| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] | How much should you lower your rates for large projects? Thread poster: Francesca Martina
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Dear all,
I carefully read all your posts and I must say that I'm happy to have taken the decision to decline that offer.
I must say that first I was tempted to accept, you know, after working as an in-house translator I'm now trying to establish myself as a freelencer and, as you all may know, the beginning is quite hard. However, I'm sure I won't regret it.
I thank you all again.
Francesca
| | | | Nicole Schnell 
United States
Local time: 02:58
English to German
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In memoriam | That's why you have to let go of the employee thinking | Jan 5, 2011 |
Francesca Martina wrote:
however it would keep me busy for a while.
after working as an in-house translator I'm now trying to establish myself as a freelencer
As a freelancer you never work to keep yourself busy, you work to make money.
Much better projects and clients are waiting for you right around the corner.
Best,
Nicole
| | | | Gina W
United States
Local time: 05:58
Member (2003)
French to English
| Don't lower your rates for big projects | Jan 5, 2011 |
Big volumes are certainly not less work for the translator, therefore it's a bad idea to lower your rates.
I did it once and I regret it.
I just noticed that you already decided to decline the job. Good for you. I think you'll do fine as a freelancer even without these 2 million words. After all, you were smart enough to start this thread to seek advice from other translation colleagues.:)
| | | | | Not even to direct clients! | Jan 6, 2011 |
Some of my old, faithful direct clients (Chilean companies) have entrusted me with really large projects (some over 100,000 and just one over 600,000 words).
Since I know they get other quotations before contacting me, I am certain they have chosen to give the job to me because they are sure I will do a good work and meet their deadlines. They know how much I charge, so the only point I do negotiate and ask them to put in writing (PO) is partial payments against partial deliveries. ... See more Some of my old, faithful direct clients (Chilean companies) have entrusted me with really large projects (some over 100,000 and just one over 600,000 words).
Since I know they get other quotations before contacting me, I am certain they have chosen to give the job to me because they are sure I will do a good work and meet their deadlines. They know how much I charge, so the only point I do negotiate and ask them to put in writing (PO) is partial payments against partial deliveries. Also, I make sure to get the whole package before I start translating.
Additionally, I ask their authorization to share work with colleagues if necessary, as I may have to accept work from other clients (though I usually prefer to derive other client's work to trusted translators, which is much easier than having to proof and adapt other people's writing to my own style), but assume responsibility for the whole project.
On the other hand, the only discounts for CAT matches I do accept are for update work, when I have created and modified the memory. I DO NOT accept client TMs.
Happy translating! ▲ Collapse
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Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 11:58
English
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grant the discount starting from word number two million and one.
First two million words I would translate for my usual rate.
[Edited at 2011-01-06 13:04 GMT]
| | | | | My volume discounts | Jan 6, 2011 |
Over time, I've been implementing some personal work policies. After all, I translate so many company personnel policies, that I might as well have my own, in spite of the headcount here being 1. I'm pretty happy with the ones I have developed so far, and the ones covering discounts are:
1. Repetitions
No discount for fuzzy matches, ever! Nevertheless, for jobs involving over 5,000 words and where using CAT tools is viab... See more Over time, I've been implementing some personal work policies. After all, I translate so many company personnel policies, that I might as well have my own, in spite of the headcount here being 1. I'm pretty happy with the ones I have developed so far, and the ones covering discounts are:
1. Repetitions
No discount for fuzzy matches, ever! Nevertheless, for jobs involving over 5,000 words and where using CAT tools is viable, I give away all repeated segments absolutely free. Before anyone scorns at it, I've had $ four-digit orders where repetitions were close to 70%, parts lists. It's a no-brainer!
2. Books
Books are a heavy investment on the publisher's side. They must pay a (hefty - if the book is any good) lump sum up-front to the copyright holder as 'minimum royalty guarantee'. Then they have to invest on translation, photoliths, paper, printing, binding, logistics, etc. and wait until the copies get sold, and the bookstores pay them to see some ROI. The only spot they can cut costs without visibly impairing quality is translation. And how do they manage it? By giving the translator ample time to do it.
So if they want me to translate a book immediately as my first priority, it's my standard rate. If they can wait, they start getting discounts, that may progress to as much as 40%. This extreme case is when there is no rush at all, they tell me "as soon as you can get it done". The book then becomes a "filler" for my idle time, i.e. while another job I translated is being reviewed by someone else, while the computer is rendering subtitled video, etc. This is quite convenient for both sides. ▲ Collapse
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