The price for translation depends on a number of factors.
Hereby, we would like to present the list of parameters which have the biggest effect on the price for translation.
TRANSLATION PRICE
Quality
The quality of service is one of the most important factors which determines the price, both at work and in everyday life. You will agree that when you buy any product, products of poorer quality are cheaper, but they also break easily and are not very representative.
Low prices can attract buyers short-term, but if the final product is not up to our standards, the question of how much the product actually costs is raised and what we really want to get from it.
Exceptionally cheap translations of poorer quality may seem like a “good buy” and accurate enough, and to an extent they are because they are written in the requested foreign language. However, in most cases, this text/translation is useless and can only cause problems and misunderstandings in the communication with the clients, as well as make you, your style and method of conducting business look bad. On the other hand, high quality translations help create a long-term partnership between a translation agency and a client.
Low prices for short and practically impossible deadlines for translations, which, of course, are expected to have good quality and to be of a certain professional level, are nothing more than baits causing disappointment in the final product/translation.
On the other hand, by working with a translation company which puts quality and accuracy first, you ensure a long-term reliable professional collaboration which can lead to building trusting relations.
Subject matter and the type of text
Even though it may not seem that way, the subject matter of the text for translation is often one of the crucial factors for determining the price for translation.
Sometimes, texts with everyday issues as subject matter are translated, but very often, texts for translation are highly professional texts with technical or legal, economic, machine engineering or other highly specialized topics.
A somewhat higher price for translation is due to the fact that those documents require more time to be translated and more reviews and consultations before the final version can be completed.
Purpose and intent
There is a world of difference between texts meant for internal communication within a company and those available to a wider audience. Such texts, primarily press releases and public announcements, are aimed at attracting listeners’ attention, but also making them aware of the benefits of using a certain product or behaviour method. For these reasons, it is essential that the translator understands the difference between the literal translation and the translation in line with the marketing objectives of the client or client preferences. The translator has to use his/her creativity to make the translation catchy and appealing to its target audience.
Deadlines for delivery
As we mentioned at the beginning of this text, deadlines for delivery have a large effect on the price of service. The so-called urgent (for whatever reason) translations have to be charged extra, while those which have longer deadlines may have lower prices.
Why should you hire a translation company?
In the following segment, we will present four reasons which represent benefits of hiring a serious translation company.
Reason no.1 Your reputation is at stake
If you wish to establish a professional image of yourself and your company, you cannot afford to let the errors in the translation speak on your behalf. Even though it would be useful to save as much money as you can, frugality of this kind can actually have the opposite effect and create even more expenses in terms of long-term bad reputation of your company.
For example, imagine a world-renowned manufacturing brand hiring an amateur service provider for installing household appliances.
What kind of image would that company enjoy in the public if that service provider did not install and maintain a large number of appliances correctly? Not to mention the professional attitude towards clients!
To avoid similar scenarios in your Company, we recommend you hire a professional translation company which would look after your international image in the best way possible.
Reason no. 2 Don’t waste time (or money) on poor-quality translations
By commissioning cheaper translations in order to save some money, you risk wasting much more time in the following period on reviewing those documents. Cheap, poor quality translations require that you perform additional reviews and formatting. Large companies have very high standards in terms of honouring corporate properties such as: colour, font size, style, logo and especially the use of accurate terminology. Good translation companies take care of the smallest details and clients’ needs.
Reason no.3 The difference between knowing a foreign language and translating from and into the aforementioned language
Just because you know a certain language well enough to use it in everyday communication, it does not mean you have the required level of knowledge and skills for translating a certain document from and into the aforementioned language. You need to know the sentence structure very well to be able to do that. Also, you need to be familiar with the translation programs and have many years of experience. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your translations criticized and ridiculed by co-workers or the public.
Why do translation rates differ so much?
Comparing prices of various translation agencies can be confusing because they are different and sometimes, the difference between them is very noticeable. Even though a large number of factors have an effect on the price, quality is the most important factor. Let us explain how the quality determines the price by using a car analogy.
IN TERMS OF THE PRICE TO QUALITY RATIO, TRANSLATIONS ARE LIKE CARS
A wide range of rates is not only related to translation service providers. Take the automotive industry where this trend is perceived easily. Look at the difference between the prices of two new models which can cost from 10,000 to over 100,000 euros.
Quality is the reason for this difference. For example, if you need a car to get from one place in the city to another easily, then you should choose a cheaper car. On the other hand, if you wish to have an amazing experience while driving in your car, then you will have to spend more money to have that experience. It is similar with translations. If you are the only person who is going to read them, then the quality is not that important. However, if they are intended to be read by a wider audience, the price will be less important than the quality and accuracy of the translation.
Quality means safety
You will agree that the vehicle of higher quality, made from better materials, drives more easily, has electronic stability control and an upgraded security system with more air-bags. Driving this type of car is safer and more comfortable.
In line with this, low quality translations may seem less expensive but their total costs may be a lot bigger than those originally planned. By using them you run the risk of incurring more expenses over time or additional costs for proofreading.
Quality means more reliability
A cheap car can make the drive more difficult. Such vehicles do not have advanced technical characteristics and break down more quickly than others. On the other hand, a more expensive car has numerous perks which can make the drive more fun. They are more reliable and safer, and even if something does break down, you can always take them to an authorized dealer because these cars usually have warranty.
It is the same with translations. If you try to save on translations, you will very often end up with texts you cannot use because they are wrong and can damage your reputation. But if you commission a high quality translation/service, you can be certain that translation will be final.
You are in the driver’s seat
The good thing about cars and translations is that in both cases, you are in the driver’s seat. To be more specific, you have the option to choose depending on your needs and budget.
To reiterate, if you need a car for shorter, everyday drives around the city, a less expensive car is good enough. However, if you are on the road often and take the motorway, you need a bigger and a stronger car.
You have the same option with translations. If you need the translation for own purposes, you can allow yourself a lower quality service. However, if you need the translation of the text which is important for placing your product on the market etc., you will want the translation to be done by the best company, regardless of the price for that service, provided it is reasonable of course.
Bear in mind that the main difference between a good car and a good quality translation is that good quality vehicles are, perhaps mistakenly, considered a luxury, while good quality translations are considered an investment.