Many clients often ask what’s the price for translation jobs, and I will gladly answer this question, but, as it’s not as simple as calculating 2+2, I want to explain exactly where do the numbers come from. Also, some people usually consider translation costs to be a product they buy. However, I like to call them “investments for the future.” Why? Keep reading to learn more about this!
What factors do I consider to calculate the price for translation jobs?
To calculate the price for translation jobs when Creative Empowering Services receives your request, I try to consider the following aspects (these are not the only ones, just the main ones):
Deadline
I estimate that a reasonable deadline to translate a text of, let’s say, 10,000 words, would be one week (at 3,000 words per day plus a couple of extra days to proofread it thoroughly). However, if you need it back before that timeframe, an extra “rush fee” is typically added.
Extension (number of words or pages)
The extension is as important as the deadline because it will determine the amount of work. If the text is long, but I can work at an adequate rate to deliver a professional work, the price that will be applied will often be calculated bearing my basic rates in mind. Discounts are not usually applicable to longer texts, but a small discount can be arranged if the workload is big enough (usually over 40,000 words).
Type of translation
The rate will also vary depending on the type of text, as well as the number of pages and the level of complexity. For example, for legal translations I charge per page (frequently €40/page), and for media translations I charge per hour (around €50/hour). This applies to a medium level of complexity and a maximum of 40 pages per file for legal translations.
Language combination
The rates will also depend on the language combination. The ones explained in this article will be English to Spanish and vice versa. However, there are many others to take into consideration. When I hire linguists to work on projects with a language combination different to mine, I will ask them for a quote and prepare the final quote based on that.
Is the file in an editable version?
The best thing you can do to save money is to make sure that the files you share with us are editable. I can often convert PDFs into Word, but the quality often worsens that happens, especially if it’s a scanned document. Therefore, I will always ask for an editable version of the file if possible.
Why should you invest in translating your content into Spanish?
If you are considering expanding to other markets, like Spanish-speaking ones, you should know that Spanish is the official language in over 20 countries. It is also the second language when considering the number of native speakers in the world. However, the number of English speakers in Spain and in South America is not that high. For example, in Spain, only 6% of the population can speak English fluently, while in Mexico, just 5% of the population can speak English, and that number decreases to 2% in Chile. Moreover, culturally speaking, in many of these countries people often believe that foreign brands have to adapt to them and not the other way around. In other words, if you want to reach the Spanish-speaking markets, translating the content in a way that feels natural to their speakers is your best choice.
What range of rates?
The price for translation jobs will depend on factors like the language combinations and the level of experience. To estimate their rates, most translators use the guidelines of professional associations, like CIOL or Proz, as a reference. For example, in the European markets, the average rate for English > Spanish or Spanish > English for professionals with over 10 years of experience starts at €0.20/word for translation, and €0.10/word for proofreading. As mentioned above, this will vary on many factors, but hopefully, it will help you estimate the cost of your future translation projects. If you still have any question, we’re here to help! Book a 30-minute call, FREE of charge, and I will talk specifically about your content. For more information about us and the events and projects I take part in, you can check my blog.
