| User | Thread poster: Eyob Fitwi How to increase rates while keeping good clients |
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Eyob Fitwi
Ethiopia
Local time: 23:09
English to Amharic
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Hi,
I've been doing translations for clients I found online for a few years now and I can say that I've made some progress. And with progress, your services tend to cost more (because previously I started low in an attempt to find work). Right now I have no intention of working for the rates I used to work for 2 or 3 years ago. It's not that they paid unfairly; we agreed to the rates and I still consider them acceptable for me at the time. And I still have a few clients with whom I want to maintain my working relationships. I haven't had to deal with this possible dilemma, but I can say I'm sort of approaching it and I might need to prepare just in case. I mean I still charge relative low, but for me it's a progress that's been long due. And I might still go up. I was wondering how to increase my rates without pushing some of my clients away? Did any of you guys had to deal with this issue?
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Lisa Simpson, MCIL 
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:09
  Member (2010)
Portuguese to English
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My advice is to increase your rates to new clients and once you have established a reasonably regular supply of work you can broach the subject with your existing clients, telling them that you have actually kept them on your 'old' rate for the past X months or year. As a general rule, I don't advise people to charge low rates when they're starting out. It devalues the profession and you will find that you are earning less anyway than a more experienced translator since your output is likely to be lower, making the 'low' very low indeed.
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Tomás Cano Binder, CT
Spain
Local time: 22:09
Member (2005)
English to Spanish
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Lisa Simpson wrote:
My advice is to increase your rates to new clients and once you have established a reasonably regular supply of work you can broach the subject with your existing clients, telling them that you have actually kept them on your 'old' rate for the past X months or year. As a general rule, I don't advise people to charge low rates when they're starting out. It devalues the profession and you will find that you are earning less anyway than a more experienced translator since your output is likely to be lower, making the 'low' very low indeed. |
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Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 22:09
Member (2009)
English to German
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| | This is the way to go! | Jan 17 |
Lisa Simpson wrote:
My advice is to increase your rates to new clients and once you have established a reasonably regular supply of work you can broach the subject with your existing clients, telling them that you have actually kept them on your 'old' rate for the past X months or year. As a general rule, I don't advise people to charge low rates when they're starting out. It devalues the profession and you will find that you are earning less anyway than a more experienced translator since your output is likely to be lower, making the 'low' very low indeed. |
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Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 16:09
Member (2009)
French to English
Moderator of this forum | | Don't confuse Personal with Professional | Jan 17 |
I echo the answers of others that you want to start the new rates with other clients and only address the issue with older clients once you have a good base. The reason for this staggered approach, however, is that you may end up losing some of the older clients. Do not be too discouraged by this. Some clients are inherently on the low side of the pay scale. If you bend to stay with them, you may end up stunting your own development as a translator. It is quite possible to part ways in a friendly and professional manner that leads to your former clients recommending you, even if you are now beyond their own budgets.
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Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 21:09
Member (2007)
English
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| | Discussed recently | Jan 17 |
Hello,
You have already received a lot of useful advice, but I remember this very topic being discussed quite recently so I'd advise you to have a look through the recent threads (maybe in "getting established", I don't remember). Soory but I can't look for it as I have a deadline looming.
Sheila
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Phil Hand
China
Local time: 04:09
Member (2011)
Chinese to English
| | Sometimes your clients can grow with you | Jan 18 |
I had a situation similar to yours. My oldest and best client was paying me a price that was, a couple of years ago, only half what I was getting from all my other clients. I'd stuck with him because he's a nice chap, and he gave me interesting work. Also, he was terrified of raising his prices (he works as a one-man agency). I spent a lot of time persuading him that he could raise prices, and it wouldn't kill his business. In the event, he raised my rate, and his rates, with some success.
I agree with the advice above: first get new clients at your new rate. Then go to the old clients, and be direct, honest and friendly as you talk.
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Eyob Fitwi
Ethiopia
Local time: 23:09
English to Amharic
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TOPIC STARTER |
Thanks guys. I can say I was sort of lingering towards lisa's approach - charging new clients with the improved rates.
Nobody wants to start off at low rates, but for starters who have no or little experience in the business, it will look like one of the few means of 'hanging on', especially when you don't have some of those seemingly flashy resume. And I suspect unwitting low rates by beginners or othwrwise will continue.
Of course, what is the average acceptable rate itself is another question as it may vary from place to place, especially with regards to differences of living standards among countries (discussed elsewhere).
@Phil your experience looks like a possible approach too. If not, well then I guess Jenn's parting way will have to do, eventually.
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Tom Fennell
United States
Local time: 15:09
Russian to English
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| | Be ready to lose old clients and gain time | Jan 18 |
The advice here is good.
I would add that a very experienced translator recently told me that it is often very hard to raise rates on old clients.
I find I am so busy that I am not marketing any more, which limits my ability to raise rates, which is bad.
Losing a few clients may seem painful, but it may give you the time for more serious effort into marketing new clients at your new rates. This will certainly be best in the long run.
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