Home
>
Small Business
>
Start a Technical Writing Service

Start a Technical Writing Service

Technical writing services are employed to explain the details of a topic in a way that is easily understood by the readers. In todays information age, technical writing jobs are increasingly common. One would think that, eventually, everything useful will have been written! This is not the case, however, and your home-based technical writing company probably has a better chance for success today than at any time in the past.

Business plans, technical report writing, grant writing, instruction manuals, and business correspondence are just a few of the more common types of technical writing jobs available. By becoming skilled with any of these (and other) topics, you can make extremely good money with your own technical writing company.

Start Up Costs and Financing Sources: Under $500

Basic operating costs are very modest, although research for some projects may be expensive.

You could spend weeks or months on a project before being paid, so keep adequate savings for living expenses during these times.

Pricing Guidelines for Service:

Set a reasonable hourly rate for yourself, such as $15-20 per hour to start. As you gain more experience and speed, this rate will increase. Base the estimates for your clients on this rate. Be very careful in estimating the time and resources a project will require. Your clients will expect to pay your quoted price, no matter how much time you actually spend on the project.

Prices are always a delicate issue. You want to ensure the maximum profit for yourself, but pricing your services too high could prevent a profitable, long-term relationship with a customer.

Advertising and Marketing:

Respond to help wanted advertisements seeking technical writers. Become affiliated with industry associations which may list you in their technical writing company directories.

For a fee, online venues will connect you with clients offering a variety of technical writing jobs.

Essential Equipment:

You should have a decent computer with quality word processing software installed. You don't need your own private library, but access to a good source of reference material will be very useful. Technical writing is usually done from your home office, but it is sometimes necessary to travel to a work site for certain resources, so keep reliable transportation available.

Income Potential:

$10,000 to $100,000+

At first, your income will be limited by the number of clients you can find. As you build your exposure and reputation, you might find yourself with more potential clients than you can handle. At this point you can set your rates to focus on more profitable projects, greatly increasing your income potential.

Target Market:

There are many markets that fall under the technical writing umbrella. Some of the more common situations you will encounter are:

Companies needing accurate and understandable training manuals for their employees.

Manufacturers needing useful instruction manuals for their products.

Entrepreneurs needing clear and focused business plans that appeal to investors.

Office workers needing letter templates for their day-to-day correspondence.

Researchers needing influential grant proposals to secure funding for their research.

Tips for Success:

Read, read, read! Reading publications similar to the type of technical writing you will be doing will help you to think with the correct mindset and provide the type of content your intended readers will be expecting. It is also easier to be critical of other people's texts, so you will be able to identify common mistakes and protect yourself from the same pitfalls.

Training, Skills or Experience Needed:

Technical writing requires very precise knowledge of linguistics and grammatical rules. Professional technical writers usually have a four-year degree in English or some sort of post-secondary training related to technical writing.

Unless you are already an expert in a technical field and limit the scope of your writing to that, you will probably be required to quickly learn the details of certain processes - even entire industries.

Research and evaluation skills are important. You must know where to look for all kinds of information and how to interpret the information once you have it.

Randy has dozens of home based business articles such as best home based internet business, best home based internet business and best home based internet business.

no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..

In The News:

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Start a Technical Writing Service

Small Business