| User | Thread poster: eva75 question on price per word |
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eva75
English
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I'm a freelance translator based in Europe and have been asked to translate a short, general and non-complicated text for 8 cent per word for an agency. Is this a fair price? How much more could one earn working for the client directly?
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xxxMarc P 
Germany
Local time: 20:16
German to English
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| | question on price per word | Feb 6, 2006 |
Check out the surveys of translators' fees, e.g. the one published by the ITI at www.iti.org.uk.
Marc
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egunn
Ireland
Local time: 19:16
French to English
| | lowish but reasonable rate | Feb 6, 2006 |
The short answer, if you're in a hurry to reply to the offer, is that the rate is a little lower than you should probably seek to set your standard rate, but not entirely unreasonable, in my view - and a good bit higher than for many of the jobs offered here on proz.com! Particularly if it is, as you say, a short and non-technical piece, and if you have nothing else currently on offer at a higher rate, I'd recommend you take the job on and then see for yourself whether you think it's worth accepting further work at the same rate.
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JaneTranslates
Puerto Rico
Local time: 15:16
 Member (2005)
Spanish to English
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Unless you have plenty of work, don't turn this away! We need to encourage those who pay 8 cents or more and discourage those who want professional results for 2 or 3 cents a word.
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Rebecca Barath
United States
Local time: 14:16
Member (2005)
English to Norwegian
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| | I agree with Jane.... | Feb 6, 2006 |
JaneTranslates wrote:
Unless you have plenty of work, don't turn this away! We need to encourage those who pay 8 cents or more and discourage those who want professional results for 2 or 3 cents a word. |
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Exactly.....
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eva75
English
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TOPIC STARTER | | two - three cents a word = exploitation | Feb 6, 2006 |
I don't think i would ever accept a job for eight cents or less. Translating costs money (internet access, paper, etc.). There should be some standards set by the industry to protect translators from being exploited.
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Justin Aschenbrand
United States
Local time: 14:16
Spanish to English
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| | opinions on what to do | Feb 6, 2006 |
It's funny that someone brought this topic up recently. I am getting started and I just received an offer to do some work for $.04/word. I am not all that comfortable with underselling my work and I wonder what the cons might be of establishing this kind of negative precedent.
[Edited at 2006-02-06 17:01]
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Elena Pavan
France
Local time: 20:16
Member (2005)
French to Italian
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| | Where in Europe? | Feb 6, 2006 |
eva75 wrote:
I'm a freelance translator based in Europe and have been asked to translate a short, general and non-complicated text for 8 cent per word for an agency. Is this a fair price? How much more could one earn working for the client directly? |
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I live and work in France and this is actually the price AGENCIES pay me for translations. Sometimes I could get 9 cents, but when I try to ask more to new clients, they usually say that the average price in France is 8.
But I think that rates are lower in Italy and Spain, while they look higher in Ireland, according to Philip's reply.
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eva75
English
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TOPIC STARTER | | setting a negative precedent | Feb 6, 2006 |
I'm getting started too and tbh, I will refuse to do anything for under 8 cent. I think you just have to say to clients that you are a qualified translator that produces high quality work and if they're not happy with your rates, then tell them that you have plenty of other clients who are and appreciate your good work (even if you haven't). If they still won't increase the rate, then you're better off seeking another client who will be. We're not artists, we're business people!
If you really need money starting off, consider getting a part time teaching position... just my two cents!
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Justin Aschenbrand
United States
Local time: 14:16
Spanish to English
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| | that was my feeling | Feb 6, 2006 |
Yes, Eva. That was my gut feeling. I am currently working full-time at the moment and this was more about building my resume rather than an urgent income matter.
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Peter Bouillon
Germany
Local time: 20:16
Member (2005)
French to German
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| | Recent publications of ADÜ Nord | Feb 6, 2006 |
eva75 wrote:
If you are based in Germany, you might consider looking at the information material of ADÜ Nord. They published the results of a survey concerning translator fees („Auskommen mit dem Einkommen
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Justin Aschenbrand
United States
Local time: 14:16
Spanish to English
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I was talking to the head of a translation/interpreting program at a NY city university today and he said that $.15/word should be an industry minimum.
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Mads Grøftehauge
Denmark
Local time: 20:16
English to Danish
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| | Here's how to calculate it yourself... | Feb 7, 2006 |
Ask yourself:
How much should you be making per month when you have to pay your own pension and other benefits that an employer might otherwise pay - not to mention office rent, internet, computer, reference materials etc.? Compare with the kind of office job you could reasonably get if you weren't working freelance.
How many words can you translate per day and for how many days per month?
How many days per month can you reasonably expect to get work?
You should be able to calculate the reasonable rate this way. And if you don't work full-time and have a family to support, consider those that do.
Justin Aschenbrand wrote:
... he said that $.15/word should be an industry minimum. |
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At least!
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Justin Aschenbrand
United States
Local time: 14:16
Spanish to English
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| | consider those that have a family | Feb 8, 2006 |
Absolutely, I would like to make this my full-time occupation and support a family doing so. Currently, I am doing some volunteer work to get more experience under my belt and I would prefer to do that to demonstrate my qualifications rather than dump prices.
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johnnorman
Brazil
Portuguese to English
| | 0.15 USD minimum standard | May 18, 2006 |
I don't have a minimum, but my set price is higher than that, and I won't negotiate. If you people want to charge .08/word I guess you are entitled, but you have a responsibility to yourselves and your profession. How do you see the skill of translation? Should you receive less than other professionals? Most good professionals can afford a new car, they take trips, they have a pension plan and etc. Someone lives in those nice houses you see when you are riding past on the bus, right? Is their profession more difficult than translation, does it take more brains, education and experience? Wise up.
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