HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

How to hire a proofreader in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies to proofreaders. Here is what to check about confidentiality, tracked changes and university rules.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a proofreader in five steps

  1. Decide: proofread or copyeditErrors only, or deeper changes to wording and structure.
  2. Send a sampleA few pages so the proofreader can quote accurately.
  3. Ask for tracked changesSo you approve every change.
  4. Check your university's rulesIf the text is assessed work.
  5. Agree turnaround and confidentialityIn writing.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses proofreaders in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and membership of an editorial body is voluntary. A sample edit and references are the checks.

Ask the proofreader for a short sample edit of your text.

Your copyright stays yours

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 the author owns their text. A proofreader's corrections do not change that, but the agreement should say you may use the final text freely.

Check the terms say the corrected document is yours. legislation.gov.uk →

Confidential and personal data

Manuscripts, reports and dissertations can hold personal data and confidential material, which data protection rules enforced by the ICO require to be kept secure.

Ask how files are stored and when they are deleted. gov.uk →

Cancelling an online booking

If you book online, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually give 14 days to cancel a service; if you asked the work to start sooner, you pay for what was done.

Check the booking terms. legislation.gov.uk →

VAT

Proofreading is standard-rated, so a registered proofreader adds 20% to the rate per 1,000 words, the minimum charge and any rush fee. Registration becomes compulsory once a proofreader has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the proofreader for the VAT number before sending the document and for the fee and VAT shown separately. gov.uk →

“Is this proofreading or a copyedit?”

A good answer: A clear definition from the proofreader of what will and will not change.

“Will the proofreader use tracked changes?”

A good answer: Yes, with comments where something is unclear.

“What is the proofreading rate per 1,000 words?”

A good answer: A rate, any minimum, and how the count is done.

“Have you proofread this kind of text?”

A good answer: Academic, technical, business or fiction experience.

“How will you keep my document confidential?”

A good answer: Secure handling and deletion after delivery.

“What is the turnaround?”

A good answer: A date, and any rush charge.

“Will the proofreading follow my style guide?”

A good answer: Yes, or a consistent default you agree.

Getting the quote right

  • Rate per 1,000 words and the word count
  • Who actually attends to your text: the proofreader you chose, or a subcontracted editor
  • Proofread or copyedit, defined
  • Tracked changes and comments
  • Turnaround and rush charge
  • Minimum charge for short documents
  • The VAT number, and VAT at 20% on the word-count fee

Walk away if

  • Rewrites assessed work beyond what your university allows
  • No tracked changes
  • Cannot provide a sample
  • Vague about confidentiality
  • Uses automated tools without checking
  • Charges far above the quote with no warning
LOW
£8
TYPICAL
£12
HIGH
£30

What a proofreader costs: £8–£30 per 1000 words

Proofreaders usually charge per 1,000 words, with a minimum charge for short documents and more for rush work. Proofreading 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

Proofreaders 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.

  1. Sample and quoteA sample checked and the price agreed.
  2. ProofreadSpelling, grammar and punctuation corrected.
  3. Consistency checksSpellings, capitals, numbers and terms made consistent.
  4. QueriesComments where meaning is unclear.
  5. DeliveryTracked and clean versions sent.

Proofreading
Correcting errors in a near-final text.
Copyediting
Deeper editing of wording, clarity and structure.
Tracked changes
Edits shown so you can accept or reject them.
House style
Rules for spelling, punctuation and format.
Clean copy
The text with all changes accepted.
Word count
The number of words the price is based on.

AFTER

When the job is done

Review every changeAccept or reject each tracked change yourself.
Run a final readEspecially names, figures and references.
Ask for file deletionOnce you are happy with the final version.
Write the reviewA few honest lines about the proofreader help other people decide. If you are unhappy, start the make-it-right step and give them the chance to fix it.

STEP 1Complain to the proofreader directlyWrite down what you expected from the proofreader and what you actually received, and send it. Under section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the job needed reasonable care and skill; if it lacked them, sections 55 and 56 let you ask for it redone or for a refund of part of the price.
STEP 2Bring in LocufyAny score below four stars opens the make-it-right step: the proofreader hears about the problem first, and we follow it through before the review appears.
STEP 3Where to report itThere is no ombudsman for proofreaders. Advisers at Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133, England and Wales), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 800 9060) or Consumerline (0300 123 6262, Northern Ireland) can explain your rights against the proofreader and pass the case to Trading Standards.
STEP 4Small claims, as the last stepA claim against the proofreader can go, without a solicitor, to the small claims track in England and Wales (up to £10,000), simple procedure in Scotland (up to £5,000) or the small claims court in Northern Ireland (up to £5,000).

Hiring a proofreader: questions people ask

There is no licence or register for this work anywhere in the UK, and no qualification is required.

You do, as the author; the proofreader's corrections do not change ownership.

Only within your university's rules; check them first.

Roughly £8–£30 per 1000 words, typically £12. Specialist or academic text, turnaround and formatting checks move the price per 1,000 words. The proofreader price guide shows what sits behind each figure; type your town above to find proofreaders in your area.

Usually within 14 days if booked online, paying for any work you asked to start early.

From a day for a short document to a week or more for a long manuscript.

MORE GUIDES

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Proofreaders near you

Proofreaders in LondonProofreaders in ManchesterProofreaders in BirminghamProofreaders in GlasgowProofreaders in BelfastAll proofreaders on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 11 — first ownership
  2. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  3. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30 — cancellation period
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  6. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  7. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  8. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register