I'm starting out as a freelancer. What ar the Dos and Don'ts? Thread poster: Lisa Cernohorsky Oliveira
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Hello,
I'm starting out as a freelance translator in Germany and I am talking to my first potential client. Is it normal to receive payment via PayPal and that the only documentation I have is an NDA and (once I'm finished with the task) an invoice from me to them? Or should I always draw up a contract? What are things I should keep in mind and how are things usually done?
Thank you all in advance!
| | | | Hayley Wakenshaw 
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:56
Member (2018)
Dutch to English
Before you accept any work, check the agency on the Proz Blue Board. Unscrupulous agencies snd scammers prey on new accounts, and the price of Proz.com membership is worth it just for the ability to avoid them.
Never accept jobs from PMs who use free email clients like Gmail. Check that the domain name on websites and email addresses actually 100% matches the agency the person claims to be from.
A new translator being approached with a request to pay via PayPal would ... See more Before you accept any work, check the agency on the Proz Blue Board. Unscrupulous agencies snd scammers prey on new accounts, and the price of Proz.com membership is worth it just for the ability to avoid them.
Never accept jobs from PMs who use free email clients like Gmail. Check that the domain name on websites and email addresses actually 100% matches the agency the person claims to be from.
A new translator being approached with a request to pay via PayPal would make me wary. Some good clients do pay with PayPal, though, so check their reviews on the BB.
NDAs are normal. Not being given a purchase order before you start work is not. Not everyone uses them, but in my experience, the companies that don't are less reliable. A clear PO sets out what you've agreed in terms of word count, scope, rate and delivery date.
Don't take very big projects from new clients who want to pay you after delivery for the whole thing. With the exception of working for big publishers, all my long projects have been delivered in batches and invoiced in batches. This is a PITA for translating sometimes but gives both parties peace of mind about payment and delivery.
The very first time a client fails to pay on time, stop accepting work from them until they have paid in full. Invoices fall through the cracks from time to time, but be scrupulous and strict about payment, even with customers you've had for a long time. You'll get a feel for which customers you can give a few days grace and when.
And don't work for peanuts. It's shocking what some agencies offer, and it's very tempting to accept 4 cents a word to get some experience. But these are not the clients you want to work for. And once you've established a rate, it can be really hard to raise it. Rates have been stagnant for the last ten years. It's better to set a fair rate from the outset because clients are very reluctant to increase them. (But if you are a very good translator and the client is a very good client who values the quality of your work and the ease of working with you, they will often be happy to pay you more when you give them a good reason for it.) If you want material for a portfolio, translate it for free for a good cause or for fun.
[Edited at 2024-10-09 09:29 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 14:56
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Lisa Cernohorsky Oliveira wrote:
Is it normal to receive payment via PayPal ...?
[Is it normal] that the only documentation I have is an NDA and (once I'm finished with the task) an invoice from me to them? Or should I always draw up a contract?
Payment via PayPal is perfectly acceptable.
It is not unusual not to sign a contract with a client, although freelancers who work with direct clients are encouraged to create a contract of their own, which they then share with their client. It is not unusual that an agency will send you only an NDA and no other contract. In the absence of a contract, make sure the email conversation sets out exactly what the client wants and what you'll be delivering.
When you have completed the job, it is normal to wait a week or so to hear if they have additional questions or requests, and then you can send them your invoice. They may give you a PO number which you must add to the invoice. It is possible that they have a specific invoicing system or procedure that they want you to follow. Ask them how long it usually takes them to pay an invoice, so that you don't become worried if they don't pay immediately.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 07:56
English to Russian
+ ...
| 1 question, 3 Dos and 1 Don't | Oct 9 |
What exactly do you mean by "I'm starting out as a freelancer?" Sending X number of resumes and declaring yourself one? Sorry, that's not enough, and neither is your "first potential client." I hope you are considering some steady job first. As I've said a couple of times before, should you get your first job tomorrow, your money will arrive in 2.5 - 3 months, and the amount will be relatively small. What about your bills?
When I was "starting out", I had 5 years of experience worki... See more What exactly do you mean by "I'm starting out as a freelancer?" Sending X number of resumes and declaring yourself one? Sorry, that's not enough, and neither is your "first potential client." I hope you are considering some steady job first. As I've said a couple of times before, should you get your first job tomorrow, your money will arrive in 2.5 - 3 months, and the amount will be relatively small. What about your bills?
When I was "starting out", I had 5 years of experience working in-house and full time under professional editors, specializing first in certain areas of oil&gas industry, both legal and technical, and later space. My final 2-week check was to arrive in 2 weeks, ensuring payment of all bills for the next 2 months; I quit after securing 3 signed 3-year independent contractor agreements with 3 former employees and now clients, and had 12 thousand words in my inbox to proceed immediately. This is how you start out as a freelancer, not a dreamer, regardless of any degrees. Unless the degree relates to some highly sought after engineering of scientific subject meaning that you have a money-making specialization from the start. A translation degree per se is not a breadwinner.
My sincere advice would be:
Do get a real job unless you can rely on a trust fund, parents or a partner, and continue your efforts to build your experience and clientele.
Do study current market trends and conditions.
Please do read Scam forums on Proz.
Don't get discouraged right away but get a taste of the world you are about to plunge in first.
Sincerely,
Irina
[Edited at 2024-10-09 12:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 08:56
German to English
| Perform due diligence | Oct 9 |
It may sound obvious, but don't fall for scams. Know who the client is. Check for a web presence. Be wary of offers from persons using a free email address (Gmail, Proton, Outlook, etc.). A look at the "Scams" section of this site will give you an idea of the common deceptions.
This is a very difficult time for the translation industry. Have you considered other options?
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 14:56
English to German
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Since you "worked at a translation agency as an intern (terminology work) and later as a translation manager", you may already know some of the things you are asking, like that any written agreement is a contract.
Other colleagues have already given some very useful tips, to which I would add that you should only work on subjects you know about, i.e. specialize in specific areas.
Just consider if working as a freelance translator actually has a promising future.
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For new clients, try to start small and build trust. Once you have done a few small jobs and know that your client is happy with your work and you are getting paid promptly you can start to take bigger projects. Don't dive in with enormous projects straight off (unless you are happy to take a risk.
If a client needs to be nagged and continuously reminded to pay you, drop them and focus your attention elsewhere. Over time this will save you a lot of headaches.
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:56
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Rachel Waddington wrote:
Don't dive in with enormous projects straight off
And also consider why somebody who is not familiar with you and your work would offer you an enormous project - refer to warnings about scams from earlier in the thread!
If it looks excitingly large and lucrative and is from somebody you haven't worked with before, it is unlikely to be genuine.
Regards,
Dan
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