Freelance medical typist working from home

Private consultants, small clinics, GP practices, medical secretary agencies and other transcription companies that outsource overflow work.

Usually charged per audio minute, per line or per document, or by the hour. Speed and accuracy raise your effective hourly earnings over time.

• Fast, accurate typing
• Good grasp of medical terminology
• Careful proofreading
• Discretion with confidential information

• UK GDPR: health data is special category data, so check your duties and whether you need to pay the ICO data protection fee
• Clients may ask about your data security, such as encrypted devices and secure file transfer, before they hire you
• NHS or larger contracts may have extra security requirements, so check what they ask for
• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance are worth checking with a broker
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to run a business from home
• Errors in medical documents can matter, so build in a proofreading step

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on your computer, transcription software, foot pedal and security setup. These are estimates, so check what clients expect from your equipment before you buy.

Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £2,000, depending on how many hours you work and how much dictation you win from consultants, clinics and agencies. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Things to check include your UK GDPR duties for health data and whether you need to pay the ICO data protection fee, client expectations on encrypted devices and secure file transfer, extra NHS or larger contract requirements, and insurance.