Freelance data entry from home

Small businesses, sole traders, estate agents, charities, clinics and trades firms that have paperwork piling up but no time or staff to enter it.

Hourly rate or a fixed price per project, such as per batch of invoices or per thousand records. Regular monthly clients give steadier income than one-off jobs.

• Fast, accurate typing
• Good with spreadsheets such as Excel or Google Sheets
• Attention to detail
• Reliable with deadlines

• Data protection: if you handle personal data you will probably need to register with the ICO and follow UK GDPR, so check the current rules
• Get a written agreement covering confidentiality, who owns the data and how files are stored and deleted
• Professional indemnity and cyber insurance may be worth checking, especially for sensitive data
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC and keep records for Self Assessment
• Beware of 'data entry jobs' that ask you to pay upfront fees, as these are often scams
• Check whether your tenancy or mortgage allows you to run a business from home

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around £200 to £1,800, depending on how many clients you have and how many hours you work. Startup costs are typically around £0 to £500, depending on the computer and software you already own.

If you handle personal data you will probably need to register with the ICO and follow UK GDPR, so check the current rules. Also get a written agreement on confidentiality, data ownership and storage, and consider professional indemnity and cyber insurance.

Be wary of data entry jobs that ask for upfront fees, as these are often scams. Register as a sole trader with HMRC, keep records for Self Assessment, and check whether your tenancy or mortgage allows you to run a business from home.