| You have made the decision to utilize a translation | | | | priced at the lowest price and the more complex, |
| services firm and now you are wondering about the | | | | technical text will be priced higher. |
| cost. All firms will use almost the same factors in | | | | Language combinations or pairs are factors used in |
| arriving at a cost of providing the service to you. | | | | determining the cost. European languages are the |
| You should get a quote for your service before it is | | | | most affordable while translations involving the more |
| performed. Many of the firms want partial payment | | | | obscure or complex languages are higher. The |
| upfront with the balance paid when the product is | | | | availability of professional translators who are highly |
| delivered. The factors used in determining your costs | | | | skilled in a given language also contributes to the cost |
| include the following items. | | | | in this area. |
| One of the most important factors (if not the most | | | | Deadlines are also important in determining the cost. |
| important) is the number of source words. The | | | | If you are in a hurry and want the document |
| source language is the language of the original | | | | yesterday, you can expect to pay 30% to 50% |
| document and the target language is the language | | | | more for the service. The timing of the project is |
| into which the original document is being translated. It | | | | one of the considerations that should be thoroughly |
| is not very surprising that the number of words is a | | | | discussed before the project is ever started. |
| major factor in determining the cost. It is only | | | | Adequate planning on your part will help with this |
| common sense that a larger document will cost more | | | | problem. Not only does a rush job cost more, it may |
| than a smaller document. | | | | contribute to a less than adequate document |
| Another aspect in calculating the cost is the | | | | because of rushing the translator. |
| challenging nature of the translation. The more | | | | Once you have gotten a quote for your project and |
| complex a document is the more it will cost per | | | | made your choice of the service provider, you should |
| word. This again should not come as a surprise. An | | | | provide as much information as possible to the |
| extremely challenging document will cause the | | | | translating services firm before they begin your |
| translator to do research and call on his or her | | | | project. Make sure you provide the cleanest |
| specialized knowledge. The complexity of the | | | | documents possible to be translated. A poor quality |
| translation will also cause the translator to use much | | | | document creates many problems for the translator |
| more creative writing skills. Any document with no | | | | and may affect the outcome of your documents. |
| technical terms will be priced lower than any | | | | Also, be sure to communicate well during the process |
| document with technical terms like a technical manual | | | | and be available to clarify your needs to ensure you |
| or complex legal contract. A personal letter will be | | | | get what you are paying for. |