ProZ.com Translation Forums

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Same as Interlangue

Alexandra Goldburt — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Alexandra Goldburt
Post title: Same as Interlangue

[quote]Interlangue wrote:

But will certainly not lower them... [/quote]

Ditto.

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | depends on how you define rates

Theo Bernards (X) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Theo Bernards (X)
Post title: depends on how you define rates

I have for a while advertised my rates on Proz and other websites and found myself flooded with emails from especially the lower paying regions offering jobs for ridiculous rates. In separate fora, again on Proz as well as other websites, I have participated in quite a few threads re rates, low-paying agencies and all kinds of other discussions regarding payments and I am slowly adapting to a situation where I don't quote a fee per word anymore but a fee per project. If clients want to know how I come to my fees I generally tell them nowadays that my fee is based on a certain rate but that the total fee depends on other factors as well. This approach works particularly well with so-called 'end customers' i.e. the customers who actually use the translated texts directly. For the multitude of agencies I work with, who usually already get a slightly lower rate from me than end customers, I do intend to up the rates with the inflation rate of my country of residence (France) because there is no point eating less bread while doing the same amount or more work...

In general I agree with those who don't want to quote rates per word because it is a slippery slope and one tends to slide downwards rather than climbing upwards with rates. Reality is, however, that many agencies calculate in rates per word so if one wants any business from agencies one must be prepared to accept that reward system.

Theo
Dutchman in France

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Agree!

Laura Bissio CT (X) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Laura Bissio CT (X)
Post title: Agree!

[quote]Simon Bruni wrote:

[quote]Emma Williams wrote:

do I continue with the same rates and have the guarantee of working, or do I increase my rates and risk losing work?? [/quote]

A system, which I’m sure many freelance professionals in all industries use:

1) If you already have enough clients at your present rate, then ask for a higher rate only from potential new clients.
2) Once you have enough new clients at the higher rate, raise the price to the old clients, since they have now become dispensable.
3) Repeat the process until you retire!

Although this may be a slow way of increasing your rates, it’s a safe way, ensuring you never price out a client until you can afford to do so.

[/quote]

Absolutely true.

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | yes, newer clients

Marlene Blanshay — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Marlene Blanshay
Post title: yes, newer clients

but generally the translation rate will stay the same. I have already upped my hourly rate for proofreading and revision.

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Same for old, higher for new

Simon Bruni — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Simon Bruni
Post title: Same for old, higher for new

[quote]Emma Williams wrote:

do I continue with the same rates and have the guarantee of working, or do I increase my rates and risk losing work?? [/quote]

A system, which I’m sure many freelance professionals in all industries use:

1) If you already have enough clients at your present rate, then ask for a higher rate only from potential new clients.
2) Once you have enough new clients at the higher rate, raise the price to the old clients, since they have now become dispensable.
3) Repeat the process until you retire!

Although this may be a slow way of increasing your rates, it’s a safe way, ensuring you never price out a client until you can afford to do so.

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Higher rates for new clients

Christine Andersen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:58:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Christine Andersen
Post title: Higher rates for new clients

As far as possible, I am pushing my rates up with new clients.

I find that some of the agencies I have worked with for years give me more service than others for the same rate per word or thousand words. I know their end clients and have TMs for them too, so I can work more efficiently for them and earn more per hour.

It makes an enormous difference if all I have to do is translate, proofread and clean the files, and leave the agency to take care of the DTP etc.

I have just been sent a job by a "new" client, where for a total of about 5000 words I have to download 20-30 small files one by one, then format them and type in inaccessible text in diagrams etc. before I can start translating. My favourite agencies would do that for me and send Word files ready to feed into Trados.

I am negotiating to get paid for an extra two hours for that job, just on principle. The new agency's rate per 1000 words is as low as I go for starters, so I may "not have time" to work for them much in future ;-)

So I can accept lower rates from old friends. They will have to go up sometime, but I'm willing to help them ride the crisis out next year!

:-)

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Have not decided

Interlangue (X) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:11:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Interlangue (X)
Post title: Have not decided

But will certainly not lower them...

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | Lucky you!

Emma Williams — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:04:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Emma Williams
Post title: Lucky you!

I have already been contacted by some clients saying that should any of their translators increase their rates for the coming year they can basically forget working for them. So the question is: do I continue with the same rates and have the guarantee of working, or do I increase my rates and risk losing work??

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)? | In some cases, up from last year!

Muriel Vasconcellos (X) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:27:00 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: Muriel Vasconcellos (X)
Post title: In some cases, up from last year!

Last year I made some allowances for clients I wanted to work with but couldn't afford my regular rates. The market (at least mine) is improving, and I intend to get back up to where I was before the recession.

Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?

ProZ.com Staff — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:10:02 +0000

Forum: Poll Discussion
Topic: Poll: Are you planning to update your rates for the coming year (2010)?
Poster: ProZ.com Staff

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