Ajay Prasad
8/18/2012
Having a work at home career as a transcriptionist has its benefits and advantages, but in order to really be successful, the work at home job requires organization, reliability, discipline and a well equipped home office.
To set up your home office to be a transcriptionist, follow a few basic steps to ensure you have everything you need from the start to create a comfortable and efficient atmosphere.
Hardware: Whether you prefer a tower, notebook or laptop, a computer with ample storage space and high-speed Internet connection is vital. It is a good idea to have a backup computer should your main computer crash. Purchase a combination printer, scanner, copier and fax machine as well.
Software: You will need top of the line word processing software, transcription software, accounting software to track income and expenses, and security software to ensure the safety of the information on your computer.
Transcription Equipment: The following items are essential for a well-equipped home office:
Furniture and Accessories: If you want to be efficient, you need to be comfortable. It’s a good idea to look into getting an ergonomic desk and chair, ergonomic keyboard, proper lighting to prevent eyestrain, file cabinet, desk trays for an organization, file folders, an easily accessible phone and a phone message service.
Miscellaneous: It's important to have access to a dictionary and reference resources for the type of transcription you will be doing to check the spelling. An online subscription or hard copy of the AP style guide covers grammar and punctuation. Also, be sure to have the proper business license and check with your city to determine if running a business from your home requires an additional license.
