An abstracting service helps businesses and individuals research, index, summarize and condense information about a topic and stores that data on some form of media.
$30,000 to $50,000 per year
Excellent reading, writing and communication skills. Superior researching ability. Understanding of database software, and data storage media.
Basics: As an abstracter you will be helping both individuals and businesses in the time consuming task of researching publication articles, summarizing the information, indexing that information and then storing it in some form of media such as a computer database or a CD or DVD. Your ability to read for long periods of time and your experience in the field will help you spot the information that is important to your client. With that said you need to have some kind of experience in the field you are abstracting.
To Get Started: To get started in this business you should begin by networking with database publishers these persons will need your expertise in gathering their meaningful data, you should also advertise to large corporations specially the ones in your filed of expertise for example (real estate, medical or aerospace). You should also be constantly searching online for abstracting help wanted ads. You should be able to charge $10 to $20 per article which will include full indexing service. In order to be profitable you need to be as efficient as possible, since time spent will be your largest cost.
Tips: You should be able to run this business from home and it is an opportunity for people with disabilities. This business requires great amount of sitting, concentration and organizational skills.You should not require an assitant unless the business become larger. For internet links related to this business do a search for The National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors and abstracting service.
