How and when can I pay for editing and proofreading services?
When it comes to payment, each editing company takes a slightly different approach. However, many will ask you to pay for the editing and proofreading upfront. This allows them to commit an editor's time to your project, and avoids any delays in sending you back your completed document.
You’ll often be able to pay for these services using a credit card or a PayPal account (if you have one). This gives you a secure, trusted and familiar way to pay for your editing project.
You may also be able to pay by direct bank transfer, although this will depend on your chosen editing company. While a bank transfer can be convenient if you don’t have access to a credit card or PayPal account, it might delay your project slightly if, for example, your editing provider needs to check that they have received the money in their bank account before they start work – particularly for bank transfers from accounts abroad.
If you’d prefer to pay by cheque, it's probably best to contact your chosen editing service direct. Some may offer this option, but again it’s likely to take more time while you send them a cheque and they deposit it into their bank account.
Can I pay after my edited document has been returned to me?
Usually, an editing or proofreading service will ask for payment upfront before starting work on your document. This is similar to many online merchants, who will ask you to pay before they provide a service or send you a product.
However, if you are likely to send the organisation regular editing and proofreading projects and you’d like to simplify the payment process, you might be able to set up an account with them. This allows you to pay a single invoice at the end of each month that covers any editing and proofreading projects completed in that time.
At Human Communications, we offer this service to some customers – usually to businesses that have already used our services and would like to continue doing so regularly. If you’re interested in finding out more about account payments, please get in touch with some details about your likely editing or proofreading needs.
If you have a very large editing or proofreading project, we might agree for you to pay in instalments as the work progresses. If you would like to ask us about this, please contact us with details about your project.
Are there any other ways to pay for editing or proofreading services?
Some editing companies allow you to buy a package of editing or proofreading services upfront. This could help you to budget for these services in advance, and simplify payment with a single invoice.
The company might be able to offer you additional benefits in return for payment in advance, such as a faster turnaround time, lower prices or better customer service.
If you’re interested in working with a single company on several projects, contact them to check whether they offer such packages – or would be willing to discuss putting one together to meet your needs.
At Human Communications, we’re always happy to help regular customers plan ahead with editing or proofreading packages. Please contact us to discuss your company’s needs.
Do you have any other questions about how you can pay for editing or proofreading services? Let us know here and we’ll make sure we answer them in a future post.