GMR Transcription Review – Scam or Legit? Exposed!

Are you looking for a GMR Transcription review? But you may wonder if it is a scam.

Instead of dreading a trip to the office every day, enjoy the convenience of working from home. You’re not alone in this, as the need for transcriptionists is on the rise.

But can we trust GMR Transcription?

If you’re looking for ways to make money online, you’ve probably encountered more than your fair share of scammers. If not, it’ll soon be inevitable.

However, careers in online transcription are special. Neither GMR Transcription nor any other reputable transcription service will ever guarantee that you can get rich or take early retirement. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t gloss over things a bit.

In this review, I’ll discuss GMR Transcription’s background, their methods, and the services they offer. I’ll also discuss whether GMR Transcription is a scam or a legitimate work from home opportunity.

​​As a disclaimer, I’m not affiliated with GMR Transcription. It means I’m not paid to write this review. So you can rest assured that you will get an honest and unbiased review from me.

At the end of this review, I’ll also tell you the best alternative to GMR Transcription that has enabled me to make a full-time passive income online.

What Is GMR Transcription?

Ajay Prasad founded GMR Transcription in 2004 with the goal of providing excellent transcription services to businesses, agencies and organizations that need it, whether they are for-profit or not.

Beth Worthy, president of GMR, was able to double her revenue in a highly competitive sector by increasing efficiency and focusing on the customer experience, in addition to using human transcriptionists (instead of computers and artificial intelligence).

The quality of GMR’s transcription services depends on the accuracy and speed of its transcriptionists; without you, GMR would not be able to meet the needs of its customers and expand.

GMR Transcription Services was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Tustin, CA, with additional locations in

• New York
• Atlanta
• Pennsylvania
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Miami
• Boston
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Seattle
• San Francisco
• D.C.

You can use their services to start (or advance) your freelance career. Transcriptionists and translators are equally in demand.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Is GMR Transcription a Scam or Legit?

There is no reason to worry that GMR Transcription is a scam. It is a reputable company that has been around since 2004, thanks to the efforts of CEO Ajay Prasad, and provides transcription services to a variety of industries, including publishing, academic institutions, government organizations, and non-profit organizations. 

They are looking for transcriptionists who are native English speakers and have experience in the fields they transcribe for.

So the question of whether or not they are a good place to work remains. I do not need to tell you that the Internet is full of scammers; some are obvious, while others “bend” reality just enough to make you wonder if they are real.

Believe me when I say that there are some lesser transcription services out there that do that, embellish the truth a bit, but GMR is not one of them. In general, GMR Transcription is one of the better ones, and I’ll explain why in a moment.

Many people have had success with GMR Transcription.

How Does GMR Transcription Work?

GMR Transcription is an employer that allows its employees to work whenever they want. There’s just one catch: you have to do at least four hours of audio work a week to get the full GMR benefit.

Users upload their audio files to a secure server on the site. GMR then notifies transcriptionists when new work is available. They then receive detailed information about the work, including the due date, pay rate, and other relevant details.

After completing the assignment, submit the transcription for review.

GMR Transcription Requirements

There is always room for more typists, but applicants must first meet some requirements:

1. You must be a resident of the United States or Canada. GMR is seeking native English speakers to work as transcriptionists.
2. GMR Transcription requires that you have your own equipment since you will be working from home.

• To protect your files, use a computer with up-to-date antivirus software.
• Internet connection and consistent speed.
• Microsoft Office. You will be asked to submit your work in .doc format.
• An optional foot pedal allows you to pause, fast forward and rewind audio while keeping your hands free to type.
• Quality headphones – Even though you can transcribe audio through your computer’s built-in speaker, a good pair of headphones (ideally over your ears) will help you work more efficiently and accurately.

3. You must do well on the GMR transcription test.
4. You must first get through the probationary period.

Please note that there are no fees for testing or registration.

Although this is not included in the official standards, you will be required to take at least 4 hours of audio each month.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

GMR Transcription Test

The transcription test conducted by GMR is a mandatory part of the recruitment process. They need the best transcriptionists because they guarantee their clients a 99% accuracy rate.

I hope that you’re one of them.

When you submit your application to GMR, you’ll receive an audio file (in zip format) via email. In this tutorial you’ll learn how to unzip a zip file.

Sample transcript and formatting guidelines/instructions are included in this document. You should study everything carefully before you begin your review, as it is very strict.

Some transcriptionists claim that GMR intentionally provides an inferior audio file to philtre out exceptional candidates. It is conceivable that a portion of the audio file is extremely difficult to understand.

If you pass the exam, you will be placed on probation for two hours and asked to transcribe audio recordings. Although you may be eligible for compensation, this is only Round 2 of the GMR transcription test.

Some people have trouble with the GMR transcription sample time. Transcribing two hours of audio takes more time than listening to the same amount of time.

A two-hour audio recording can take a beginner up to eight hours to transcribe. You will not be compensated for the work you do. Therefore, GMR Transcription may not be the best choice for you if you are not willing to work more than a few hours for free.

I know this will lead to discussion, but there is a reason for the probationary period. You need to assess your qualifications for the job. Are you able to provide a transcript that meets their criteria?

Transcription is fraught with many difficulties. It takes a long time and can sometimes be tedious. Moreover, before your work is sent to the client, it’s extensively edited.

You aren’t alone if you’re having difficulty qualifying for or staying in the transcriptionist profession. Personally, I’m not crazy about it.

That doesn’t make the work any less valuable; it’s just not the kind of work I like to do.

Survey sites like Survey Junkie and Inbox Dollars are another way to make some extra money. 

Of course, I don’t recommend online surveys as a substitute for writing jobs, but as an easy way to make a little money in your spare time.

Consider starting an online business if you want to make money full time.

If you stay at home to take care of your children or if you’ve health problems, it may be more difficult for you to work in your usual field.

In this case, if you want to earn a living exclusively online, you need to have an idea how to get started.

GMR Transcription Jobs

As far as I know, GMR Transcription is always looking for general transcription jobs. If you work there, you can expect professional and scholarly conversations. The content of the audio files can range from recordings of discussions and meetings to scientific lectures and more.

General transcriptionists are not sought in the medical and legal fields.

Payment schedules, recording times, recording quality, and due dates (if any) will be established for assigned tasks.

GMR Transcription Application

The application form for GMR can be found here.

Attach your resume and application when you’re ready. The GMR transcript evaluation will then be emailed to you (as described in the previous sections).

The website says they’ll get back to you within two weeks, and if they want to offer you a contract, they’ll email you again.

If you don’t hear from them, it’s probably because you didn’t pass the test.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

GMR Transcription Pay

On their website, they give a monthly salary range of $3,000 to $6,000 for transcriptionists. How much you earn depends on your expertise, how quickly you can complete projects, and what tasks you want to take on.

More challenging tasks (such as those with poor audio) usually pay more. Work that needs to be completed quickly also pays more.

Since GMR Transcription pay varies from task to task, I cannot give you an accurate estimate of your monthly earnings.

Your fee will depend on the number of speakers, the quality of the audio file, and how quickly you need the job done, among other factors.

You also will not be paid based on how much time you put in. Since your pay is based on the time you spend transcribing audio files, people with more experience can transcribe larger audio files in less time (which earns them a higher hourly rate).

The cost per audio minute ranges from $0.70 to $1.25.

Therefore, for a transcription project with a 2 week turnaround, high quality audio, and a single speaker, you should expect to pay less than $0.80 per audio minute.

Depending on the project, you can earn up to $0.90 per audio minute if you need excellent audio quality, two speakers, and a few days of editing time.

A lower rate of $1.25 per audio minute is paid for jobs that require poor audio quality, more than two speakers, and a short turnaround time.

Naturally, the higher-paying jobs are given to the most experienced transcriptionists.

Some GMR Transcription employees have reported earning $20 per hour or more. You probably will not make that much per hour right off the bat.

GMR Transcription Reviews and Complaints

GMR Transcription reviews are usually positive.

GMR Transcription Reviews on Glassdoor

Glassdoor users gave GMR Transcription an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Below are a few examples of the many positive testimonials on the site:

• Excellent company.
• Because of the flexibility, this is an excellent opportunity to work from home.
• The staff is very accommodating and will give you comments on your work (to help you improve your work).
• Excellent way to supplement your income.
• Pay depends on how much you work.

However, not all customer feedback is positive. The reviewers who have given it low marks have raised a number of issues:

• The payment is low.
• Their representatives do not respond to requests.

GMR Transcription Reviews on Indeed

The overall rating for GMR Transcription on Indeed is 4.3 (out of 4 ratings). Again, there was a balance of positive and negative reviews.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Getting Started With GMR Transcription

Visit GMR Transcription’s website and select the Careers tab to begin working at GMR Transcription. 

There you will find a simple application form. You’ll need to provide us with some information about yourself, such as how we can reach you, what you are good at, if you are willing to be tested, and how comfortable you are with StartStop tools. A final option is to upload a resume.

After you submit your application, you will be emailed an invitation to take a test. This zipped file will contain instructions on how to complete and submit the test. 

This test will assess your ability to transcribe and spell words, as well as your understanding of basic grammatical concepts. Applicants who do not submit their exams in the Company’s preferred format will be automatically disqualified.

After submitting your exam, you should receive a response from the company within two weeks. If accepted, a member of the GMR Transcription team will contact you to discuss next steps.

Pros of GMR Transcription

• There are numerous positive reviews.
• The pay is reasonable.
• A good number of jobs are available.
• Excellent working conditions.

Cons of GMR Transcription

• The application process is strict: GMR Transcription is clear about its rigorous selection process, and the criteria it sets for its transcriptionists are high. Not only do you have to fill out an application form and submit your resume, but you also have to pass exams before you can start working. This process takes at least two weeks, so you should not expect to be able to start working immediately.
• GMR Transcription states that most transcriptionists earn $1,000 or more per month, but there is no pricing information. In fact, some reviewers have highlighted the company’s reasonable pricing. However, the company states that more complex tasks or those with tight schedules are paid extra. Therefore, the concerns about the low prices could simply be due to the fact that reviewers accept very simple jobs.
• There is a trial period: a trial period is required for new GMR Transcription employees. This requires two hours of unpaid audio work. This may not seem like much, but you could do eight or more hours of unpaid work.
• Only successful applicants will receive feedback: According to GMR Transcription, you should receive a response within two weeks of submitting your test. However, rejected applicants will not be contacted by the company. Therefore, you may have to settle for waiting to see if you receive a response.

GMR Transcription Review: Final Verdict

GMR Transcription is a great option for anyone looking for a reputable work at home transcription company. I think you should give them a chance because they have received so much praise.

If you take the exam unprepared, it could be disastrous, so I recommend studying and even practicing beforehand. This is easily accomplished by listening to videos and transcribing their audio.

You also need to review and improve your typing skills. Successful transcriptionists usually achieve accuracy rates of over 90% and can regularly type 75 words per minute.

However, not everyone should become a transcriptionist. If you have applied to GMR Transcription but have not heard back, there are other opportunities to work from home.

You may be a full-time student or a parent raising a child on your own. Maybe you are tired of working for a man, or you just can not stand going to the office anymore.

An internet-based business could be ideal if that’s the case for you.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Best Alternative of GMR Transcription to Make Passive Income

If you want to make a stable and secure stream of passive income, I would suggest you start an affiliate marketing business online.

Affiliate Marketing is perfect for anyone who is new to online business. 

In fact, of all the online business models I’ve tried, affiliate marketing is the easiest and most rewarding so far.  

In affiliate marketing, you can actually run your business almost with zero cost and achieve a steady and sustainable passive income to pay for your bills. You don’t need any initial capital and can even do it as a side hustle.

And if you really want to learn affiliate marketing and build a business from scratch, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.

But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.

Wealthy Affiliate has existed for 15 years and there are many success stories in the past decade.

To give you more examples, here are some of the other inspiring success stories of Wealthy Affiliate members.

Where to Join Wealthy Affiliate?

Wealthy Affiliate has a very simple pricing scheme. It has free and premium membership.

If you want to feel about Wealthy Affiliate, you can sign up for the free starter membership here (no credit card required). You can select to be a free member with no time limit.

And as a starter member, you can get instant access to the community, live chat, over 500 training modules, 2 classrooms, networking, commenting, 1 free website, access to the keyword tool.

You can enjoy all these values without paying a penny. 

So I strongly recommend you to register a free account and see it yourself.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative