Poll: Should language professionals charge a minimum fee? 论题张贴者: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Should language professionals charge a minimum fee?".
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| | | | Lieven Malaise
比利时
Local time: 23:18
正式会员 (自2020)
French法语译成Dutch荷兰语
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Language professionals are free to do as they please. Some will feel it's necessary to charge a minimum fee, while others, like me, deliberately don't charge a minimum fee. It doesn't hurt me, it shows goodwill towards my existing customers and it might open opportunities with potential customers.
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I apply a minimum fee to new clients but I have negotiated different minimum fees with 3 of my long-standing customers.
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At times it is a good idea to do a small job free - the goodwill is worth more than the fee. Making out an invoice and processing it also takes time!
As a general principle, however, I charge for administration and registering a job. Over the years, I have had agreements with several clients that I would streamline small jobs for them as much as possible, and charge a flat minimum fee, to save time calculating very small amounts.
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My wife recently went to her optician to ask them for a new glasses case, when the old one broke, and she later returned to have the temples tightened (they have a special machine for this). They didn't charge her in either case. Opticians have high mark-ups and these more than cover the cost of small courtesies like these.
Client satisfaction is generally more important than a few extra euros but this is only true when one's rates cover such costs. If they don't, then it's probabl... See more My wife recently went to her optician to ask them for a new glasses case, when the old one broke, and she later returned to have the temples tightened (they have a special machine for this). They didn't charge her in either case. Opticians have high mark-ups and these more than cover the cost of small courtesies like these.
Client satisfaction is generally more important than a few extra euros but this is only true when one's rates cover such costs. If they don't, then it's probably best to apply a minimum fee and hope the client pays up and then goes away.
I can't remember the last time I applied a minimum fee, but I don't have a fixed rate with many of my clients, so there isn't such a thing as a "minimum" - each job is worth what I think it is. If I think that a client with a set rate ought to pay something very small, I just tell them I'll add on the cost to the next job, rather than invoice at the end of the month. That normally keeps them happy. So no, yes, and half-way in between. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | No, they should not! | May 5 |
If I understand well, I could charge a minimum fee for any inconvenience, such as the client did not pay after the service was completed. But I would prefer to trust in my clients and establish a statement of work where we can decide how the translation service is going to be (clear expectations, scope, and rate). It does not mean that my clients are obliged to pay me, but it helps to create a more professional environment and stronger commitment to complete the service and do the payment agreed... See more If I understand well, I could charge a minimum fee for any inconvenience, such as the client did not pay after the service was completed. But I would prefer to trust in my clients and establish a statement of work where we can decide how the translation service is going to be (clear expectations, scope, and rate). It does not mean that my clients are obliged to pay me, but it helps to create a more professional environment and stronger commitment to complete the service and do the payment agreed. ▲ Collapse
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There is a certain amount of admin associated with each job - entering it in your system, downloading and organising files, setting up a project in your CAT tool, invoicing, etc. - and this can be as much work as the translation for tiny jobs.
If you only do a tiny job once in a while for an established customer then I suppose you can charge your normal word rate and do the admin free as a goodwill gesture. However, I suspect that in practice if you work out cheaper than everyone e... See more There is a certain amount of admin associated with each job - entering it in your system, downloading and organising files, setting up a project in your CAT tool, invoicing, etc. - and this can be as much work as the translation for tiny jobs.
If you only do a tiny job once in a while for an established customer then I suppose you can charge your normal word rate and do the admin free as a goodwill gesture. However, I suspect that in practice if you work out cheaper than everyone else for tiny jobs you will quickly find yourself inundated with tiny jobs while the lucrative ones get offered to others.
You need to be charging enough that it is actually financially worthwhile taking a job on. Or have some other compelling reason for doing part of the job for nothing that actually holds up to scrutiny. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Karin de Jong 
澳大利亚
Local time: 05:18
正式会员 (自2009)
English英语译成Dutch荷兰语
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To avoid these pesky jobs for 0.04 USD and the likes. Repeatedly. Waste of time.
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... when a once sympathetic Danish agency had moved to London and started undercutting all the competition. They sent me several small jobs at a modest basic rate, then wanted Trados discounts for repetitions in jobs of less than 500 words. No mention of a minimum fee.
To be fair, they did send big jobs too, which were just about worth my while, so I stayed with them longer than I should have done for old times´sake.
Finally they sent me a video, asked me to download s... See more ... when a once sympathetic Danish agency had moved to London and started undercutting all the competition. They sent me several small jobs at a modest basic rate, then wanted Trados discounts for repetitions in jobs of less than 500 words. No mention of a minimum fee.
To be fair, they did send big jobs too, which were just about worth my while, so I stayed with them longer than I should have done for old times´sake.
Finally they sent me a video, asked me to download software and watch it, then translate the subtitles, a total of just over 100 words.
OK, there were no repetitions, but they were only going to pay me at their already modest word rate, a total of less than GBP 10 (ten pounds) for the whole thing.
I told them to find another sucker and delete me from their register!
Then I doubled my minimum fee except for really good, regular clients. I still do small jobs for free now and then, but there has to be something in it for me somewhere. ▲ Collapse
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