Poll: Do you work with no minimum charges? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you work with no minimum charges?".
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| | | | | Occasionally, for my long-term clients | Dec 19, 2023 |
I translate quite often short texts (meeting agendas, website updates, email messages…) for three long-standing customers (a direct client and two translation agencies). If they send me more work during the month I will charge by the number of words, otherwise I will charge my minimum fee.
| | | | Lingua 5B 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 23:01
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
Sometimes I do, for longstanding and well-established clients. I don’t do “I have a 200 word project” type of jobs for new clients, without a minimum fee. And they are rarely able to meet that minimum.
| | | | Dan Lucas
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:01
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
| For regular clients only | Dec 19, 2023 |
One common scenario is that of an end-client who makes revisions to the source text after I have completed the translation, and needs those changes reflected in the English text. In such cases I may do as few as 20 characters or as many as 3,000.
If I've just spent several weeks on a multiple jobs for said end client totalling thousands of dollars, I'd be a fool to refuse to do 100 additional words because it's below some theoretical minimum or other. I charge them for what I transl... See more One common scenario is that of an end-client who makes revisions to the source text after I have completed the translation, and needs those changes reflected in the English text. In such cases I may do as few as 20 characters or as many as 3,000.
If I've just spent several weeks on a multiple jobs for said end client totalling thousands of dollars, I'd be a fool to refuse to do 100 additional words because it's below some theoretical minimum or other. I charge them for what I translate.
Then again, these are long-term clients. I wouldn't do it for a new client.
Dan ▲ Collapse
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Lieven Malaise
Belgium
Local time: 23:01
Member (2020)
French to Dutch
+ ...
I consider small jobs paid on a word basis as goodwill towards my good clients. Towards new(er) clients I consider them as a potential leverage to more substantial jobs.
Either way I don't have clients who exaggerate in offering those small jobs.
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I have zero interest in having a client who would have a problem paying a minimum (i.e. fair) fee.
Direct clients won’t bat an eyelid. Cheapskate agencies might try it on, but it’s not as though they don’t charge minimum fees to their clients. I think a lot of translators are just too soft.
| | | | Nikolay Novitskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 02:01
Member (2018)
English to Russian
| Yes, sure! Sure! Sure! | Dec 20, 2023 |
I'm always open to small tasks! Be it 0.05 EUR or even 0.02 EUR per task - no problem at all. I love languages a lot, and it's a great honor and priviledge to get a translation job! Because if I don't agree, there are thousands of not so picky translators waiting right at the door.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 23:01
French to English
I apply minimum charges but
- I don't call it a minimum fee, just a "flat rate". I noticed when working as a PM at the agency that clients would baulk at the word "minimum", but they were happy to pay a non-nonsense flat rate.
- I tell my clients that they can bundle a few more words in if they want, provided it's on the same subject
This happened just this month with a long-time client. They needed a set of questions translated. When I said they could add... See more I apply minimum charges but
- I don't call it a minimum fee, just a "flat rate". I noticed when working as a PM at the agency that clients would baulk at the word "minimum", but they were happy to pay a non-nonsense flat rate.
- I tell my clients that they can bundle a few more words in if they want, provided it's on the same subject
This happened just this month with a long-time client. They needed a set of questions translated. When I said they could add in a few more words, they added the text for the email to accompany the question file. It was no big deal and they were happy because they got the impression of getting something for free. That something must have taken me five minutes tops. Win win! ▲ Collapse
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Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 23:01
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
If I charged small jobs per word, the bank transfer fee for such a job would be higher than the job’s total.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:01
Spanish to English
+ ...
I'm not sure I really understand the question. I have basic rates for translation and revision/correction. On the odd occasion, I might offer a discount or do a job free of charge if I think it's a deserving cause - but I haven't done any in the past few years.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 23:01
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| Depends on the client | Dec 20, 2023 |
It depends on how much effort it becomes to issue an invoice.
I have a client who requires a separate invoice for every job, and it becomes a hassle to issue an invoice for them at around less than USD 10, so my minimum for them is USD 10. But other clients who are less picky about piling multiple jobs onto a single invoice, or clients who issue sensible-looking POs like clockwork, I'm willing to do tiny jobs with no minimum fee.
I also allow myself to do tiny jobs... See more It depends on how much effort it becomes to issue an invoice.
I have a client who requires a separate invoice for every job, and it becomes a hassle to issue an invoice for them at around less than USD 10, so my minimum for them is USD 10. But other clients who are less picky about piling multiple jobs onto a single invoice, or clients who issue sensible-looking POs like clockwork, I'm willing to do tiny jobs with no minimum fee.
I also allow myself to do tiny jobs for clients that I "keep on ice", i.e. I keep them interested in me (i.e. I become their go-to translator) while I wait for them to land us a large, easy, juicy, well-paying job... which actually happens every now and then and makes all the effort spent on the tiny jobs all worth it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I charge a minimum rate, which ... | Dec 20, 2023 |
is often an issue for prospective clients, in which case I charge EUR 0 for 0 words 
[Edited at 2023-12-20 15:18 GMT]
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| No. Because it is not economical. | Dec 20, 2023 |
I have different minimum charges for different clients. And sometimes, depending on the workflow with each client in any given month, I will omit the minimum charge, but that doesn't happen often.
I opted for "Other" because I didn't like the given "No" answer. I don't tend to be passive-aggressive with my clients.
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