Beginning freelance translators often want to know (understandably) how much they can expect to earn in our industry. Experienced freelance translators often want to know (understandably) whether they are earning enough for the effort they put into their businesses. So, what do freelance translators earn? The American Translators Association does a compensation survey every few [...]
Archive for the ‘Money’ Category
How much do freelance translators earn? Is it enough?
Posted in Freelancing, Money, Rates on March 7, 2011 | 93 Comments »
Webinar question: Should I incorporate?
Posted in Freelancing, Money, Webinar questions on November 29, 2010 | 7 Comments »
This is post #2 in my ongoing series of questions from the webinar on “Getting started as a freelance translator” that I presented for the American Translators Association earlier this month. A participant asks: As a self-employed freelance translator, should I operate as an LLC, an S-corp or a sole proprietorship? Short answer: If you [...]
Thoughts on 2011
Posted in Freelancing, Money, Productivity, Rates on November 16, 2010 | 7 Comments »
If you’re a freelancer, it’s time to start thinking about your business-related tasks for wrapping up 2010 and starting 2011 on a positive note. A few thoughts: Are you going to raise your rates? If so, think about how to raise them effectively. Are you going to raise your rates for new clients and keep [...]
Making translation easy versus making translation cheap
Posted in Clients, Marketing, Money on October 11, 2010 | 21 Comments »
When you’re inquiring about a professional service, let’s say taxes, computer help or marketing consulting, which is more attractive to you: a service provider who seems ultra-competent and gives the impression that the process will be easy for you, or a service provider who charges low rates and gives the impression that the process will [...]
Providing your own benefits
Posted in Freelancing, Money on August 31, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Today’s Get Rich Slowly post on saving money on insurance got me thinking about benefits in general. This is one of the most common questions I hear from beginning or aspiring freelancers: how to handle health insurance/retirement planning/disability insurance, and so on. Here’s an overview of the freelance benefits I’ve researched and used; obviously the [...]
Ensuring payment from direct clients
Posted in Clients, Money on July 9, 2010 | 1 Comment »
In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken with a few freelancers who would like to work with direct clients but are afraid that they won’t get paid. One commented that she really enjoys working with agencies because of being able to check Payment Practices or a similar resource in order to determine the client’s creditworthiness. [...]
Responding to a request for quote
Posted in Clients, Marketing, Money, Rates on May 24, 2010 | 7 Comments »
When you receive an “out of the blue” request for a quote from a potential translation client, what’s the best next step? Is it more advantageous to call the client, e-mail them, ask for more information or send them a rate sheet…or something else entirely? The beauty of impromptu inquiries from potential clients is that [...]
Potential clients and sticker shock
Posted in Marketing, Money on April 7, 2010 | 17 Comments »
Wiktionary defines sticker shock as “Disgust, shock or fright upon learning the price of an item offered for sale,” and this roughly describes the reaction of many would-be translation buyers when they learn the price of a professional translation. This leaves the professional translator with a dilemma: how to handle a sticker-shocked client. In my [...]
When to throw in the towel on a task
Posted in Money, Productivity, tagged accounting, outsourcing on February 3, 2010 | 9 Comments »
At the end of 2008, I wrote a post about post about outsourcing that generated quite a bit of interest, so I thought it was worth raising this topic again. After years of battling with my business payroll taxes (I have an S-Corp and thus have to file quarterly payroll taxes and a separate year-end [...]
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Corinne McKay is an ATA-certified French to English translator specializing in international development, law and non-fiction books. She launched Thoughts on Translation in February, 2008 as a way to connect and share ideas with freelance translators around the world.
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