots, like implicit bias, misinformation, and plagiarism. This issue has put companies in a double bind — businesses need to develop chatbots quickly enough to beat the competition and high-quality enough to serve a more demanding public.
That’s where you come in! Specific tasks vary depending on the company, but you may be helping to flag dangerous content, improve the chatbot’s syntax or grammar, or test out new capabilities.
Many of these jobs pay by the task or offer a system where you can work as much or as little as you want. If you have an unstable workload with your current proofreading business, AI testing can be a great way to work around that.
There are a few downsides, though. AI testing jobs can involve having to see distressing content as you teach the system what is and isn’t acceptable. More than likely, you’ll have to sign a pretty hefty NDA, and you may not even know what company owns the AI you’re testing.
If you can handle the negatives, though, AI testing is one of many great side hustles that pay weekly.
10. Delivery Jobs
You probably know someone who works a delivery side hustle, whether they’re delivering packages, food, or other items. What you may not know is just how many of these jobs there are!
There are, of course, traditional food delivery jobs, but there are also app jobs where you can deliver food, groceries, and other items.
Plenty of big box stores do delivery, as well and some deliveries to grocery stores are also made by regular people driving their own personal cars. These jobs typically pay by the delivery and give you a window to make the drop, so you’re not hustling against the clock and can make deliveries when they fit your schedule.
Of course, to access delivery jobs, you’ll need a reliable car with insurance. Depending on who you’re delivering for, the company may require a minimum amount of coverage or a special insurance certificate.
If you started your proofreading business to shorten your commute, you may not be thrilled at the idea of driving to work again. On the other hand, you may want a job that gets you out of the house and requires you to interact with people.
Most of these delivery jobs pay by the job or weekly, so they’re a great way to get money in your pocket fast. Plus, these gigs can show potential proofreading clients that you’re organized and efficient.
11. Bookkeeping
If you have a head for figures and are good at math, a side gig doing bookkeeping may be perfect for you!
This job typically has higher entry requirements than many of the others on this list. If you are in the UK or working for a UK company, you may need a bookkeeping or accounting certificate.
In the US, you don’t need a certification like a CPA would, but jobs will still expect you to have knowledge of Quickbooks, Excel, or other financial software. Jobs will likely require a credit check, as well, and you may be unfit if your score falls below a certain level.
Many bookkeeping jobs can be done at home and a lot of them are part-time with a flexible schedule. Many small businesses only need 10-15 hours a week of bookkeeping work.
Still, you will probably have plenty of oversight as a bookkeeper — you are keeping track of the money, after all! If you started a proofreading business because you hate having a boss, bookkeeping may not be a great fit.
Despite the drawbacks, bookkeeping is a great resume builder. The experience shows potential proofreading clients that you’re trustworthy, thorough, and organized. And if you do decide to go back into the corporate world, the skills you learn will give you a leg up in the job market.
If you want to get started, take a look at Upwork for side hustles that pay weekly!
12. Virtual Assistant
If you like helping others and don’t mind admin work, being a virtual assistant may be the thing for you. VAs typically function as secretaries, assistants, or other admins, just remotely.
Like other admin roles, the VA role is pretty flexible and can include a lot of different tasks and duties. If you’re interested in a job, you’ll want to make sure that you’re clear on exactly what your responsibilities are.
Major responsibilities can include managing schedules, planning meetings, or answering routine emails. You may also be responsible for maintaining a database of accurate client information, answering phones, or assisting customers through chat or instant messenger.
Some VAs function like personal assistants or executive assistants — that means you’ll be primarily helping one person, and you may be responsible for some of their personal tasks and scheduling. You may also have to book plane tickets or schedule a doctor’s appointment.
Being a VA isn’t for everyone. You’ll have to work closely with those you’re assisting, and you may have a lot of customer contact, as well. While VAs, by definition, work remotely, you may have to follow a set schedule or at least complete your work within certain hours.
Still, many VA jobs are flexible and pay weekly. VA gigs also show proofreading clients that you’re organized, reliable, and personable.
Interested? Take a look at The Savvy System to learn more about VA opportunities.
13. Writing
Going from a proofreader to a writer may feel like a big step, but it’s not as hard as you might think. It can even be fun!
There are a number of writing jobs available, but most of the ones out there for a new writer are writing blog posts and marketing materials. Everywhere has a website and email marketing these days, so you can write about topics as diverse as parenting, health, makeup, sports, or cooking.
You can take individual writing gigs as they come or join an agency that will give you assignments to complete. You’re typically paid by the assignment, and most agencies have a weekly payout schedule.
One disadvantage of writing is that assignments typically come with a tight turnaround time. It may take some figuring to find a schedule that works around your proofreading business.
Writing helps you build invaluable skills — you’ll get to see what it’s like to have your work edited and grammar improved. This can help you relate to your own proofreading clients better. You don’t get much better when it comes to side hustles that pay weekly!
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to ditch your proofreading business just because it can’t pay all your bills. With flexible side hustles that pay weekly, you can make the money you need while learning the skills you need to take your business to the next level!
Thanks a lot for the side hustles, very helpful. I will try most of them.
I would love to try the delivery jobs
Very Interesting! helpful.
Thank you!