For three Toronto-based freelance editors looking for a way to market their skills, the decision to start a business together was an easy one. Last month, Re:word Communications, an editorial services firm offering editing, proofreading and fact-checking to those in the business, academic and creative writing fields, was launched by Andrew Faulkner, Gina Fusco and Leigh Nash, three editing professionals who met while working together at Thomson Reuters.

 The idea came about during a recent weekend trip to Blue Mountain, and within two months of planning, the company's website was launched. According to Fusco, it was all a very natural, agreeable process; for example, the trio agreed immediately on the same logo, out of the 20 they were shown.

“It’s nice to have a team to work with. Freelancing can get lonely at times,” Fusco said. “All of us wanted to work for ourselves, we were all keen on starting our own business, so it was a no-brainer.”

Editing fees can vary greatly, depending on factors such as turn-around time, type of work, word count and level of editing, but the company follows the guidelines from the Editors’ Association of Canada. Fusco estimates the proofreading fee for a 100,000-word manuscript would be $1,000.

Since the website is less than six weeks old, Re:word hasn’t yet received any requests from the business sector, but the company is getting an average of five clients per week, mostly for proofreading and copy editing creative writing and dissertations. So far, the only advertising they’ve used has been Google Ads, but the founders are planning a marketing campaign for the end of August that will include print ads, flyers, letters, e-mails, and, naturally, customized red pens.