HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a transcriptionist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A transcription service in Ireland costs €60–€180 per audio hour, typically around €100. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a transcriptionist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers transcriptionist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — multilingual Transcription — some transcription services offer multilingual capabilities, allowing for audio in different languages to be transcribed.
- How does audio quality change the price?A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length of the recording change the price?A booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the subject matter change the price?It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Specialised Transcription — for industries like legal or medical, specialised transcription services are available — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a transcriptionist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers transcriptionist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — multilingual Transcription — some transcription services offer multilingual capabilities, allowing for audio in different languages to be transcribed.
A good answer: A basic option and a premium one are different jobs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides how much of the job can be done at once. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Specialised Transcription — for industries like legal or medical, specialised transcription services are available — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a transcriptionist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — formatting and Editing — transcription services often provide formatting and editing options to enhance readability.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the transcriptionist starts, and an itemised invoice after — audio to Text Conversion — transcription services typically involve converting audio recordings into written text.
Getting the quote right
- Audio quality — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
- Length of the recording — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out.
- Complexity of the subject matter — it decides how much of the job can be done at once.
- Turnaround time required — running over is charged, so the estimate matters.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: audio quality — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs
- They will not talk about it: length of the recording — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the subject matter — it decides how much of the job can be done at once
- A price for the transcriptionist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the transcriptionist has begun
What a transcriptionist costs: €60–€180 per audio hour
Most transcriptionists quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Verbatim transcription and Edited transcription each carry their own band. Transcription Service price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Transcriptionists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstAudio quality — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs — that is what the transcriptionist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLength of the recording — a booked block of time costs less than the same hours spread out — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the subject matter — it decides how much of the job can be done at once — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTurnaround time required — running over is charged, so the estimate matters — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the transcriptionist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, level of detail needed in the transcription — it has to be settled before anything can be ordered.
- Audio to Text Conversion
- Transcription services typically involve converting audio recordings into written text.
- Formatting and Editing
- Transcription services often provide formatting and editing options to enhance readability.
- specialised Transcription
- For industries like legal or medical, specialised transcription services are available.
- Multilingual Transcription
- Some transcription services offer multilingual capabilities, allowing for audio in different languages to be transcribed.
- Verbatim Transcription
- This involves transcribing every word spoken, including filler words and non-verbal sounds, to create a complete record.
- Edited Transcription
- This version focuses on the main points and eliminates unnecessary words, providing a cleaner, more readable document.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a transcriptionist: questions people ask
The cost of transcription services is influenced by factors such as audio quality, length of the recording, and the complexity of the subject matter. specialised fields like legal or medical transcription may also command higher rates due to the need for expertise.
The duration for transcription can vary based on the length and clarity of the audio. Generally, it takes about four to six hours to transcribe one hour of audio, but this can be shorter with clear recordings and experienced transcribers.
Many transcription services offer same-day or rush options for an additional fee. Availability may depend on the volume of work and the service provider's current capacity, so it's best to check in advance.
Yes, many transcription services allow you to book multiple jobs simultaneously. This can sometimes lead to discounts or package deals, especially for ongoing projects or bulk orders.
Out of scope items for transcription services may include extensive editing or proofreading beyond transcription, transcription of poor-quality audio, or services requiring additional research or fact-checking that goes beyond the audio content. Consider the quality of the audio; poor sound can lead to inaccuracies in transcription.
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
MORE GUIDES