9 easy ways to save on translations costs

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Translation costs

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Copyright © 2013 Ferris Translations. All Rights Reserved.

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Preparation of document for submission to
a translations office – Do’s and Don’ts
Request a quote – Tips to make sure that
you are paying the least amount.


Delete all excess empty spaces in the
document that needs to be translated.
Most word count programs used to define a
price will count empty spaces, at least
between words, especially if charging you by
the line.


Try to always send an editable document.
Don’t send a PDF if you do not have to and if you
do, do the conversion yourself.
1.

Here are the benefits:
Quicker turnaround time

2.

You save DTP (desktop publishing) costs.

3.

You can be sure of the formatting of the translated
document.

4.

For the quotation, you have a rough idea of how
many words/characters/lines are in the document.


How much would it cost to
translate this document into
..... I need the translations as
soon as possible! It is urgent!


Send the request over CC !!
Even if you are only asking a single office,
send the quote to “undisclosed recipients” so
the office thinks that you are requesting a
quote from several offices at the same time.
Rest assured, your quote will be very
competitive.


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Specify in the request that you would like “clean and
unclean files” as a delivery.
This is language vendor jargon that I have explained in my
video on translation technology, but here are your
benefits:

1.

You will most likely get a discount if words, phrases, or
segments in the document repeat.

2.

You will save money on future translations (I explain this
in my other video!)

3.

The vendor will certainly be very honest with counting the
document, assuming that you may have the tools to do
this as well.

If there is a lot of repeat in the document, make
sure to point it out. “There is a lot of repetition in
the document!”
If there is repetition in the document, the agency
sees analysis of this as a percentage.
In theory, and sometimes only to those who ask
for it, this percentage should reflect your
discount in some way, being either half of this
percentage to all of it.
An agency normally only pays the translator very
little if at all for this repetition.

Are there a lot of numbers in your document?
Ask for a discount!
If the translator uses the proper tools, a lot of
this is automatic. Numbers still have to be
proofread, and depending on the language,
also formatted, but if it is a financial
document with thousands of numbers in it,
you could ask for a discount.


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Set a budget or say that you have tight
budget.
Most translation vendors are human and will
see that you are looking to spend as little
money as possible. They want to win your
business and with do their best to do just
that.


If a translation is not urgent, don’t make it urgent.
Translation offices hear “It’s urgent!” every day, at almost
every request.
Here is my tip: Just say, hello, I need this document by
“your deadline” and I need a quote by “your set deadline”.

Pure logic: Which quote will be more cost effective? The
one that was done in 10 minutes or the one that took an
hour?
The same goes for the translation by the way… Any good
thing takes time!


Make sure you make your expectations
known and the purpose of the document
clear.

1.
2.

Your benefits:
You save money in rework and time.
You improve quality of the translation.


Make sure to check out my video:

Translation technology - a brief but useful
introduction to translation technology in
order to improve quality and lower costs of
your translation vendors.
Visit my website at www.ferristranslations.com


Thanks for watching!
Ferris Translations e. U.
Owner: Mag. Michael Ferris
Language Services
Tax No.: ATU67797869
Commercial Register No. FN 393837 y
Commercial Register Court: Wien
Place of business: 1200 Vienna
Karl Meißl Str. 4| Austria
Tel.: +43 (0)699/5575199
Fax :+43 1-2536722-3925
E-mail: office@ferristranslations.com
Member of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce

www.ferristranslations.com

Trade regulation: www.ris.bka.gv.at/defaultEn.aspx
Magistrate Vienna, 20th District


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