Translators generally work for translation agencies and direct clients but don’t forget there’s also the individual client market, which means working for people who need entirely different types of translations. These might be anything from translating a book to a birth certificate. It’s strange that lots of translators avoid this type of work, but it’s a legitimate part of the direct client market.
Your Work Is Appreciated
These translation clients may need a business plan translated, certified legal translations of official documents, real estate sale and purchase documents, and many other personal document translations. This type of translation work is very gratifying because these people really need your services, and they’re very grateful for the work you do for them.
It’s Straightforward and Uncomplicated
Translating these types of documents is usually quite straightforward. You can avoid quoting and price-haggling, and therefore the risk of non-payment, by asking for payment upfront. Generally, the rate for this type of translation work is non-negotiable, with a flat fee being charged per page.
It Can Be Quite Lucrative
Translation agencies are usually not interested in these type of small, one-off projects, because, in order to justify their overheads, they’d have to impose a high minimum charge. And if you do decide to take on this type of translation work, you can create templates for the different types of documents you translate on a regular basis, thus streamlining the entire process. This makes it a lucrative niche for the translator, particularly when compared to the time invested.
Not Many Translators Are Interested in This Type of Work
It appears that very few freelancers are looking to service the individual client market, so by creating a dedicated web page for this type of translation service you should be able to generate quite a bit of business.
The main reason why freelancers, in general, avoid the individual client market is that they’re concerned about payment: they’re not prepared to spend a lot of time negotiating a turnaround time and rate for a job that’s worth $100. This issue can be resolved very simply: you don’t negotiate the rate, and you request that these legal translation projects be paid for in advance. It’s very simple! They can look for another translator if they’re not prepared to pay your rate, and they can look for another translator if they’re not prepared to pay up-front. Generally, though, these types of clients are very grateful for your assistance, and more than happy to pay in advance.
