How much do translation services cost

As a professional translation agency, we regularly receive inquiries from clients regarding translation costs. When selecting a translation partner, we understand that the price of a translation project is important to you. Sometimes a client will indicate that our rates are too high, while we also receive a lot of positive feedback commending our value for money service. As a dedicated translation agency, we believe in the importance of informing our clients about how the price of a translation project is determined. This allows the client to make an informed decision and provides them with insight into our services.

Word rate

A translation agency doesn’t normally provide an invoice for translation projects on the basis of an hourly rate. It is more common to do this on the basis of the number of words. The price for a translation is determined by counting the number of words in the text and multiplying this by the rate per word. In other words, the cost of a translation depends on the number of words that need to be translated. This is the method used to produce a quotation or estimate.

Rate per word

The basic rate per word depends on the chosen language combination, which is effectively determined by supply and demand in the translation market. As there are more German and English translators available than Sinhalese or Swedish translators, the rates may differ.

As well as considering the requested language combination, the subject area is also important in determining translation costs. For example, the rate may be higher if it is a translation of legal documents or a written oath, as a highly specialised translator is selected. It is therefore important to bear in mind that, while a high quality translation may be expensive, a poor quality translation could ultimately cost you a lot more.

Discount

As a specialist translation agency, we are also happy to accommodate the needs of our clients in order to reach a price agreement. For larger translation projects, we offer a quantity discount rate that applies to the rate per word. In addition, we offer repetitions at a vastly reduced word rate. Read more about this in our blog or ask our sales and account manager for more information.

Completion time

The turnaround time of a translation project depends on the number of words to be translated and the complexity of the text. When a project has an average level of complexity, a translator can translate approximately 1,500 to 2,000 new words per day. For example, if a text consists of 8,000 words, the minimum turnaround time using one translator will be four days.

However, if the project requires a faster delivery than four days, we can look to solve this internally in order to save time. One possibility is to use two translators.

ISO certified quality control

Quality control is essential to ensuring the delivery of an accurate and reliable translation project. ISO 17100 is an international standard that provides guidelines and requirements for the delivery of high quality translations. This standard sets requirements for the skills and competencies of the translator, the technology employed and quality control procedures. Following this standard can help reduce translation errors and improve the overall quality of the translation.

Is a translation too expensive?

The importance of a high quality translation cannot be overstated. A translation can be crucial to successfully achieving business objectives and avoiding unforeseen and unwanted consequences. Think for example, of legal documents required to establish an international branch of your company, marketing materials for a new agricultural machine or technical manuals for a vegetable processing machine. A poor translation can lead to misunderstandings, incorrect dissemination of information or even legal problems. These potential issues underline the importance of investing in high quality translations.

As an agricultural translation agency, we understand that a good translation can be expensive. Yet it is important to emphasise that this isn’t always the case. The rate for a translation is determined by several factors, such as the language combination, the complexity of the text and the turnaround time. We offer competitive prices, proportionate to the high level of quality we deliver.

Our agricultural translation agency focuses on delivering quality and not on the lowest price. We strive to translate and revise every translation with the utmost care, in accordance with ISO 17100 quality standards. This means using professional translators and revisors who have the requisite knowledge and experience and are fluent in the language combination required for the translation.

It is vital to understand that the price of a high quality translation is proportional to the value it can bring to your business or personal objectives. This is why we always recommend investing in a high quality translation to avoid any unforeseen or unwanted consequences.

Use AgroLingua’s translation specialists for all your translations

Do you want to save time and avoid any unwanted consequences? Then ask the translation and language specialists at a certified translation agency.

A certified translation agency such as AgroLingua takes the translation process of texts within the agri-food sector very seriously. We only work with native speakers who speak your professional language, whether it concerns translations for the food industry, poultry farming or agriculture. Are you curious about our translation services and what we can do for your business? Please contact us for more information.