The range of language services offered by a professional translation agency is very broad, from translations of a general nature to highly specialised texts or certified translations. Different types of translations require different care, some have to undergo demanding localisation, and if the final text is to be perfect, professional or linguistic proofreading must also be considered. Different demands are placed on interpreting or dubbing, which often requires listening to and transcribing text from the original audio recording. All this is of course reflected in the price of the translation.
So what is decisive for pricing? Generally speaking, the price of a translation service is primarily shaped by two components: scope and complexity. In terms of scope, for a standard written translation the price is most often determined by the number of standard pages, where 1 NS = 1,800 characters including spaces. However, the price can also be charged according to the working hours spent on the translation, the duration of the audio-video material being translated, or other units.
Each job is priced according to the purpose the translation is to serve, and this goes hand in hand with the difficulty. Suppose you commission a translation agency to translate your website - in this case, in addition to the scope, we will also address the format of the existing content, the required expertise, the method of extracting and uploading the content back to the website, the appropriate amount of proofreading and services. Of course, the language combination, special customer requirements and the urgency of the orderalso play a role.
Among the most demanding, and therefore the most expensive, are translations in the fields of natural sciences, such as highly specialised medicine, as well as texts in the field of nuclear energy and industries with a high degree of specialisation.
How is pricing done at our translation agency? Every inquiry is recorded in our system and accepted by the sales manager for processing. The responsible employee will assess the purpose of the job (translation or interpretation) and draw up a list of questions to go over with the customer.
A corresponding solution is then proposed, which includes a suitable processing tool, glossary creation, consideration of repeating terminology, etc. Usually we propose different levels of service and completion deadlines to the customer. In the case of more complex orders, for example in non-standard formats, we will involve our specialised department in processing the request, which will work with the customer for instance on the method of extracting texts, formats, etc.
Each text is analysed in the translation tool, where we take into account, for example, the amount of repetition (this varies according to the amount of text previously translated in our company). For large orders or with a view to long-term cooperation we have of course created a system of discounts and benefits for customers.
In most cases, the offer is an estimate of the price, but always guarantees an unchanged price per unit. The customer will therefore often pay less than the agreed amount, while a price increase is quite exceptional.
At our translation agency we try to send a quote to the customer within an hour of the inquiry, but it depends on the complexity of the job. For simpler projects, we can provide a quote in minutes, but if a specialised department is needed or if the format is complex, it may take several hours.
We are a professional translation agency with a top-notch team of experts in a wide range of fields, which enables us to deliver tailored, comprehensive solutions. Are you interested in a quote or would you like to consult us? Contact us.
