| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | What do you do when you have reached your max capability? Thread poster: skyblue
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NMR (X)
France
Local time: 07:27
French to Dutch
+ ...
| Agree with Jackie | Feb 14, 2007 |
A price of 0.12 $ (dollars) will not allow you to outsource (for me it is already very low). Your colleagues will ask the same or more, if they are good translators. Project management and coordination have a price. You'll have to find translators, explain the job, answer to questions, receive the files on the stated day (or work overnight if the translator is late), give them back on the deadline date, and also to pay the translators (and often before the client pays you, and also if the client... See more A price of 0.12 $ (dollars) will not allow you to outsource (for me it is already very low). Your colleagues will ask the same or more, if they are good translators. Project management and coordination have a price. You'll have to find translators, explain the job, answer to questions, receive the files on the stated day (or work overnight if the translator is late), give them back on the deadline date, and also to pay the translators (and often before the client pays you, and also if the client doesn't pay, there is a financial risk). You'll have to pay overhead expenses and to buy software. And an insurance (you are responsible). If you are working for agencies, you cannot subcontract to others because of confidentiality reasons. Besides it is a character question: you'll have to choose between translating and running a busines (secretarial work). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Don't outsource! | Feb 14, 2007 |
I will not repeat all the explanations in the above posts (specifically NMR's). Here's what I'll add...
Being a middle-man on your own is hell. Now, I don't think you would make more money if you were to outsource - it would require a lot of time to "administrate" all the work (proofreading, e-mailing, etc.) and this would leave you practically no time to translate anymore. Not only does this not make sense financially, but it also sounds a lot more boring than plain old translation... See more I will not repeat all the explanations in the above posts (specifically NMR's). Here's what I'll add...
Being a middle-man on your own is hell. Now, I don't think you would make more money if you were to outsource - it would require a lot of time to "administrate" all the work (proofreading, e-mailing, etc.) and this would leave you practically no time to translate anymore. Not only does this not make sense financially, but it also sounds a lot more boring than plain old translation.
Something healthier and also much simpler would be to raise your rates. Trust me, the market average can be stretched a lot - don't rely on rates found on ProZ, they are middle-man rates! You can definitely go above 12 cents. Start by raising your rate with just a few clients, the ones you have a feeling will not stop working with you if you charge a penny more. See how that goes. If the clients you've switched to the higher rate still like you as much, you are in a comfort zone. If the clients paying the higher rate supply enough work that you don't have to worry about being out of work, then raise the rates for the rest of them. You may lose a few clients in the process, but since you have reached your maximum capacity, you'll get a breather (which can be nice) AND you will still make more or less the same money as before because of the other clients who now pay more, all the while you have more time for other things.
I say raising your rates is a much smarter idea. Just make sure you do it gradually. And if you have clients you think can take higher rates, raise by two pennies, not one. They will find it a bit expensive, but better raise by two cents now rather than raising by a penny now and another 6 months later. Two raises in the same year can make the wrong impression...
[Edited at 2007-02-14 09:10] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Williamson 
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:27
Flemish to English
+ ...
NMR wrote:
Besides it is a character question: you'll have to choose between translating and running a busines (secretarial work).
Running a business includes administrative tasks and managerial tasks. In the world outside translate, the latter have a certain value. Translation is valued at secretarial level.
For English>Korean, you could at least get 0.15-0.20$. Not a frequent combination.
| | | | Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:27
French to English
+ ...
Translation is valued at secretarial level.
What makes you say that? I used to be a medical secretary, and can (and do) earn far more per hour as a medical translator.
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lbone
China
Local time: 13:27
Member (2006)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| why a change? | Feb 24, 2007 |
Angela Dickson wrote: Translation is valued at secretarial level. What makes you say that? I used to be a medical secretary, and can (and do) earn far more per hour as a medical translator.
So why did you make a change to be a translator?
[Edited at 2007-02-24 11:09]
| | | | GregSmith
Local time: 07:27
French to English
+ ...
| It depends on who you are | Mar 1, 2007 |
I've been translating for about 10 years, but it's never been enough to keep me satisfied, so I've found that I've been able to specialise & diversify, thus raising my rates, and to outsource, where loyal clients began to entrust me with that responsibility. I took it on with relish, and though it's a totally different job (which I had to learn 'en route') I thoroughly enjoy it now.
And I'm constantly looking out for partners in different pairs/countries/specialisations, building u... See more I've been translating for about 10 years, but it's never been enough to keep me satisfied, so I've found that I've been able to specialise & diversify, thus raising my rates, and to outsource, where loyal clients began to entrust me with that responsibility. I took it on with relish, and though it's a totally different job (which I had to learn 'en route') I thoroughly enjoy it now.
And I'm constantly looking out for partners in different pairs/countries/specialisations, building up a database of reliable colleagues over time, to be able to respond fairly rapidly to any client. (And currently looking for a US partner...)
In the pricing area, it depends on who your client is - If it's an agency, they know all about the prices offered on here and expect the same. If it's an end client, you can charge agency rates... which I've found (surprisingly to begin with) that many accept without discussion (when you consider the whole of their DTP/publishing/web development/recording/filming budgets, the translation bit is minimal).
The bottom line is - are you enterprising? Ambitious? Prepared to take a chance/invest your own time? Determined? ... Outsourcing as a regular practice is a step into the unknown, so you need to be prepared, in terms of your processes and quality control methods & procedures, but also mentally.
And that's just to begin with.
If, however, you're happy with the vocation you're in, with your income, and with the stability of your lifestyle, the route of new-client 'incremential' rate rises mentioned above would no doubt be a safer bet.
Kevin ▲ Collapse
| | | | GregSmith
Local time: 07:27
French to English
+ ...
| Honest & to the point. | Mar 1, 2007 |
Raise the rates immediately…
(Like the profile! I like it.)
Think I'll do the same.
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