7 Transcription Business Success Stories [2024]
A transcription service converts live or recorded speech into a written or electronic text document. Transcription service is in demand globally across industries.
Becoming a transcriptionist can be a side hustle or a full-time job, so long as you have the right gear.
Do you plan to become a transcriber ? Take an online transcriptionist course and work on your listening skills. To succeed, you need a good typing speed and excellent language command.
In this list, you'll find real-world transcription business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a transcription business that makes money.
1. Jakt ($3.6M/year)
Anthony Tumbiolo, founder of Jakt, started the business after running an events business and teaching himself how to code in college. He realized he loved helping other businesses succeed and saw the potential to impact many people by creating software for them. Jakt started with a six-month contract from their first client, and they have since grown their business through referrals and strategic channel partnerships. In 2018, they achieved $4 million in revenue with a 20% profit margin.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 15
Jakt, a digital product and innovation studio based in NYC, works with both startups and large enterprises, operating on a revenue of $4 million in 2018 with a 20% profit margin, with focus on referrals and channel partnerships to attract and retain clients.
2. GMR Transcription Services, Inc. ($2.4M/year)
Frustrated by the lack of pricing transparency while transcribing seven hours of audio, Ajay Prasad saw a market gap and launched GMR Transcription. The company now serves over 12,000 clients and generates over $1 million annually, with just three employees.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 5
This case study article showcases the success of GMR Transcription, a company that generates over $1 million per year with only three employees, by providing accurate transcription services with pricing transparency and efficient file delivery.
3. Scribie ($1.2M/year)
Rajiv Poddar, the founder of Scribie, originally started with a hardware startup that failed. After repurposing an internal tool into a Skype call recording plugin, he discovered the demand for transcription services. Seeing the opportunity in the online transcription industry, he built Scribie as a crowdsourcing platform with quality control mechanisms, focusing on providing accurate and consistent transcripts. Despite being a solo founder, Rajiv's passion for solving the problem of transcription and his commitment to quality have driven Scribie to surpass $1 million in revenue in 2020.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
How many people on the team: 5
Scribie crossed the $1 million revenue mark in 2020 after 12 years in business, remaining a lean, profitable service by focusing on quality over growth and acquiring customers through organic search and word-of-mouth referrals, while CEO Rajiv Poddar aspires to scale the transcription service without compromising quality.
4. Ditto Transcripts ($1.2M/year)
Ben Walker, the founder of Transcription Outsourcing, was inspired to start his business after hearing about a friend starting a medical transcription company. He saw an opportunity in the healthcare industry and decided to join forces with the founder to create a transcription service that catered to not only medical professionals but also the legal, law enforcement, financial, academic, and general business industries. Through effective advertising, SEO, and a commitment to exceptional customer service, Transcription Outsourcing has been able to attract and retain clients, leading to their success as a $100k/month company.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
How many people on the team: 5
How this founder started a $100K/month guaranteed transcription service for medical, legal, law enforcement, financial, academic and general business industries, winning the NASPO ValuePoint transcription services contract over 26 other companies and learning valuable lessons about getting a coach and getting as much PR as possible.
5. Voice Crafters ($720K/year)
Founder Mony Raanan came up with the idea for Voice Crafters after realizing the earning potential of voice actors while working for an e-learning company. He joined forces with a friend to build the first website and started sourcing local talent. After landing a major tech company as a client, the business began to take off, leading to the launch of an online marketplace and doubling revenue to over $765,000 in 2022.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 0
Voice Crafters, a multilingual voice-over agency and marketplace founded by Mony Raanan, doubled their revenue to over $765,000 in 2022 with a bottom line of around 30% after transitioning to an online marketplace and carefully vetting their network of over 1,000 professional voice actors in more than 80 languages.
6. Eightify ($540K/year)
Eightify is a Chrome extension that utilizes AI to generate concise summaries of YouTube videos.
Users save time by quickly watching or reading the main points of lengthy videos without having to the full video.
Alex Kataev got the idea for Eightify after experiencing frustration with lengthy videos. At the same time, he realized the potential of AI, particularly GPT-3, to streamline content consumption.
He identified the need for a tool that could summarize videos quickly and efficiently, leading to the development of Eightify.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $23K
How many people on the team: 3
Learn how Alex Kataev turned frustration with lengthy YouTube videos into a thriving business with Eightify, attracting over 100,000 users and generating an average of $45K per month with a freemium pricing model.
7. Typewrite Transcription and Typing Services CC ($36K/year)
Gaynor Paynter had always dreamed of being her own boss and saw an opportunity to start her own typing and transcription business in 2005. With the advent of ADSL in South Africa, she was able to set up a home office and launch Typewrite Transcription and Typing Services. Through hard work, solid service, and effective marketing, Gaynor has built a successful business that continues to adapt and thrive in a challenging market.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 2
A South African entrepreneur started a transcription and typing service business from home in 2005 with a few basic marketing strategies and solid service, despite challenges in a tough economic environment and the pandemic, and is making a success of virtual working with versatile services.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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