SpeakWrite is a website that claims you can earn money by working as a transcriptionist. I have tested many sites like this over the years, so I know what to look for to figure out if it is worth it or not.
In this SpeakWrite review, I will reveal the full details of what the site offers, so you will know exactly what to expect from it. Then, you can make an educated decision on whether it is for you or not.
So, let’s dive in, shall we?
What is SpeakWrite, and what does it offer?
SpeakWrite is a pretty well-known transcription company that mainly handles legal, law enforcement, and general business work. And yes, it’s 100% legit because they really do pay for the work you do.
But just because it’s legit doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for everyone. If you’re thinking about signing up, it’s important to understand how it works. The best way to figure out if it’s worth your time is to take a closer look at how you earn and what kind of time and effort it takes.
So, here’s how to earn from SpeakWrite.
The earning opportunity – Transcription jobs
Once you get accepted as a transcriptionist, you’ll be asked to indicate your schedule. When it is set, all you have to do is log in to the member dashboard during your shift and see if there are transcription jobs available.
Now, when you accept transcription jobs, the most important thing you need to remember is that you must submit your deliverables before the deadline. What’s different about SpeakWrite is that it has a faster turnaround time than most transcription sites.
When you accept a job, the recommended 2.0 to 2.2 ratio of job length/completion time should be your guideline on how fast you must complete the job. So, if you have to transcribe a file that is 30 minutes long, you should be able to submit it within 60 to 70 minutes.
That’s how fast the turnaround time should be, which means you can’t leisurely transcribe the files when you accept a job. Although speed is emphasized when accepting transcription jobs, you must not forget that you also have to be accurate.
Speed and accuracy should always go hand in hand when transcribing files because you’ll be asked to redo your work if you submit an inaccurate transcription. And if you do it frequently, the site will see you as an unreliable transcriptionist and will stop giving you jobs, which means you won’t be able to earn anymore.
As for the type of files you must transcribe, you will mostly be transcribing audio from all sorts of industries, including police departments, investigators, law offices, and protective services. Another unique thing about SpeakWrite is that it will pay you per word and not per audio minute, which is usually the case with other transcription sites.
Later, I will discuss how its payment system works. As for the availability of transcription jobs, there are usually a decent number available at any given time. That’s because SpeakWrite always makes it a point to balance the availability of jobs and transcriptionists.
Recommended: Check Out the Best Transcription Jobs for Beginners
How do you get paid?
SpeakWrite’s payment is very simple. As explained above, it will pay you per word you transcribe. Then, payment is made twice a month, either by direct deposit (currently available to U.S. transcriptionists only) or by check.
You don’t need to hit a threshold to receive your earnings. As long as you’ve earned during the pay period, the payment will be processed.
As you can see, you will receive your earnings conveniently if you live in the US. But if you live in Canada, you’ll have to wait a while to receive your earnings since it takes a couple of weeks for the check to reach your doorstep.
Now, if you don’t live in the US and you prefer sites that offer a faster payout option, I recommend you check out the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer instead.
How much money can you make?
SpeakWrite offers a fixed rate of $0.50 per word. However, there will be shifts that offer a 10% bonus for completing jobs. It’s a relatively competitive rate, in my opinion.
However, the main factor that will affect the amount you can earn from SpeakWrite will be the availability of jobs. It does have a steady flow of transcription jobs, but how much work you actually get depends on which jobs you are willing to take on (legal, law enforcement, or general transcriptions), the time of your shift, and overall demand.
But overall, I would say it does offer a decent earning potential, especially to transcriptionists who can work on legal and law enforcement transcription jobs.
Can you use it on mobile?
Due to the nature of the work you need to do, the answer to the question above is NO. You will need to sit in front of a computer to earn from SpeakWrite.
It is impossible to transcribe audio files using your mobile phone, so this platform is only for people who have a laptop or a desktop.
Who can join SpeakWrite?
SpeakWrite is only available to people who live in the US and Canada. Plus, if you live in the US, it is not available in California. So, keep that in mind when deciding if it is for you or not.
Among the requirements to work as a transcriptionist for SpeakWrite are:
- a computer that runs on a 64-bit Windows operating system
- headphones
- a foot pedal.
- at least one year or more of professional transcription/word processing experience in an office environment within the past 5 years
- must have a 60 WPM (words per minute) with 90% accuracy in typing.
If you don’t have these qualifications, then you are not eligible to join. If you are eligible, then you must go through the application process.
If your application is approved, you must pass the final phase, where you have 30 days from the date your application is approved to complete the evaluation process. This process will test your transcription skills, which means you’ll have to transcribe files for them.
Within that 30-day window, you can work at your own pace and in your own time. If you actively work at completing the process, it can be completed within a few days.
If you pass this final step, you will be hired by SpeakWrite. Then, you’ll need to indicate your schedule before you can start earning. It’s a fairly long process, so you need to have enough time set aside.
Can you get support?
SpeakWrite has an FAQ section for transcriptions to check out. It discusses most of the basic topics you need to know.
But if you can’t find the answers you need, you can contact its support department instead. You can use the contact form on the website. You can also call its hotline, which is shown on the Contact page. Its operating hours are also shown on that page.
Overall, I would say it does provide decent support to its transcriptionists since it offers a couple of convenient ways for you to ask for help.
Final Verdict
SpeakWrite is a legit transcription site that will let you earn by taking on transcription jobs. It has a couple of good features, but it also has some disadvantages you need to know.
To sum up this review, here’s a list of its pros and cons, so you can see a clear overview of what it offers. Then, you can decide if it is for you or not.
Pros:
- Pays a decent amount per job
- Has a good number of jobs available
Cons:
- Long application process
- Requires a certain level of commitment due to the fast turnaround time of jobs
In my opinion, SpeakWrite is not for everyone. If you have experience handling legal and law enforcement transcriptions, then this can be a viable way to earn extra cash because there are a good number of jobs available at any given time. It also pays a decent amount per job.
Just make sure to temper your expectations a bit in terms of earning potential because what it offers is not a full-time job. If you want to earn a full-time income, you are better off setting up your own online business.
To learn how, you should check out this guide on how to build your own online business. It will teach you how to set up an online business from the ground up, so you don’t have to rely on third-party websites to earn a full-time income.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with SpeakWrite, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.