Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How do you normally calculate your prices? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you normally calculate your prices?".
This poll was originally submitted by Paul Dixon. View the poll results »
| | | Flexible, but boils down to hours | Mar 5, 2014 |
I estimate the time taken and calculate the total price based on my hourly rate multiplied by the estimated number of hours that I'll take. If clients want me to charge based on any other pricing unit, I'll simply divide the total price by the number of units (whichever is that - source words or whatever) to get the unit price. For those who don't ask for my unit price, I simply quote a flat rate per project. I am quite flexible on how to charge. ... See more I estimate the time taken and calculate the total price based on my hourly rate multiplied by the estimated number of hours that I'll take. If clients want me to charge based on any other pricing unit, I'll simply divide the total price by the number of units (whichever is that - source words or whatever) to get the unit price. For those who don't ask for my unit price, I simply quote a flat rate per project. I am quite flexible on how to charge. SO, how do I normally calculate my prices? I think it still boils down to hours. ▲ Collapse | | | Odile Breuvart United Kingdom Local time: 11:26 Member English to French + ...
The answers are predictable as it is the way quotes are expected by most of the translation providers. | | | Tim Drayton Cyprus Local time: 13:26 Turkish to English + ...
Whatever the client wishes. Having said that, my preferred method is to assess the text and quote a set price for the job. Anything else results in commoditisation, which does great harm to our profession but, unfortunately, this is what has been imposed on us. | |
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source word and page | Mar 5, 2014 |
both, it depends on clients | | | Thayenga Germany Local time: 12:26 Member (2009) English to German + ... Usually per source word | Mar 5, 2014 |
Aside from a minimum flat rate for small projects and the hourly rate for any revision services. | | | Julian Holmes Japan Local time: 20:26 Member (2011) Japanese to English Source character | Mar 5, 2014 |
If you are working from J to E. Here, in Japan, this is the only way to fix volume (rates are flexible and are to be decided between you and the customer), and hence get a customer to issue a PO in line with Japanese law. If prices (rates) are based on number of finished words, Japanese customers cannot issue a PO since the final count fluctuates according to translator and (according to Japanese law) the price in the PO must be fixed, otherwise the PO is null and valid. HTH | | | Normally, by source word | Mar 5, 2014 |
with two exceptions: a client (a media group) who prefers being charged by character and another one (medical equipment) with whom I agreed to charge by target word. Since I started translating over 30 years ago things have changed: in the beginning I charged by page, then by line and about 10 years ago I moved to charging by word. | |
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Plain translation: - domestic clients - per 1,000 chars w/o spaces, source - foreign clients - per word, source - repeated segments are free on jobs over 5,000 words - NO fuzzy match discounts, ever! Proofreading: - as above, but target instead Sworn translation: - per 1,000 chars w/o spaces, target (it's the law here in Brazil) DTP: - with Infix or PageMaker: per page - with MS Word: anything outrageously exp... See more Plain translation: - domestic clients - per 1,000 chars w/o spaces, source - foreign clients - per word, source - repeated segments are free on jobs over 5,000 words - NO fuzzy match discounts, ever! Proofreading: - as above, but target instead Sworn translation: - per 1,000 chars w/o spaces, target (it's the law here in Brazil) DTP: - with Infix or PageMaker: per page - with MS Word: anything outrageously expensive to change the customer's mind - with any other (client-provided) adequate software: per hour PowerPoint - translation per source word - graphics with embedded text requiring graphic editing, extra per unit, in three complexity levels - fixing post-translation layout issues: 20~30% of translation cost, optional Audio/video work: - per minute of total playing time - anything involving video files conversion, rendering, etc. has a 15 minutes minimum Interpreting: - per hour + expenses ▲ Collapse | | | Tim Drayton Cyprus Local time: 13:26 Turkish to English + ... Another of your games? | Mar 5, 2014 |
Julian Holmes wrote: If you are working from J to E. Here, in Japan, this is the only way to fix volume (rates are flexible and are to be decided between you and the customer), and hence get a customer to issue a PO in line with Japanese law. If prices (rates) are based on number of finished words, Japanese customers cannot issue a PO since the final count fluctuates according to translator and (according to Japanese law) the price in the PO must be fixed, otherwise the PO is null and valid. HTH Null and valid? That would be null and void, wouldn't it? You are putting is to the test again, I suspect. | | | Like a plumber | Mar 5, 2014 |
I just think of a number and double it In my dreams | | | neilmac Spain Local time: 12:26 Spanish to English + ...
I have an average to low basic rate. I calculate my prices according to the number of words as counted by MS Word, with no discounts for "fuzzy matches" or reps initially. I may occasionally offer a discount at my own discretion, or be prepared to negotiate terms for special conditions. My rates have stayed the same since the economic crisis began in 2008, effectively a reduction in real terms, so any would-be fuzzy-wuzzies poking their heads over the parapets had better beware. ... See more I have an average to low basic rate. I calculate my prices according to the number of words as counted by MS Word, with no discounts for "fuzzy matches" or reps initially. I may occasionally offer a discount at my own discretion, or be prepared to negotiate terms for special conditions. My rates have stayed the same since the economic crisis began in 2008, effectively a reduction in real terms, so any would-be fuzzy-wuzzies poking their heads over the parapets had better beware.
[Edited at 2014-03-05 10:12 GMT] Nothing gets my goat more that starting to read about a job offering 10,000 words which after a paragaph of fudge, tosh, smoke and mirrors is reduced to a fraction of its girth.
[Edited at 2014-03-05 10:15 GMT]
[Edited at 2014-03-05 10:16 GMT] ▲ Collapse | |
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Plus a few other factors that I try to key in with varying success. Different clients send different types of job, so I try to push my rates up with agencies that predominantly send medical work, for instance, compared with the 'general' ones who send more run-of-the-mill press releases and tourist guides. Even when I do my very best for a museum (and their catalogues can get quite technical!) I can translate a lot more words per hour than from terse medical records...<... See more Plus a few other factors that I try to key in with varying success. Different clients send different types of job, so I try to push my rates up with agencies that predominantly send medical work, for instance, compared with the 'general' ones who send more run-of-the-mill press releases and tourist guides. Even when I do my very best for a museum (and their catalogues can get quite technical!) I can translate a lot more words per hour than from terse medical records... For some clients I agree a fee for the job - I agree about commoditising the profession. Source words and subject area are the best indicator, nevertheless, of how long a job will take, and most clients want to know in advance. For proofreading I charge by the hour or 33% of my translation rate - or I turn down the job! ▲ Collapse | | | You too, Tim, are putting US to the test again, I suspect! | Mar 5, 2014 |
Tim Drayton wrote: Julian Holmes wrote: If you are working from J to E. Here, in Japan, this is the only way to fix volume (rates are flexible and are to be decided between you and the customer), and hence get a customer to issue a PO in line with Japanese law. If prices (rates) are based on number of finished words, Japanese customers cannot issue a PO since the final count fluctuates according to translator and (according to Japanese law) the price in the PO must be fixed, otherwise the PO is null and valid. HTH Null and valid? That would be null and void, wouldn't it? You are putting is to the test again, I suspect. | | | Tim Drayton Cyprus Local time: 13:26 Turkish to English + ...
Teresa Borges wrote: Tim Drayton wrote: Julian Holmes wrote: If you are working from J to E. Here, in Japan, this is the only way to fix volume (rates are flexible and are to be decided between you and the customer), and hence get a customer to issue a PO in line with Japanese law. If prices (rates) are based on number of finished words, Japanese customers cannot issue a PO since the final count fluctuates according to translator and (according to Japanese law) the price in the PO must be fixed, otherwise the PO is null and valid. HTH Null and valid? That would be null and void, wouldn't it? You are putting is to the test again, I suspect. Touché | | | Pages in topic: [1 2] > | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: How do you normally calculate your prices? Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
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