I need some help....

[whispering_surrender]

Which some of you might already know....

But this time I have something specific. I have been contracted to type a PHD thesis for someone with minor editing duties. Has anyone had any experience with what people charge for this? She asked me what I wanted to get paid per page and I had no clue what was fair.

Any ideas?

Whisper

 

[Rantalith]

What is the thesis on? Do you know anything about what you will be reading?

When I did my PhD thesis, I paid $500 to have someone proof it for me. It was very technical (computers). So I think the more technical it is, the more you should charge.

 

[whispering_surrender]

It's a medical thesis. Right on tap with my background, but could be considered technical...

Whisper

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Hav you tried contacting firms who do this, and asked them what they charged? That would give you a rough idea on what to charge.

 

[pop_54]

Yeppers

Hav you tried contacting firms who do this, and asked them what they charged? That would give you a rough idea on what to charge.

You got it Svenska dear, ask the big boys and cut a bit off to be competitive

Umm I have to admit to this when I want to know the score on a company I'm bidding against for something, hey! All's fair in love and war, and business is war believe me

I usually pretend to be a potential client making a general enquiries around the area about hourly rates and the like, most big firms willingly spill the beans.

Just pretend to be a student who needs a thesis proofed and printed Whisper's darling, hopefully they'll give you a clue as to what they'd charge.

If all else fails, you'll just have to think of a figure you'd find fair.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Re: Yeppers

You got it Svenska dear, ask the big boys and cut a bit off to be competitive

Or add a bit, depending on your talent!

 

[MathGirl]

Dear WS,
I typed one a while back for free.
MG
Ps. There really shouldn't be any need to pay someone for proofreading. Firstly, every university has a manual for form and style in theses writing specific for that institution. The person's major professor will read it and make any needed changes in style and content. It will then be gone over with a fine tooth comb by a faculty member who is a 'thesis reader.' This last person will root out any typos, misspellings, etc.

 

[Dirty Slut]

I find that I don't like doing someone elses work..

I don't mind helping to edit, but I draw the line at actually doing someone elses work for them regardless of how much they're willing to pay me to do it. After all, the grade, or whatever they get would belong to me, and not them, but they will get the accolades.

DS

 

[whispering_surrender]

Dear WS,
I typed one a while back for free.
MG
Ps. There really shouldn't be any need to pay someone for proofreading. Firstly, every university has a manual for form and style in theses writing specific for that institution. The person's major professor will read it and make any needed changes in style and content. It will then be gone over with a fine tooth comb by a faculty member who is a 'thesis reader.' This last person will root out any typos, misspellings, etc.

It's mostly about the typing, as what I got handed was all in longhand. *sigh* She is a great person but extremely computer un-friendly.

Whisper

 

[Dirty Slut]

I charge $0.05 per word for typing...

I also would think about charging per page if I were you. Editors often charge $5.00 per page just for editing, and they mark up the whole manuscript in the process.

DS

 

[KillerMuffin]

http://www.keyboardfreedom.com/costs.htm
http://www.superiortyping.com/PricingInfo.html
http://sgipak.freeyellow.com/ratelist.htm
http://www.franklin-square.com/transcriptions.htm
http://www.wordsworthcoop.com/


Hope this helps.

 

[whispering_surrender]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions! *hugs*

Whisper

 

[OldnotDead]

Whisper,

KM's links are the place to go. I will just add one thought. Since it is in the medical field, a good reference is the price medical transcriptionists charge and get paid (which are TWO different figures). A lot of transcriptionists are free lancers that work on contract for someone that marks up their work to the doc or clinic that they support.

For working off a longhand copy which is actually slower, makes me think you will want a number 'in the middle'. And if you do not already have one, make sure she buys you a really good medical term dictionary so you get the technical words right.

Last, make sure you have a clear understanding about the price for re-writes as well.

 

[whispering_surrender]

*slaps forhead* I work in a hospital....with transcriptionists....completely didn't think about them. *sigh* I think my blonde streak must be showing again....

Whisper

Ps. On a side note, this is my 100th post. *sigh* Guess I have to pick an AV now....